If this doesn't prove that T-Mac is lazy, I don't know what does

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If his summer-time routine is any indication, McGrady is approaching the 2004-2005 season with a seriousness that must have the Rockets thrilled.

During the week, he lifts weights in the morning and plays basketball in the afternoon, then goes to a local high school track to run in the evening -- often after dark.

"This is as hard as I've ever worked out in my life,'' he said one night last week on his way home from the track. "But to get to the next level -- which I plan to do -- it's got to be done. I do feel bad for the fans here in Orlando. They're going to miss something really special.''
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I know that this is all water under the bridge so to speak, but I still have to wonder why all of the sudden T-Mac has this tremendous work ethic. He never did anything like this to the best of my recollection in Orlando, even when we were a playoff team.

Maybe I'm alone in thinking this, but I really believe that what Magic officials were saying (relating to T-Mac's laziness) is true now. If what he describes above is truly the hardest he has ever trained...well, he's not much of an athlete.

 

He's trying to re-assure himself that he's good enough to win a championship, I suppose. I guess he's also trying to let everyone know that "he means business" now that he's with the Rockets, and possibly an easy way to say that he wasn't even trying in Orlando...which is a cop-out, IMO. Iverson almost took the Sixers to the playoffs last year (and I hate Iverson)...but McGrady couldn't do it. LeBron was even closer. Oh well...nice work ethic...he must be proud. :thumbsdow

 

If he hasn't been in good shape before...well...his problem. If you want to exceed from All-Star to THE BEST and beat Kobe you have to work real hard. If he was in bad shape before and wasn't trying, well...his career on the line.

 

When you know you will have a big man to fall back on you become more motivated. T-mac can now hide in games and not spend as much energy on offense now he has a center like Yao to go to.

 

Like AllNet said Tracy McGrady has Yao to help him out on the offensive end so therefore he doesn't have to do everything on his own like he did here in Orlando. I don't see why he's working on his game now or anytime. I mean sure you have to work to be the best but Tracy still lacks a little something called leadership. Everyone knows Tracy can't lead a team vocally or nor physically(which we saw this season with Orlando) so why doesn't he work on his vocal skills along with his game is my question?

 

Yes T-Mac lacks leadership. It should be interesting to see who will lead the team in Houston. Yao aint very aggressive either.

 

I heard Tmac was taking a summer leadership class in UH. He seems dedicated in proving his detractors wrong this season.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">IMO. Iverson almost took the Sixers to the playoffs last year (and I hate Iverson)...but McGrady couldn't do it. LeBron was even closer. Oh well...nice work ethic...he must be proud. :thumbsdow</div>
Whoa, hold up a second. Your thinking that those two led the team by themselves? You've gotta be kidding me...

Iverson: He had Samuel Dalembert, Glenn Robinson, and Eric Snow. Not to mention Kyle Korver who saved them a few times with his threes. That team may not sound like much but it's a whole lot better than McGradys' Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard, and Drew Gooden. I mean, I saw Tyronn Lue turn the ball over and miss so many horribly forced up shots and his horrible shot selection and Drew Gooden throw the ball up everytime he got the ball that I think T-Mac would be a whole lot happier with a smart and skilled player like Snow.

LeBron: This one almost had me laughing. We're talking not only Carlos Boozer and Zydrunas Ilgauskas but also Jeff McInnis and Dajuan Wagner. You may not think that Wagner is not much to boast about, but at least he's won Nike Basketball's Baller of the week. Something Tyronn Lue has yet to do. If McGrady was lucky enough to have Boozer, Big Z and McInnis, you can be rest assured he would have gotten past the first round.

Now about McGrady's work ethic. It's obvious that he hasn't worked so hard before, but why can't people be grateful that he's trying now. is it because he left Orlando to go to Houston where he has a better chance for a ring? Pssh....

 

when shaq hurt his toe awhile ago, everyone was amazed at what Kobe was doing. while that was happening, TMAC was good, but I remember hearing that if T-Mac worked as hard as Kobe, or at all, he would be the best player in the league. If he is really good now, working must do wonders!
Thanks for...nothing

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">when shaq hurt his toe awhile ago, everyone was amazed at what Kobe was doing. while that was happening, TMAC was good, but I remember hearing that if T-Mac worked as hard as Kobe, or at all, he would be the best player in the league. If he is really good now, working must do wonders!
Thanks for...nothing</div>
Wink 23 can you post the team record when Shaq was injured and Kobe was the lone superstar on the team?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">Wink 23 can you post the team record when Shaq was injured and Kobe was the lone superstar on the team?</div>

Actually...I did this a while back. Kobe (without Shaq) won 62% of his games, while Shaq (without Kobe) won 60%. Proved alot of people wrong...here's my post from a while back:

The Lakers without Shaq:
Lakers 121, Grizzlies 89
Lakers 120, Wizards 99
Clippers 101, Lakers 98 (no Malone)
Minnesota 106, Lakers 90 (no Malone)
Denver 113, Lakers 91 (no Malone)
Lakers 113, Hawks 67 (no Malone, Lakers win by 46 points)
Lakers 89, Cavs 79 (no Malone)
Lakers 93, Jazz 86 (no Malone)

Lakers without Kobe:
Lakers 109, Dallas 93
Timberwolves 97, Lakers 84
Lakers 84, Raptors 83 (barely won)
Lakers 111, Cavs 106 (overtime game)
Sixers 96, Lakers 73
Lakers 98, Magic 96 (barely beat the Magic???)
Lakers 98, Heat 83
Hawks 94, Lakers 93 (lost to the same team they beat by 46???)
Lakers 94, Nets 88
Jazz 88, Lakers 83

With Kobe on the team by himself, the Lakers went 5-3, or .625...six of those games, there was NO REBOUNDER (that's why I mentioned "no Malone"). With Shaq on the team by himself, they went 6-4, or .600.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Iverson: He had Samuel Dalembert, Glenn Robinson, and Eric Snow. Not to mention Kyle Korver who saved them a few times with his threes. That team may not sound like much but it's a whole lot better than McGradys' Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard, and Drew Gooden. I mean, I saw Tyronn Lue turn the ball over and miss so many horribly forced up shots and his horrible shot selection and Drew Gooden throw the ball up everytime he got the ball that I think T-Mac would be a whole lot happier with a smart and skilled player like Snow. </div>
Huh? Tyronn Lue? Horrible shot selection?
Wow this is a new one.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">Wink 23 can you post the team record when Shaq was injured and Kobe was the lone superstar on the team?</div>


OK HOLD ON

This had nothing to do with team record or Kobe vs. Shaq.

What I was saying that when Kobe had the string of 40 pt. games in a row, T-Mac was and still is not as good as him. If he had a consistent and hard work routine, he would be the best player in the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually...I did this a while back. Kobe (without Shaq) won 62% of his games, while Shaq (without Kobe) won 60%. Proved alot of people wrong...here's my post from a while back:

The Lakers without Shaq:
Lakers 121, Grizzlies 89
Lakers 120, Wizards 99
Clippers 101, Lakers 98 (no Malone)
Minnesota 106, Lakers 90 (no Malone)
Denver 113, Lakers 91 (no Malone)
Lakers 113, Hawks 67 (no Malone, Lakers win by 46 points)
Lakers 89, Cavs 79 (no Malone)
Lakers 93, Jazz 86 (no Malone)

Lakers without Kobe:
Lakers 109, Dallas 93
Timberwolves 97, Lakers 84
Lakers 84, Raptors 83 (barely won)
Lakers 111, Cavs 106 (overtime game)
Sixers 96, Lakers 73
Lakers 98, Magic 96 (barely beat the Magic???)
Lakers 98, Heat 83
Hawks 94, Lakers 93 (lost to the same team they beat by 46???)
Lakers 94, Nets 88
Jazz 88, Lakers 83

With Kobe on the team by himself, the Lakers went 5-3, or .625...six of those games, there was NO REBOUNDER (that's why I mentioned "no Malone"). With Shaq on the team by himself, they went 6-4, or .600.</div>

Sorry, I guess I need to rephrase my question. Can you tell me the Team's record when Kobe was the only star (No Malone, No Payton, No Shaq) on the team? I remember during the start of the 2002-2003 season, Kobe was given the opportunity to prove the world that he could lead a team without Shaq. Can you tell me the team's record during that period of games? I believe it was something like 4-9.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">OK HOLD ON

This had nothing to do with team record or Kobe vs. Shaq.

What I was saying that when Kobe had the string of 40 pt. games in a row, T-Mac was and still is not as good as him. If he had a consistent and hard work routine, he would be the best player in the NBA.</div>
Do you think Shaq had anything to do with that? Do you think he can do the same thing again if he was the only offensive option on the team and had the entire opposing team's defense on him?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">Sorry, I guess I need to rephrase my question. Can you tell me the Team's record when Kobe was the only star (No Malone, No Payton, No Shaq) on the team? I remember during the start of the 2002-2003 season, Kobe was given the opportunity to prove the world that he could lead a team without Shaq. Can you tell me the team's record during that period of games? I believe it was something like 4-9.</div>

Well, in that case, you have to look at how they practiced WITH Shaq during the off-season. I'm sure Kobe didn't have a worst-case scenario practice where Shaq was not around...so running the Lakers in that bad of shape would be impossible, even possibly for Michael Jordan. McGrady had the whole off-season to practice with the starters...who, even though they weren't that spectacular, still got the time to develop into a team, whereas Kobe and guys like Medvedenko, Grant and the others didn't have that practice time.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Huh? Tyronn Lue? Horrible shot selection?
Wow this is a new one.</div>

I never saw this from Tyronn Lue, if anything, he had great shot selection. He led the Magic in three point percentage last year people, this guy is not a scrub like everyone makes him out to be.

Nevertheless, my thread has gotten hijacked...and to make matters worse, it's been made into a Lakers dispute. I really should have thought this one through a bit more before I posted this. I have a feeling that Ice is going to delete this thread pretty quickly if things don't shift back on topic.

 

Einitials I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Tracy McGrady has absolutely nothing on Kobe Bryant. Never has, never will.

 

Well he's got 2 scoring titles on Kobe. That's a start. We will start to compare Kobe and TMac now, when Tmac has a legit big man and Kobe doesn't. As of now though, Kobe is the superior player.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you think Shaq had anything to do with that? Do you think he can do the same thing again if he was the only offensive option on the team and had the entire opposing team's defense on him?</div>


Enitials, you are not comprehending this.

2 years ago, Shaq was out with his toe injury. HE WAS NOT PLAYING.
Kobe became the main option and did well, and this has nothing to do with the teams record. He had the streak of 40 pt. games, among becoming a true leader. NOW, T-Mac is in a different situation, but what my point is is that if he had the kind of work ethic Kobe had, T-Mac would put up the streak of 40 pt. games, and free agents would want to come to Orlando, and he would learn to set up his team mates. So, now that he is in Houston, maybe he has fixed his work regime. Maybe now he will become what he should, the best player in the NBA.

Do you get it?