<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When you are used to playing at 220 and come to camp at 235 like he did last year, that's another 15 pounds on an already fragile back. I am sure it helped contribute to his bad season last year. Maybe not totally caused it, but definately helped worsen the situation.</div>You keep saying he was playing at 220. When exactly was he playing at 220? You keep talking like you're his personal trainer or something. Yeah, sure, fat people have back problems because of weight. Their muscles aren't strong enough to counter-balance the weight that is stored in fat. You're telling me a beast like TMac is having the same troubles, based on no evidence aside from a weight that (as I understand) he had at Orlando. Come on.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Oct 12 2006, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You keep saying he was playing at 220. When exactly was he playing at 220? You keep talking like you're his personal trainer or something. Yeah, sure, fat people have back problems because of weight. Their muscles aren't strong enough to counter-balance the weight that is stored in fat. You're telling me a beast like TMac is having the same troubles, based on no evidence aside from a weight that (as I understand) he had at Orlando. Come on.</div>He has said himself his playing weight is 225-230, as evident here:<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Up next was T-Mac. He was hanging out on the other end of the floor. T-Mac admitted that he did lose weight. "I was 240 in the offseason because I gained a lot of weight, but my playing weight is about 225 to 230," said McGrady, who came in to camp at 235 last season. "I feel great out there. I feel light, I feel quicker. The only thing I'm trying to catch up to is my rhythym, my timing. Everything is off -- I almost forgot how to play ball."</div>T-Mac has had back problems since early in his career in Orlando, and has gotten a bit worse since then. Weighing the extra 10-15lbs does NOT help the back. Considering he plays a riggerous 40MPG, and expected to do it 82x per year, carrying around an extra 10-15lbs does not help the situation. It definately isn't only reason he has his worst season in terms of games played and injuries, but carrying around the extra weight is not good for an already injured back. Him losing weight gives me some confidence that he is making strides to ensure what happenned last season won't happen again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He has said himself his playing weight is 225-230, as evident here:</div>I think you missed my question. I didn't ask when he was 225-230.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Oct 12 2006, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When exactly was he playing at <span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%"><u>220</u></span>?</div>I swear; I can't ask it any more clearly.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>T-Mac has had back problems since early in his career in Orlando, and has gotten a bit worse since then. Weighing the extra 10-15lbs does NOT help the back. Considering he plays a riggerous 40MPG, and expected to do it 82x per year, carrying around an extra 10-15lbs does not help the situation.</div>Like I said, it's not fat. You have yet to say anything that actually makes sense. I mean, the guy just said he feels great out there, and you're basically saying it's causing him troubles. Seriously, I have no idea what you're smoking. Are you calling him a liar? I don't get it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Oct 12 2006, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think you missed my question. I didn't ask when he was 225-230.I swear; I can't ask it any more clearly.</div>He was 220 in Orlando, when he was at his best and healthiest. He says his playing weight is 225-230, and he has shown he is at his best when 220. 235-240 is too big for him no matter how ya cut it.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Like I said, it's not fat. You have yet to say anything that actually makes sense. I mean, the guy just said he feels great out there, and you're basically saying it's causing him troubles. Seriously, I have no idea what you're smoking. Are you calling him a liar? I don't get it.</div>Doesn't matter if it's fat or muscle, it's still more weight to drag up and down the court 40MPG, 82x a year (not including preseason, practices ASG and playoffs). Considering the back is arguably the most common area of body that is sore when you run/jump/play basketball, it is a big deal that he did it last season with extra poundage. Just look at Kobe, he lost a few pounds, down to around 215, and had the best season of his career last season (when in previous season bulked up a bit). When you add more weight, it puts more strain on the body, and considering he has had back problems through most of his career that have gotten a bit worse over past 3 seasons, being 5-15lbs (figuring 220-230lbs is his optimal weight) heavier just puts more strain then needed. Most NBA players are quite lean and for the most part, skinny. This is to keep up with the long season and to prevent injury. No need to put extra weight on your body and extra muscle when it is not needed, to say a football player who needs that extra muscle.Read the quote, he said he feels great out there after losing the weight. He acknowledges his playing weight is at 225-230 and said he lost weight from the 235-240 he was at.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He was 220 in Orlando, when he was at his best and healthiest.</div>Cite your source? What year?<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Read the quote, he said he feels great out there after losing the weight. He acknowledges his playing weight is at 225-230 and said he lost weight from the 235-240 he was at.</div>I've read it around 5-10 times. You claimed that he needs to lose weight, not that he needed to lose weight. In short, 15 pounds is barely anything to gain in a few years, especially at his age. It's not like it all went to his head. I'm sure some of it is leg muscle, some is arms, and some is (HOLY SHIIII) back muscle. My point is that someone who is sedentary might have back problems because of weight. Hell, a large athlete like a football player or wrestler might have back problems, but I'm curious why you think an athlete such as him would have added back problems for that reason. You've provided no support other than "Wellz dood itz obvious chek it out I herd he weighed 10 pounds moar then 3 yearz ago!!!", so I guess that's my answer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Oct 12 2006, 05:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Cite your source? What year?</div>That's what NBA has listed him as since his orlando days. It struck me that he gained a bit of weight in last year's NBA live commercial, he looked clearly bigger than the previous season, and much thicker in upper body than in Orlando.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I've read it around 5-10 times. You claimed that he needs to lose weight, not that he needed to lose weight. In short, 15 pounds is barely anything to gain in a few years, especially at his age. It's not like it all went to his head. I'm sure some of it is leg muscle, some is arms, and some is (HOLY SHIIII) back muscle. My point is that someone who is sedentary might have back problems because of weight. Hell, a large athlete like a football player or wrestler might have back problems, but I'm curious why you think an athlete such as him would have added back problems for that reason. You've provided no support other than "Wellz dood itz obvious chek it out I herd he weighed 10 pounds moar then 3 yearz ago!!!", so I guess that's my answer.</div>I still, IMO, would think it would be best if he was down to 220-225. Less stress on back, and a weight in which he has shown he can perform highly at before. He is not a power player and plays a ton of games and minutes a year...more weight would not give him much of a positive boost, and when you throw in his bad back it is a netgative.You are not getting my point. I never once said his problems last season were just because of him gaining weight, but you are a fool if you think it didn't contribute to his bad season. He already has had back problems for awhile, but surprise! He comes into camp not at his playing weight, clearly bigger than previous seasons, has the worst season of his career with injuries....then this off season improves core strength, loses some weight, and says he is in amazing shape and feels quicker and faster with no back pain at all....is it really a surprise?15 pounds is not a lot to gain for a normal person who works out, but with professional sports is different. Players who lose weight are generally less injury prone to back pain, knee pain, etc.. The injuries they get are usually more related to getting knocked down, twisting an ankle, stuff like that. Gaining weight and muscle puts more strain on body, and considering T-Mac is a perimeter player who doesn't drive as much as say a Dwayne Wade, and doesn't need that extra muscle to powe rthrough the big man, there is no need for him to be over 220-225. Then throw in the already bad back, and it's a no brainer that he shouldn't be over the weight that he says he is comofrtable with (225-230).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 03:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He has said himself his playing weight is 225-230, as evident here:T-Mac has had back problems since early in his career in Orlando, and has gotten a bit worse since then. Weighing the extra 10-15lbs does NOT help the back. Considering he plays a riggerous 40MPG, and expected to do it 82x per year, carrying around an extra 10-15lbs does not help the situation. It definately isn't only reason he has his worst season in terms of games played and injuries, but carrying around the extra weight is not good for an already injured back. Him losing weight gives me some confidence that he is making strides to ensure what happenned last season won't happen again.</div><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Yes, it is true that extra weight does not help his back, but he shouldn't have gained that much weight, or let a personal trainer convince him that it was a good idea.These back problems are a reason why the Rockets should lessen T-Mac's minutes to an extent.If they do that, they will have to have a good bench that will compensate for the scoring that is missed by T-Mac. Their bench in comparison to some in the West is absolute dog crap. Besides, Bonzi Wells has a history of attitue problems, which was part of the reason why Portland let him go (aside from the fact that he was asking for too much).I'm going to have to wait and see, then I'll jump on the bandwagon. </span>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 04:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You are not getting my point.</div>I get what you're saying, you just have no backup for it aside from saying it's common sense. And you continue to reiterate that. The end.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Oct 12 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I get what you're saying, you just have no backup for it aside from saying it's common sense. And you continue to reiterate that. The end.</div>What the hell do you want me to put up? The man himself has said he was overweight last season, and above the playing weight he himself has set. After that, just look at the events that have occured, look at other players like Kobe who have lost some weight and have been very successful and injury free compared to previous seasons, etc...It wasn't the biggest reason for T-Mac's back problems last season, but it definately had some effect.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Oct 12 2006, 09:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Novak is not going to be getting alot of minutes. You have guys like Barry, Bowen, and other guys that can shoot the ball but they are not that succesful for the Rockets.</div>First of all, Bowen wasn't brought on to shoot. He was signed...well, I don't know why. He can hustle, but that's just about it.Now, why bring up Barry? He was perhaps the best fit for this team. Shooting, passing, leadership, he had it all.And as for Novak...Look at his shooting stats against the Grizzlies.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>And the ONLY reason Hayes even played last year is because he had to because of all of the injuries. He will play like 3 or 4 minutes a game.</div>Not in the least. He'll be playing, at least, as much as he was playing last year, and probably more. He was a good rebounder last year, he's even better now. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This team is 100 percent focused on the healthiness of Yao and T-Mac. If they are healthy, they can be as high as the 4th seed in the west, if they arent, they wont sniff the playoffs.</div>Isn't every team? Come on, how well would the Heat do without Shaq and Wade?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 12 2006, 05:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What the hell do you want me to put up? The man himself has said he was overweight last season, and above the playing weight he himself has set. After that, just look at the events that have occured, look at other players like Kobe who have lost some weight and have been very successful and injury free compared to previous seasons, etc...It wasn't the biggest reason for T-Mac's back problems last season, but it definately had some effect.</div>I was wanting some indication that his weight is related to his back problems. Like from him or his physical trainer. The article you keep showing says he was overweight during the offseason. This could very well have been caused by his injury rather than the cause of his injury being worsened. There's been no connection, except for broad vague allusions to other players and quotes that as far as I know are made up. Anyway, argument over.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Anyway, argument over.</div> Hopefully it is, I've been in some debates on this board before that were pretty stupid but this is up there. Let's get over Tmac's weight and get back on topic. I don't think I've yet replied in this thread, so here goes. I think Houston should easily be taken seriously, I mean what makes them so different from contending in 04-05 season to this season? Just because last year, their 2 best players were plagued with injuries, their already written off? This year, both seem to be healthy and the team added players that should improve the makeup of the core as a whole.
<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Well, I was impressed by Houston's win over the Heat. Balanced scoring, forcing the Heat for 21 turnovers, and they out-rebounded MIA by 17. And on top of that, we didn't Juwan Howard or Bonzi Wells. I'm not fully convinced just yet because it is pre-seaason, but I was impessed.</span>
