Next season, we will have two games that every Magic fan will be watching. Orlando vs. Houston. The Magic staff/orgainzation knows everything about McGrady - His moves, complaints, tricks, etc. With all of our knowledge, our team could be one of the best to contain him. (With the exception of the Pistons or other strong defensives teams that stop everybody) Theres also the other side of it - The Rockets know their players as well. But it's a lot harder to contain three players compared to McGrady. Now I ask you guys, how will Orlando matchup with the Rockets? Will the duo of Yao & McGrady be too much for us?
Yao will have a field day in the post, I don't see It being that even If Houston get another decent point guard. Mike James's name has come up as their starting PG. Orlando may fully know what T-mac can do but It's completely different from knowing how to stop him and actually doing it. Steve Francis should take advantage of the point guard spot but to be honest thats the only position I see Orlando having their way with the Rockets. Overall the Rockets are very talented and have natural scorers. They have that inside, outside game that is very tough to stop. I will be surprised if Orlando manage to win either of the two season meetings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Orlando may fully know what T-mac can do but It's completely different from knowing how to stop him and actually doing it.</div> I agree. We may know his moves but it's easier said then done. We have a chance at beating the rockets IMO. If somehow we can get Yao in early foul trouble and make McGrady pass we should be ok.
The rockets imo depending on how they run there offense through yao or tmac when we play them may be easier beat then post think. Tmac will try to control the ball to much for the rockets if the offense goes through himand not yao. He may have a couple of easy turnovers and open up our very improved fast break game. If it is run through yao we will have to do something like the twolves do with kandi, johnson, and madson at the 5 spot. Switching if we resign him steven hunter in every couple of minutes for cato. To avoid foul trouble. It will be a good game depending how it is run so we will have to seee how it goes when game day comes. We have as good a shot as anyone has of beating the rockets.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Magic staff/orgainzation knows everything about McGrady - His moves, complaints, tricks, etc. With all of our knowledge, our team could be one of the best to contain him. (With the exception of the Pistons or other strong defensives teams that stop everybody) </div> Every Magic fan should know that you cannot contain TMAC
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MainMan:</div><div class="quote_post">Every Magic fan should know that you cannot contain TMAC</div> Zone defense, double team, Ron Artest. It's impossible to contain him, but I said we could do our best.
I think we can beat them at home. Rcokets don't scare me. They still have no PG. BTW-Don't forget about the Miami games. Anytime the Big Diesel comes back home it's always a game to watch.
I must also point out that TMac is going to be looking to decimate our team. Who on the team can properly contain TMac? Double-teams/Triple teams might work, but if he gets his dishes to Yao and Co., then do the Magic have a chance? The only two players I can think of in the league who hands down frustrate him are Ron Artest and Tayshaun Prince. We have neither. It's a tough call how this will go down, but it just seems to me that this matchup favors McGrady.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crazytown:</div><div class="quote_post">DOn't worry, in a few years, Bogans will be the next T-Mac Stopper. :mrgreen:</div> ya but francis is gonna have his eyes set on houston too, the team that traded him is gonna get hurt i think the rockets have too many scorers and not enough playmakers
T-Mac is not going to be the #1 option on Houston like he was here in Orlando. Van Gundy believes that Houston should run the offense through Yao and that is what they are going to do. As a result, it will be just as important to stop Yao. Cato is up to it if you ask me, since he did a pretty good job of guarding Shaq last year when the Rockets would face up against the Lakers. Stopping T-Mac is possible, it has been done before and I don't think that the Magic will be able to shut him out or anything, but I think that they can hold him to low numbers if they put someone capable defensively on him. If anything, the Magic look better on paper simply because they're younger, faster and will be playing a much more uptempo game. I would bet on the Magic to win their games against Houston, but I could be wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The magic will not stop Tmac</div> You guy are forgetting what an under-rated defender Cuttino Mobley is. Dont bring past match-ups into this, because these guys now have something to prove. I say it'll be an even split, each team winning on the away side's court (i.e. Rockets win in Orlando). <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If anything, the Magic look better on paper simply because they're younger, faster and will be playing a much more uptempo game.</div> If you're talking about Jameer and Dwight, then i understand you. But Francis and Mobley are older than Tmac and Yao. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">btw, im also gonna enjoy seeing francis dunk over yao </div> Francis only dunks on fast breaks, and Yao probably wont be defending on one. I really believe this "series" will depend on Kelvin Cato. He is an above-average defender. If he gets into foul trouble, then Yao will have a field day. If he frustrates Yao, the Magic have an huge chance of winning. Same with the Role-players. J. Jackson, J. Howard, and whoever the Rockets PG will be, are gonna have to step-up. From the Magic's stand point, Dwight Howard has gotta produce, because the Magic cant stop the Rockets with Francis and Mobley alone. When opponents started playing an up-tempo games the Rockets suffered last season, because we were to unorganized. I dont see either team "sweeping" the other.
If Tracy McGrady doesn't sleep through the games, miss the airplaine, or doesn't have back surgery(from doing all the work, of course) the Rockets might just win 1 game
Francis only dunks on fast breaks, and Yao probably wont be defending on one. BOOOO! ya i know, but it would be awesome with a capital A!
