T-Mac The Captain!

Discussion in 'Orlando Magic' started by YaoMing03-04, Oct 3, 2003.

  1. Trail_Blazer76

    Trail_Blazer76 JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't argue.</div>

    Isn't this a basketball forum?

    Let's all agree on everything :mrgreen: .

    "Happy, happy, joy, joy" lol.
     
  2. jbbKing James

    jbbKing James JBB Banned Member

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    There is a right and wrong way to do it, you know that.
     
  3. Sasha

    Sasha ...since the beginning.

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    Come on people, this is a little bit :offtopic:

    By the way, King James, you never answered my question or Ming's and other posters. Who has done this in the NBA before? Just out of curiosity.
     
  4. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting YaoMing03-04:</div><div class="quote_post">I wasnt talking about Hockey or Baseball, stupid. I mean basketball, no other team in the History of the league has had a C to represent the captain on the jersey. As for T-Mac being the captain, I dont know but the only other vets were Juwan Howard and Andrew Declerq. T_mac is cocky but there is nothing wrong with that, but Drew Gooden is going to crush T-Macs cockyness, for the Magic to win they need Drew. T-mac has proved that he cant win a series by himself. He is not arguably the best baller thats Tim Duncan and KG . At the best T-Mac is the 3rd best in the league.</div>

    So who wins a series by himself? He came pretty dam close. I have seen experts,coaches, and writers call t-mac the best. I'm not saying he is the best because the dominance of the big men, but I do think he is the most talented player in the league. He can be argued as one of the best for sure.No one is going to crush his cockyness- confidence!
     
  5. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Love It Live:</div><div class="quote_post">Come on people, this is a little bit :offtopic:

    By the way, King James, you never answered my question or Ming's and other posters. Who has done this in the NBA before? Just out of curiosity.</div>

    It has never been done in the nba. The article says it.
     
  6. Sasha

    Sasha ...since the beginning.

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    Oh ok. So Mr. King is wrong, oh no!
     
  7. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    "It's never been done anywhere and we'll see if we end up getting a cease and desist order from the NBA," said Weisbrod, whose NHL playing background led to the idea. "We had a lot of conversations about the role Tracy would play in the absence of Darrell and his maturation. He's already mature in terms of what he has accomplished, but the next step in terms of that maturation would be making guys around him better and being a leader emotionally. We had discussions about making sure him being captain was more distinctive. All I know is captains wear a 'C' on the shirt, and he's our guy."
     
  8. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    Where is the article? I can remember Isiah Thomas having a 'C' on his jersey. However, McGrady might be the first player to have it for the entire season. Isiah had a custom jersey with his first name on the back, too.
     
  9. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Where is the article? I can remember Isiah Thomas having a 'C' on his jersey. However, McGrady might be the first player to have it for the entire season. Isiah had a custom jersey with his first name on the back, too.</div>


    http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryA14778A.html
     
  10. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    ^^Says Article not found.
     
  11. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">^^Says Article not found.</div>

    By John Denton
    FLORIDA TODAY

    LAKE BUENA VISTA -- It has certainly always been Tracy McGrady's show, whether it was him taking all the big shots or simply being asked to cover the Orlando Magic's many deficiencies with his athletic genius.
    Orlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady answers questions from the media during Media Day in Orlando. Image ? 2003, Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY

    But now, remarkably, the Magic even want more from their superstar guard. That might seem odd considering that McGrady was already the team's do-everything player a season ago, leading the NBA in scoring and leading the Magic in everything else of any significance.

    If there is any question about the added demands the Magic are putting on McGrady all he need do is look down at the constant reminder splattered across the front of his jersey. The player who seemed to play with an "S" on his chest and leap small forwards in a single bound now has a "C" affixed in the upper portion on his jersey, signifying his new status as captain and ruler of this Magic kingdom.


    Darrell Armstrong was not invited back to ensure that it's McGrady singular voice being heard in the lockerroom and the huddle. Nine-year veteran Juwan Howard has yet to play a game with the Magic, yet is already referring to the 24-year-old McGrady as "our leader." And new point guard Tyronn Lue has begun mentioning the NBA's most lethal offensive weapon in the same breath as former teammates Michael Jordan in Washington and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles.

    The usually sleepy-eyed, passive-aggressive McGrady is now being asked to be more than just an offensive battering ram. More than ever, Magic brass want this team to be his in every facet. They want him to be their best player AND their best leader. And a hungry and mature McGrady, an admittedly hesitant team leader in the past, seems to be a willing participant in the plan now.

    "Yeah, that's sort of a first with the "C," he said while glancing down at his chest during Thursday's media day. "I guess they are stealing hockey's ideas. But I've been here three years and I've been the guy for this basketball team. It's all going to start with me and I'm going to put everything on my shoulders. So let's ride."

    The Magic, stuck in neutral for so long when it comes to playoff success, certainly will only go as far as McGrady's motor drives them. Giving him the title of captain was the brainchild of team president John Weisbrod and head coach Doc Rivers and was done so even without the consent of the NBA office. It is believed to be the only such case in the NBA of a player wearing a captain's notation on his jersey. Without question, the gesture was intended to be about as subtle as a kick to the stomach.

    "It's never been done anywhere and we'll see if we end up getting a cease and desist order from the NBA," said Weisbrod, whose NHL playing background led to the idea. "We had a lot of conversations about the role Tracy would play in the absence of Darrell and his maturation. He's already mature in terms of what he has accomplished, but the next step in terms of that maturation would be making guys around him better and being a leader emotionally. We had discussions about making sure him being captain was more distinctive. All I know is captains wear a 'C' on the shirt, and he's our guy."

    McGrady and the Magic will practice together as a full squad for the first time today at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Because of a change in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, players with four years of experience were given the first three days of training camp off. The Magic met for a team dinner Thursday night and will begin trying to quickly build chemistry on a squad with just eight returning players.

    Two of those new faces, those of Howard and Lue, offer the most encouragement for improvement from a team that limped into the playoffs as an eighth seed and then squandered a 3-1 lead against Detroit. Howard will attempt to play alongside blossoming power forward Drew Gooden, while Lue will try to bring some sanity to a point guard position that has often been erratic. Big expectations, for sure, but Howard says he feels revived by getting a fresh start to his career in Central Florida.

    "The pressure has been on me since high school," Howard said. "But it feels good to be asked to fill a void that the team needs. I can be that second scorer, that rebounder and defender the team needs. I know I'm not coming here to be the man. Tracy has set that tone here already. But to be a great team you have to have a lot of pieces and I'm one of them. Am I going to help this team win more games? Your damn right I am."

    That certainly is music to the ears of McGrady, who too often had to shoulder the complete load last season. He averaged an NBA-best 32.1 points a game, but at times looked like he was fighting a battle alone. Four times he's been to the playoffs (three with Orlando and once with Toronto) and four times he's failed to get out of the first round.

    Kevin Garnett is in a similar predicament in Minnesota, having failed seven times in a row. The Timberwolves made a concerted effort to surround him with more talent this offseason, trading for Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell and signing Michael Olowokandi.

    Orlando tried doing the same with McGrady with additions it feels gives it its best core of players in years. Howard's arrival at least gives the Magic a dependable option on the low block and a mentor for the impressionable Gooden. Lue, while undersized like Armstrong, is a scrappy defender and a point guard who thinks pass first and shoot second. Factor in Gooden and the much-improved Gordan Giricek -- players acquired in a trade with Memphis last February -- and McGrady has the most help he's had since signing with Orlando.

    "I'm hungry and I have a little more help to relieve some of that scoring pressure," McGrady said. "We have guys who can be physical, rebound and play defense -- things that I have been lacking on my team in the past. We covered some of those areas. So I have what it takes now to advance to that second round."
     
  12. jbbSkip

    jbbSkip JBB JustBBall Member

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    I hate Tracy's overall cocky attitude, but it's impossible to hate his game and his ambition to get better and be the best he can be. Why can't Vince be more like this?(sure he talks... but that's it)
     
  13. YaoMing03-04

    YaoMing03-04 JBB Banned Member

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    when i said tracy isnt the best i wasnt dissing him , just saying that right now i would rather have KG and Duncan, but they are 3 years older than Tracy.
     
  14. sunsfan1357

    sunsfan1357 JBB JustBBall Member

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    Who said that the best = the captain? I know for the Suns Bo Outlaw was probably the captain of his team with his desire, hustle, and ability to get along with his team mates. I know for the 6ers Eric Snow is just as good a captain candidate as Iverson.

    As for McGrady, I don't necessarily believe him to be captain material. He always puts down his team mates by saying, "I need players." Or, "I do everything by myself." Or, "I need frontcourt help because I have nothing to help me." No I'm NOT saying it isn't TRUE but if you're a captain you have to keep some of these things to yourself.
     
  15. DirtySouth

    DirtySouth JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">Who said that the best = the captain? I know for the Suns Bo Outlaw was probably the captain of his team with his desire, hustle, and ability to get along with his team mates. I know for the 6ers Eric Snow is just as good a captain candidate as Iverson.

    As for McGrady, I don't necessarily believe him to be captain material. He always puts down his team mates by saying, "I need players." Or, "I do everything by myself." Or, "I need frontcourt help because I have nothing to help me." No I'm NOT saying it isn't TRUE but if you're a captain you have to keep some of these things to yourself.</div>

    I think he has said some things in the past that weren't right. But it looks like he is ready to take the leadership role.
     
  16. YaoMing03-04

    YaoMing03-04 JBB Banned Member

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    Magic fans better hope so , The Magic could win 55 games this season or have another 42 win season. I am going to have to put the Magic over the Pistons as the 2nd best in the east. Detroit is not as good as people make them out to be, I would rather have Drew Gooden this season than Ben Wallace. I can also guarentee that Drew will have a better year then Ben Wallace. Dont get shocked if he puts up 18 and 10.
     
  17. vinsan1ty5

    vinsan1ty5 JBB JustBBall Member

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    i`m goin with the magic to take the east this year
     
  18. Sasha

    Sasha ...since the beginning.

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting DirtySouth:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he has said some things in the past that weren't right. But it looks like he is ready to take the leadership role.</div>
    Yeah right! Just a month ago, he was saying how he is the only good player on his team and such. Read the new Kickz issue. To act like that, and get captain is obsurd!
     
  19. Ice

    Ice JBB Member

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    Yeah some of the past things he has said isnt right. But thats the past and he said himself hes looking to change and become a leader. I think he is captain material. He may not be the vocal leader like Darrell was, but he fires the team up in different ways.
     
  20. Sasha

    Sasha ...since the beginning.

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    We'll see what happens, I think he won't change.
     

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