You knew this thread was coming after this game...

One thing I have noticed from watching T-Mac play all those years is that T-Mac doesn’t like our role players moving or cutting in front of his path to the baskets. I believe T-Mac worry about the moving/cutting will bring another defender to him and result in him being double-teamed.

T-Mac like our role players stay stationary. He will try to draw the defenders away from our role player then dish out the assist. If he couldn’t get the defender come to him, he will put up a jump shot often than not those days. I think this is fine if T-Mac was able to go to the basket whenever he wants like the old days. However, this is not the case anymore.

I wish T-Mac should stop stare down his teammates or looking pissed when he thought they make a mistake during the play. Our role players may respond better with encouragement.

 

Let me give the conclusion:
We are better team with T-MAC;
We have better roleplayer without T-MAC!

 

Tmac played only 5 of the last 13 games. How can he played a positive role in the 8 games he missed? By sitting on the bench cheering? Or by doing the team a favorite of not playing with injury?

Rockets is definitely a better team with Tmac, but the question is, could we be a EVEN BETTER team by having other good players in the team instead of Tmac. For example, having Artest/Bibby instead of Tmac; having Miller/Iguodala instead of Tmac; having Kidd instead of Tmac; having Redd/Mo William instead of Tmac; having Deng/Gordon/Hirinch instead of Tmac and etc..

 

Oh by the way, I don't think now is a good time to trade Tmac. But, if we can't make it to the Western Final this season, then I would definetely suggest moving Tmac in the off season..

 

lol i knew this was coming

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5497330.html

give him time. our offense stagnates A TON when we try to iso yao. i don't know why people criticize that tmac slows down the offense when isoing yao slows down the offense EVEN MORE (we get TOs and not enough shots).

tmac has never had to play off the ball before. it's hard for him to change just like that. imagine telling lebron james to play off the ball RIGHT NOW. he wouldn't fit into this offense AT ALL.

give tmac time. let him relax and get a sense of where he should be on this team during the all-star break.

he's been under JVG for 3 years and habits get old. jvg has forced him to be who he is right now - a playmaker.

and boston would trade ray allen for tracy mcgrady, if morey wants to consider that trade. ray allen has been subpar for them in terms of what he can offer (he's averaging lows in fg%, 3pt%). so morey can look into that if u guys want to trade tmac.

 

Of course I agree with you that this reactionary threads are useless. Of course I agree with you that T-Mac should not be traded, he is an essential part of the team.

But then... weren't you an active and willing reactionary participant in many "Yao sucks" and "Trade Yao" threads after losses without T-Mac? The "KG dominated Yao" thread comes back vividly to my mind now.

Pot calling kettle black, LOL!!!

 

What? Guys did a lot of standing and watching Yao in the 4th. Just like with T-Mac. Good thing Yao played out of his mind because there was barley movement in that 4th quarter. It was pass to Yao and watch him work.

 

exactly. i don't get how fans on this board (but we know who they are--they're always criticizing tmac anyways, for just smiling so i mean what can u say about threads like these) criticize only him.

our offense started out great. but it stagnated to the finish major. we scored well at the end b/c yao was HOT. if tmac is hot, we'll score 100+ pts too (ala sonics).

 

Is running an iso for Yao a good idea? As far as I could tell when the Rockets tried that tonight Yao got swarmed and lost the ball.

On the other hand, when the Rockets ran the motion offense Yao moved, the ball moved, Yao got the ball deep in the paint and bam, guaranteed two points and/or a foul. Yao looked so much more effective tonight when he was able to catch and immediately make his move.

If that's the case, shouldn't the Rockets be moving away from a strategy of setting up isolation plays for Yao? Shouldn't the Rockets also then be moving away from setting up isolation plays for T-Mac?

 

When you have two unstoppable players like Yao and T-Mac, iso plays can come in handy. Especially in the final moments when you need to count on your superstars to step up. All the greats like MJ, Hakeem, ect. took over games and put the team on their shoulders when they had to. That is what makes a superstar, a superstar.

 

Butler and haywood？？

 

we don't trade T-Mac unless it's Kobe

 

Hell no. We won like 3 games in a row with him back. He's changing to this system. You can see the difference.

Without T-Mac there's a bunch of confused assholes out on the court that can play around Yao.

With T-Mac you have a true leader on the court. Yes he takes some ill-advised jumpshots, but you also see him make plays. He draws double teams. Luther Head or Rafer doesn't naturally suck up double teams.

 

When Tmac is in, the offense flows thru him as he's the playmaker. No one on the team would know what to expect from tmac. They have to constantly watching tmac making sure when he passes, you are rdy to be there and catch.

When Yao's is in the game, the offense style is inside out, players around the arc making entry passes and then yao will either score or pass for easy layups. Yao's is playing within the offense style plan by RA. everyone knows there role and where to run.

When it comes to tmac, because he is also a playmaker. there just too many unexpected moves and decisions made by tmac. hence, why tmac shooting so many jumpers, guys are not reading his moves and not in positions where tmac want them to be. when tmac couldn't pass he shoot.

 

Here is the bottomline, Tmac is not Untradeable. we just need to get equal value in return.

Tmac is an all-star no doubt, however, his value on court don't nesscessary corrospond with his value on the check book.

20 mils a year player, I am sure many of us would hope for better result and attitude.

will there be teams out there willing to trade one for one? i doubt it. 2 or maybe 3 for 1? yeah, but morey is not that desperate.

 

Nice post Codman. My term for threads like these is "Over-Reaction Threads". Tmac ain't going nowhere. What they need is for Tmac to man up and start showing some commitment and dedication to making this thing work. He talks a good game but the time for his talk is past. Now is the time when Tmac has to step up and put this team on his back along with Yao and take care of business. I've been saying this all season long: they have to play hard, play smart and they will make the playoffs. But they won't do squat in the playoffs without their so-called superstar playing up to his capabilities.

They did play well against GS especially Yao who worked his butt off to get position against the Warriors' fronting defenses. They had no answer for him at all as he totally pawned Harrigan. If anything, I thought that he didn't get the ball enough in the 3rd period because the Warriors had nobody who could stop him. The rest of the team stepped up and also played hard and the result was a solid win against a team that they needed to beat. The schedule is beginning to turn in their favor now and this is the time for them to make their push for the post-season. They keep playing like this and they may just make a little noise in the playoffs after all.

 

When Yao plays like that, the rox are a very good team. The problem is a lot of times when Yao isn't scoring, he isn't rebounding or controlling the paint. Last night he was a force early and remained one throughout the game. When plays well and rebounds like he did, the rox are going in the right direction.

I just shake my head at this whole idea of the team playing better without T-Mac. Adelman finally realized Hayes isn't a nba starter,scola and landry can man the 4, and Novak can shoot. I think that even though ming and mcgrady are young age wise,their bodies are older. I would rather ride these 2 out and improve the supporting cast. If it doesn't work, in 2 more yrs lebron and that class will be free agents. I'm not giving up the chance to put james next to yao for redd or butler.

 

Wait, wha? Yes, I knew this thread was coming, and I also know it is a silly idea.

- Scola hits the mid range shot, the SAME shot he gets while playing with McGrady.
- Luther decides to play slightly smarter and makes a couple of very tough shots that could have very easily missed.
- Novak hits a couple of contested 3s then he gets guarded, just like the previous game.
- The team loses a 20+ point lead.

We played well for 3 quarters. Lost hold of the game in the 4th. Sound familiar?

The team played well, AND played bad last night. You stick McGrady in there into what happened last night and we see the team we've seen before when everything is just clicking. Every game lately has been down to the last couple of minutes. How soon many have forgotten that T-Mac was a very important part of us winning the games we did since he's been back. how many last night were thinking about the "Yao is unclutch" thread heading into the crucial parts of the game last night?

I'm proud of the team last night. No doubt. As I saw GS take a 1 point lead, I said to my fiance (fellow fan)..."OK, this is ok...for us to get better in crunch time, we have to finish here tonight. Find a way, doesn't have to be pretty, but just find a way to win."

Suggesting this team get rid of Tracy, I'll never understand. We need both he and Yao if we hope to make and do anything in the playoffs. And Redd is not a good substitution for Mac here. I wonder what our record would have been with Redd here last season when Yao was down and out...not 52 wins.

 

I agree, but it is not just about subtraction it is also about what you get back in return.

You may not get equal value in individual talent, but the team might get better overall with a trade.

No one is untouchable if it makes the Rockets better.

There is no denying the fact that the role players move the ball and play better without Tmac dominating the ball......we have to get Tmac comfortable playing OFF the ball so everyone gets involved, because THAT is when the team really becomes all it can be.

DD

 

T-Mac is a fantastic player. Rockets will not become a better team by trading him away under the current circumstance.

Please stop these trade-T-Mac threads.