<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Long losing streaks, like that endured by the Orlando Magic until Monday's win over the Phoenix Suns, are devastating. It cost Doc Rivers his job and threatens the job and reputation of general manager John Gabriel. It chased away fans and brought national ridicule. It also turned Tracy McGrady from a great player to a great talent. Because the teams of great players don't lose 19 consecutive games. Only four teams in NBA history have lost more consecutive games in one season than the Magic did. They were the 1995-96 Grizzlies, the 1997-98 Nuggets, the 1972-73 76ers and the 1993-94 Mavericks. It won't take long to check: There was no Hall of Famer or future Hall of Famer on any of those teams. Should McGrady get to the Basketball Hall of Fame, which many have predicted with the impressive start to his career, he would be without peer. Because no great player has ever been through that bad of a stretch. Which raises the question: If McGrady is so great, how could he let the Magic lose 19 straight games? It's the question that was most asked around the NBA during the Magic's streak. And the answer is fairly simple. McGrady is a great talent, not a great player. He has great abilities, but he's missing that intangible which the truly great ones have, the one the media and public explain in clich?s -- the fire in his belly that won't let them lose.</div> Full Story by Sam Smith
He's a great player. He's an amazing player. He just doesn't have the leadership yet. He will develop it.
But the author did raise an interesting point. There was "no Hall of Famer or future Hall of Famer on any of those teams and no great player has ever been through that bad of a stretch".
Yes, but you can't blame just him. If we would have kept Doc, then we would have won more by now. Coaching changes change a team. I wouldn't call him a HOF yet, but he's on track to being one if he can continue to work hard and somehow get his team winning.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">He's a great player. He's an amazing player. He just doesn't have the leadership yet. He will develop it.</div> Oh I am sure you have a direct feed to his brain to be able to tell that :mrgreen: No one knows that for sure, this season has been an embarrassment in every aspect of T-Mac's professional career.
If tmac isnt a great player, how come every time he drives to the basket 3 or 4 guys surround him? and dont say that happens to everyone because it doesent.......... Ask any coach in the league if tmac is a great player, they will tell you how great he is. That sportswriter doesnt know anything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Drew Gooden:</div><div class="quote_post">If tmac isnt a great player, how come every time he drives to the basket 3 or 4 guys surround him? and dont say that happens to everyone because it doesent.......... Ask any coach in the league if tmac is a great player, they will tell you how great he is. That sportswriter doesnt know anything.</div> The reason 3 or 4 guys come at him is because he has great TALENT he can score and all but cant lead his team like a great PLAYER can.
What does leadership have anything to do with being a great BASKETBALL player. I dont think tmac is much of a leader but he might be the best player in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Drew Gooden:</div><div class="quote_post">What does leadership have anything to do with being a great BASKETBALL player. I dont think tmac is much of a leader but he might be the best player in the league.</div> Exactly, but top 5 player in the league(he's not the absolute best).
In time, Mcgrady will develope his talent. The thing is, I always thought he had this in the past years. Last year, he basicly had nothing either. But somehow, he managed to have one of the best records in the league. I think there might be a cancer on the team, or its the simple fact of him not having enough talent around him has come into play. But Tmac still is a great player in this league.
HE is a GREAT PLAYer and he is gonnna be a HOF, did u see his stats from last yr? it was a HOFer stat, all he lack is leadership, and the magics made a horrible mistake not signing Darrell Armstrong back, he is just gonna get better, wait and see u guys
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dinohackerzero:</div><div class="quote_post">HE is a GREAT PLAYer and he is gonnna be a HOF, did u see his stats from last yr? it was a HOFer stat, all he lack is leadership, and the magics made a horrible mistake not signing Darrell Armstrong back, he is just gonna get better, wait and see u guys</div> T-Mac and hall of fame? lol it seems as if thats his LONG FUTURE. Before anythin you gotta talk about him and a ring before HOF.
Before you even get to a ring, you gotta get to the 2nd round... I think the debate is getting bogged down with the difference between a great talent and great player. I think we can all agree that TMac can play well, especially when faced with his last season. But does he deserve a spot in the HOF for what he did last year? Absolutely NOT! To lead even a weak team to the playoffs and then get beat year after year, that just isn't excusable for a HOFer. I can't think of any HOFer who never made it past the first round of playoffs, but if anyone can, then please educate me. Lots of guys can put up nice stats for a couple of seasons but never make an impact. Only the Great Ones can make an impact. Besides highlight reel moves and gravity defying dunks, I'm not sure that TMac has...
He is a great player with great talent. I dont think he deserves to be in the HOF, but he is a great player. PS. This thread seems similar to a thread i posted earlier! http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9688
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jump:</div><div class="quote_post">He is a great player with great talent. I dont think he deserves to be in the HOF, but he is a great player. PS. This thread seems similar to a thread i posted earlier! http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9688</div> It is because I remember writing a long post speaking my mind about it.
That article brings up some great points. There?s no question he is a great talent, because the talent is right there. But to me, a great player is someone who leads the team nightly, demands the ball during the closing minutes, and has leadership/clutch. McGrady can do that sometimes, but going by that definition he is an inconsistent ?great player.? This season has been a disappointment and surely an embarrassment on his career but things will look up. He is just too talented for a downfall. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting :</div><div class="quote_post">Because the teams of great players don't lose 19 consecutive games.</div> Also, a great point. McGrady could have won a couple of those games by himself, and he almost did. The Denver game was the prime example. He dropped 51 points and had everything going yet his team lost. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting :</div><div class="quote_post">More significantly, Miller and Armstrong complemented McGrady's game. McGrady could penetrate and then find one of the perimeter shooters in Miller or Armstrong. And Armstrong, especially, could penetrate and take pressure off McGrady. </div> I noticed that too. It's changing Tmac entire game. Drew Gooden and Juwan Howard don?t compliment each other let alone McGrady?s game. Contrast to Miller and Armstrong, they are interior players and do nothing for Tracy?s game. Simple fact is: Great players will find a way around this?.....
