Talk about an overpaid swing man then, haha. I don't disagree with you all that he'll need to adjust just slightly, but it's not like he didn't start that way until people started missing shots. As it says, he leads the team in scoring AND assists. You pay stars to dominate the ball b/c they always making good things happen with it. Whether it's scoring or it's making a play. He does that. Sure, there is *some* concern about him coming back, but since when has McGrady in our lineup been bad thing (if he's not trying to play hurt)? Please remind me. I take Yao or Tracy in our lineup any game as opposed to not. I don't worry about them "fitting in." Now, I really like the fact that Tracy said he doesn't want to ruin what they have going. I'm glad to hear that. But regarding most of the talk on this board...everyone else is to adjust to the guys who can produce night in and out. why are we so backwards all of the sudden? Eh, just my take.
McGrady lost weight so that he could be quicker, and it was evident to start the season that it was working. Ah, but life with the blinders on is so much easier, I guess.
I remember that year really well. They put it together at the end of the season and clinched a playoff berth on the last day of the season. Larry Smith filled in for Hakeem. That was the year we added Vernon to the mix. I wanna say it was 91/92??? We got smoked by the Lakers in the first round, but it was one of my favorite years of Rockets basketball because they played with so much heart.
Finally a breath of fresh air. Like Rivaldo said, it's like last year when people were saying that perhaps the Rockets are better without Yao.
Dear god, dude, WTF are you talking about? McGrady specifically said that he is telling the guys NOT to look for him on offense. He obviously is not planning on dominating the ball, and he is basically saying the only reason he did it before was because the team kept looking to him to make plays rather than trying to make anything happen themselves. Christ, get off his back for once. There is nothing here for you to critique.
McGrady actually brings up a good point. Where does the adjustment need to come from -- him or his teammates? Actually, it's both. When he was on the floor, if they keep calling plays for him he's going to get the ball and try to create. That's his job. It's not like he's an unwilling passer when he draws a double team. If the Rockets as a team are relying on McGrady as a crutch, as they have so often earlier in the year, then he's going to have to dominate the ball. How many people here were advocating that we run more plays for the likes of Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, and Luther Head? The real adjustment for McGrady isn't how he's going to fit in the offense. That's a team-wide adjustment. He needs to be more focused on running and defending. Unfortunately, he's not going to be in good shape when he returns, and who knows how long it takes for him to get back into shape. So he'll look as lethargic as ever, probably till February.
You are so much better at saying what you mean in words than I am. I would have taken up half a page trying to get that point across.
His OCD is kicking in again, you have to recognize the symptoms. Like I said before, yeah I can really see TMac being a decoy in the offense waiting for a kickout pass. Hell, just make him the 5th option on the offense, let Chuck Hayes get his touches first. Brilliant idea!
Thank You. People here have such short memory. When we were winning, the ball was moving fine, guys were hitting shots. He didn't start chucking and going ISO until our guys started to brick everything. Guys like Jordan, Kobe, Wade, and LeBron all dominate the ball and have been successful. Yes, T-Mac dominates the ball but he is also a great passer with incredible vision. That is why they are called superstars and everyone else is a role player. The biggest problems we had was guys not hitting any shots, settling for too many jumpers and not being aggressive enough on offense. We didn't lose all those games because of T-Mac. It was a team effort, or lack of.
This is like the 90-91 season where Maxwell, Kenny and Larry Smith all stepped up when Olajuwon went out with the injury. Hopefully this means it will be a great season and even better when McGrady comes back. It will be against all odds though because his statements, attitude and history clearly show the opposite. So either a trade or back to standing around offense with McGrady claiming it's all up to him, on his shoulders etc.
* I mean everybody standing around on offense because McGrady wants to bring up the ball like a PG instead of being a cutter and go to the basket. He just settles for too many jumpshots but maybe that was not all McGrady's fault. I don't know the players and team that well to say wether it was the team, McGrady or both. McGrady has got to stop with his "claiming it's all up to him and all on his shoulders if they loose" mentality. Adelman and the whole team have to got to make this work though, with 2 superstars on a team because it worked with the 99-02 Lakers and several other non-championship winning teams.
about time someone gets it. At the start of the season our supporting cast was MIA, they could shoot to save their lives, everyone was well below their career averages. Now guys are starting to make shots they typically make and they are being more successful, incredible how that happens when you get the ball in the hole! This whole Tracy dominates the ball stuff and is a ball hog stuff is crap, esp. if you been watching him since he's come to houston, he's a willing passer with great vision. The guy can rack up dimes as quickly as point but the supporting case need to make shots
I don't know what everyone's problem is. T-mac is the perfect piece to fit into the way we have been playing. We still go on streches where our offense stagnates and there will still be times when you need a t-mac to take over. But now, you have the rest of the team that can support as well. And they have a system to play and score in that gives them confidence. Just because the team has been beating up on the bottom feeders of the league doesn't mean we don't need t-mac. We're going to need him to win 50 games and advance to the 2nd round. I think he's said he's happy that they won't look for him on offense as much. He'll get his shots, and he's not selfish like everyone says on this board. Let the man come back and play before you judge....geez!
Both JVG and Adelman have said, more than once, that TMac was one of the best passers they had ever coached. I don't know why so many people on this board suddenly label him a ballhog.
Frankly, I think that's getting it backwards. McGrady is terrific, a top 10 player, with the ball in his hands. It's what he does without the ball (on both ends), that really hurts the team.
Because they remember the jumpshots that didn't go in and forget the big shot trading he does with the Lakers, Spurs, Jazz, etc. Because they forget the poor point play early on but remember T-Mac bringing the ball up the court so the ROckets could get some kind of offense going. They forget that Adelman had this team running a new offense from game 1 with T-Mac not dominating the ball, but remember the offense after Adelman switched to the ISO and JVG style where T-Mac had control of the ball more.(in an effort to get the role players to make a more comfortable shot)
One of the best points I've read regarding T-Mac's effect on this team. Nobody should question what McGrady can do with the ball in his hands. That includes creating for others. The issue I see, which durvasa pointed out, is what McGrady does WITHOUT THE BALL. That is where he needs to focus his efforts. He needs to do keep the offense flowing by moving without the ball on every single possession. I don't have as much of an issue with his defense but the same holds true on that end of the court. In general, if McGrady MAKES THE CONSCIOUS DECISION to move without the ball, I have no doubt he makes this team better when he returns.
