Don't be too harsh on Mcgrady

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Technically no center alone has ever won a championship by himself with no major help. I'm sorry to tell you guys but gaurds win games. Why? It is much harder to play defense on a gaurd that is mobile while double teams and screens can wear and tear on any center.

Tmac is a major part of this team.Trading either for role players will not help.
Why is Wesley open for so many 3's?

Answer: Yao clears the lane with his double team and Tmac draws a double team on the opposite wing. Both players are crucial. What this team needs is more chemistry in the shot selection and a third scorer.</div>

What major help did Olajuwon have in the first championship season? It was him and bunch of role players. No one else was close to allstar caliber.

But I don't want us to give up on McGrady. When he's healthy, he's one of the top 5 or 6 players in the game. We can't just give up on someone of that caliber after one bad year. If he can rest well during the offseason, I think he could be back to his old self next season.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">What major help did Olajuwon have in the first championship season? It was him and bunch of role players. No one else was close to allstar caliber. </div>

A legit, rebounding Power Forward, something Yao really lacks. But I am totally with you on this one. The day Yao reaches Hakeem's status is a day I hope comes. The only score that matters right now is:

Hakeem: 2
Yao: 0

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">But I don't want us to give up on McGrady. When he's healthy, he's one of the top 5 or 6 players in the game. We can't just give up on someone of that caliber after one bad year. If he can rest well during the offseason, I think he could be back to his old self next season.</div>

Definitely agree here. And with shapecity as well. Yao does good, T-Mac slips up a bit, and then the world just hates McGrady. Honestly, I've been frustrated with Tracy, after the playoffs last year he CONVINCED me that we would be back in this. .and then he goes down injured. But that's the way to clock ticks, and we have to accept that.

Like shapecity said, it would be truely sad to see a great player like McGrady turn into a Penny Hardaway, just because of injuries. If he is truely hurt, I would be ok with sitting out of the playoffs.

But tanking the season and letting Yao be the MAN? Heck no.

How do you tell a player, especially one like Yao, "We're gonna try losing the rest of the season, but we'll let you be the MAN during that time!"?

You don't. If T-Mac can play, let him play. Yao is doing great right now, and I would love to fight for a playoff spot and win one with just Yao, and let McGrady reemerge during the playoffs.

3-13 without McGrady. Had we had him, that record would've been 13-3. The Rockets are a damn good team, and we've just been torn by injuries. But it seems Lady Luck is finding her way back to Houston, let's hope she stays.

Btw, a little Off-topic, but does anyone wanna make a Playoff bet? I say the Rockets make the playoffs, and if we don't I'll sport WHATEVER sig the winner wants for the ENTIRE offseason. And if I win, well, you sport the sig.

I have confidence in my team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Btw, a little Off-topic, but does anyone wanna make a Playoff bet? I say the Rockets make the playoffs, and if we don't I'll sport WHATEVER sig the winner wants for the ENTIRE offseason. And if I win, well, you sport the sig.</div>The gambler in me is telling me to go all out.

It's on.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Btw, a little Off-topic, but does anyone wanna make a Playoff bet? I say the Rockets make the playoffs, and if we don't I'll sport WHATEVER sig the winner wants for the ENTIRE offseason. And if I win, well, you sport the sig.

I have confidence in my team. </div>
I'm in as well. They will NOT make the playoffs foo. Hell, I would even bet on throwing in the avatar as well, even the user title. You think you have that much confidence man ?

EDIT- Since Trip took the sig, I got dibbs on usertitle and avatar. If you win, I need to rock the sig, avatar, and usertitle.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Btw, a little Off-topic, but does anyone wanna make a Playoff bet? I say the Rockets make the playoffs, and if we don't I'll sport WHATEVER sig the winner wants for the ENTIRE offseason. And if I win, well, you sport the sig.

I have confidence in my team. </div>
I'm in as well. They will NOT make the playoffs foo. Hell, I would even bet on throwing in the avatar as well, even the user title. You think you have that much confidence man ?

 

Haha.. looks like we got a little wager, boys.

Locke, do you just want the sig? Because I don't want to hurt you two that much..

It's onnn now.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">Haha.. looks like we got a little wager, boys.

Locke, do you just want the sig? Because I don't want to hurt you two that much..

It's onnn now.</div>
If you lose, you wear a sig I give you and User Titles/avatar belongs to Aznx.

If you win, we both wear sigs you dictate.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">If you lose, you wear a sig I give you and User Titles/avatar belongs to Aznx.

When you win, we both wear sigs you dictate.</div>

Fixed your post, Locke. No need to thank me.

Touch?. Seems fair enough. . gonna have to open Photoshop back up again, eh? I need some practice.

With McGrady being injured and out for 5 weeks now, I think it's best to see how Yao takes the Rockets, and if we do get back in the playoffs, we all know T-Mac will be itching to play.

Unfortunately for me, I made this wager before I knew T-Mac was injured.

But whatever, I have FAITH. I will now end all my posts with:

BELIEVE.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
With McGrady being injured and out for 5 weeks now, I think it's best to see how Yao takes the Rockets, and if we do get back in the playoffs, we all know T-Mac will be itching to play.</div>
I'd rather not see McGrady get that "itch". After reading that Penny comparison to McGrady, I'm getting pretty scared now that if he keeps coming back.<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately for me, I made this wager before I knew T-Mac was injured.

But whatever, I have FAITH. I will now end all my posts with:

BELIEVE.</div>
LOL. More power to you man.

 

Not harsh, but comparison..iverson and mcgrady. Both have injuries and family problems. But Iverson keeps it to himself, fights hard everygame. Mcgrady doesn't play hard every game, hardly dunks, hardly drives in compared to jumpers these days and he is outhustled by keith bogans. His spark isn't here anymore. We can say he's been in the league for a long time and as he says himself 'he's getting old' and body is taken a beating..but why is A.I still running and gunning? And family matters, A.I doesn't cry abt it as an excuse to his bad performances; and injuries his arm pain and he plays through it.
Tmac's prime might be gone, but even b4 his back problems..where is his fearless slashes to the rim and high energy games. Can't compare him to kobe i'm afraid, kobe carries his team and averages 30+ppg

 

Right now our only consolation would be to believe that "everything happens for a reason." If the Rockets won't make the playoffs, they might have a chance to draft two good players. One in the lottery pick and the other one either a first or second pick in the second round because we have the Knicks' pick. The injury to TMac will give a lot of chance for other players to step in. 5 weeks is too long and agonizing. By the time TMac returns it will be the last 2-3 games of the regular season and it may be useless if the Rockets are out of the playoffs hunt although I still believe with miracle's aid that they can still make it. Not making the playoffs would give players like TMac and Sura a lot of time to recover. The experience obtained from an injury filled season would allow CD and JVG to rebuild the roster with hardworking, efficient and mentally tough player. Perhaps it would be a very busy offseason for the Rockets.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">Not harsh, but comparison..iverson and mcgrady. Both have injuries and family problems. But Iverson keeps it to himself, fights hard everygame. Mcgrady doesn't play hard every game, hardly dunks, hardly drives in compared to jumpers these days and he is outhustled by keith bogans. His spark isn't here anymore. We can say he's been in the league for a long time and as he says himself 'he's getting old' and body is taken a beating..but why is A.I still running and gunning? And family matters, A.I doesn't cry abt it as an excuse to his bad performances; and injuries his arm pain and he plays through it.
Tmac's prime might be gone, but even b4 his back problems..where is his fearless slashes to the rim and high energy games. Can't compare him to kobe i'm afraid, kobe carries his team and averages 30+ppg</div>

Neither of those players have had to deal with a bad back, so the comparison ends right there. And McGrady has had back problems since before he came to Houston.

And AI has a commercial where he's advertising all his injuries -- obviously he's not hiding it either.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">Not harsh, but comparison..iverson and mcgrady. Both have injuries and family problems. But Iverson keeps it to himself, fights hard everygame. Mcgrady doesn't play hard every game, hardly dunks, hardly drives in compared to jumpers these days and he is outhustled by keith bogans. His spark isn't here anymore. We can say he's been in the league for a long time and as he says himself 'he's getting old' and body is taken a beating..but why is A.I still running and gunning? And family matters, A.I doesn't cry abt it as an excuse to his bad performances; and injuries his arm pain and he plays through it.
Tmac's prime might be gone, but even b4 his back problems..where is his fearless slashes to the rim and high energy games. Can't compare him to kobe i'm afraid, kobe carries his team and averages 30+ppg</div>

I agree to what you've said. Aside from A.I. There are other players in the league who played through pain. Last year Sura played with bad knees and dislocated thumb. If Yao's toe injury didn't became infected and career threatening, he could have played through it as he don't want to miss many games. I admire AI's dedication to the game. He considered every game a responsibility. If TMac could have a little motivation. His team needs him in the most important stretch of the season. There are lot of time to rest,heal and recover in the offseason.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting blueracer:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree to what you've said. Aside from A.I. There are other players in the league who played through pain. Last year Sura played with bad knees and dislocated thumb. If Yao's toe injury didn't became infected and career threatening, he could have played through it as he don't want to miss many games. I admire AI's dedication to the game. He considered every game a responsibility. If TMac could have a little motivation. His team needs him in the most important stretch of the season. There are lot of time to rest,heal and recover in the offseason.</div>

My god, it's attitudes like this that end athlete's careers.

The last thing McGrady should do is act "tough" and play when his back is as messed up as it is. It could do permanent damage. And then people like you and drm2dnk will be bad-mouthing him for being completely useless.

 

T. McGrady 35
T. McGrady 25
T. McGrady 27
T. McGrady 25
DECEMBER
High Pts
T. McGrady 35
T. McGrady 28
T. McGrady 35
T. McGrady 34
T. McGrady 29
T. McGrady 20
T. McGrady 21
T. McGrady 38
T. McGrady 32
JANUARY
High Pts
T. McGrady 38
T. McGrady 34
T. McGrady 37
T. McGrady 35
T. McGrady 43
T. McGrady 41
T. McGrady 29
T. McGrady 19
T. McGrady 37
T. McGrady 23


T-Mac has not fallen off, lost his edge, or is past his prime. He is just facing what Kobe went through last season, and what Vince went through 2 seasons back. And that is injuries, everybody in sports has to deal with them. He has proven himself this season (when almost fully healthy) as shown above. But we forget all that quickly because our team is losing.


<div class="quote_poster">Quoting evolidiot:</div><div class="quote_post">I would actaully be willing to trade T-Mac for a bunch of good role players to build around Yao. Right now, the Rockets are basically a team with two superstars and a bunch of scrubs or underchieving potential. The teams record without both Yao and T-Mac speaks volumes about our team. Also, our records without one of our superstars are not that great either. This all tells me that the role players are horrible, because they should be able to win at least one of their games without the big two.

In order to win in the NBA you need to have a TEAM, not just a couple of gold goose eggs lying on top of a pile of crap. They are moving in a better direction, with the addition of players like Hayes and Bogans, but they are still far from being a TEAM like Dallas, Phoenix, Spurs, or Detroit.

Either build a team around Yao or T-Mac. I would choose Yao for the following reasons:
1. Yao is technically a year younger, but with all of Mcgrady's problems, he might as well be 10 years younger.
2. Mcgrady seems to have peaked, and will likely be on the downslide from here on end.
3. According to JVG, no one works as hard on their game as Yao
4. It is easier to replace a perimeter scorer than a dominating low-post presence.
5. Not his fault, but T-MAc is very unreliable these days
6. Chronic back problems that wil keep him out of games

With all that said, I hope I am wrong. Hopefully the Rockets can still become a TEAM without trading either Yao or T-Mac, and that Mcgrady can finally become healthy. Luther Head, Bogans, and Hayes need to develop their games, while Swift needs to start living up to is #2 pick potential.</div>

NEVER EVER trade a star for 2 or more role players. For example, we traded Francis, Mobley, and Cato for McGrady, Howard, and Lue<?>. The first year the Magic traded Mobley for Doug and he retired due to injury. Francis wanted out and who the hell cares about Cato. For T-Mac all Orlando ended up with was Trevor Ariza.

L.A. traded Shaq for 3 role players...Brian Grant was released (if I remember correctly), and all they got for Shaq in the end was Odom.

My point. When you are dealing stars, you look at the difference between the two. If other players are involved in the trade, hopefully they can just be icing on the cake. If you trade a star, you better end up with a star that is as good, or a star that is almost as good but fits your team better. That way you can milk out the worth of that star and keep that worth for years to come.

Get it?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">My god, it's attitudes like this that end athlete's careers.

The last thing McGrady should do is act "tough" and play when his back is as messed up as it is. It could do permanent damage. And then people like you and drm2dnk will be bad-mouthing him for being completely useless.</div>


I'm not bad-mouthing him(TMac) for being completely useless. I'm just questioning his dedication to the game. During the time when almost every key players got injured there are games they could have won if he played with intensity and inspire the remaining players on the team. Take for example the game against the Raptors and the Suns at home he seems to play passively. He didn't use his explosiveness to an advantage. Instead of driving to the hoop he settles for jumper. You noticed also that a lot of FTs are being missed by him. Another thing is being fragile emotionally. He's not the only player who have lost a love one may it be a relative or friend. Last year(04-05 season) he lost a very dear friend but he didn't let it affect his game. This year personal issues seems to have sucked out the game in him. Lastly if he can't play there's nothing we can do about it. Let's just hope him the best and for the rest of the rockets to continue playing well. As I've said everything happens for a reason who knows it might result to a positive one. Maybe inspire the Rockets to push for the playoffs or being successful for many seasons to come.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting blueracer:</div><div class="quote_post"> He's not the only player who have lost a love one may it be a relative or friend. Last year(04-05 season) he lost a very dear friend but he didn't let it affect his game. This year personal issues seems to have sucked out the game in him. </div>

Name me the other players who have lost someone close to them every year of their NBA career?

I'm sick of how everyone keeps criticizing McGrady's dedication when they have zero idea what he's going through physically and emotionally.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">

Name me the other players who have lost someone close to them every year of their NBA career?</div>
Yeah, I'm actually starting to think that perhaps the reason why he's doing so bad this particular year is that all the bad stuff in the past just built up and is cresting (I hope) this season. After dealing with so many problems, I guess McGrady just broke down mentally and physically with all the injuries.