Where I actually say something nice about Tracy McGrady
by grungedave on Dec 8, 2010 11:01 AM CST
in Random Commentary
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PrintLeading up to last night's Rocket's game where they were hosting the Detroit Pistons, I was all prepared to do a detailed analysis of Tracy McGrady's return to Houston. Shot selection, times ventured into the scary area known as "inside the three-point line," times defensive assignments were missed, number of times T-Mac gave his trademark sad face after a bad possession, etc. etc.
Then a funny thing happened...
Tracy actually played well. For real. It's true.
Tracy McGrady actually played a solid game of basketball last night.
Granted, as per usual, it was not enough to actually help his team win the game, but we've long since stopped expecting that kind of result from Mr. Mac.
In actuality though, Tracy simply has no help. He's stunned me by truly transitioning into an anti-Iverson "role" player - he's by no means the featured offensive player on the Pistons and he's not even a starter. To date, his season stats are rather mediocre for him: 4.1 ppg, 1.7 apg, 2.4 rpg on 45.2% shooting (but only 20% from 3-pt). This in only 16.6 minutes of action per night. Needless to say, he's not the Tracy of 2004 anymore.
But he actually looks competent on the basketball court for the first time since....... 2007?
Last night, Tracy chipped in a solid 11 points on 3-6 shooting. He even made his one and only 3-point attempt. And he made all four free throws he tried (really? Now you learn how to shoot FTs?!?). But the stats can be deceving, because Tracy actually was controlling the entire second quarter. This was when the Pistons flat-out owned the Rockets' bench. Tracy was the epicenter for all of the action and he was running the offense to a level of precision not seen since JVG was nervously pacing the Rockets sidelines. Unfortunately for Tracy, however, his teammates simply cannot make shots. Not even layups.
And then Luis Scola decided that enough was enough and 36 points later he showed Tracy who really is the boss on the court. The Rockets then pulled away in the fourth while Tracy's impact was marginalized.
All of this got me to thinking though: if Tracy truly is willing to be the savvy veteran on a deep team, why oh why wouldn't he be a perfect fit in Miami? Assuming he can swallow a bit more of the ego, couldn't you see Tracy being the point-forward on a team with LeBron and Wade and setting those guys up for easy shots and layups, and the occasional alley-oop? He's on a minimum contract, so he would not even be a salary cap concern in any trade.
Plus....... it would only make it more awesome when Miami fails to get out of the first round of the playoffs this year.
/sorry, necessary jab
Additionally, McGrady and LeBron James could have lengthy and impactful discussions on when is the right time to quit on your teammates and shut it down for the season.
/sorry, another necessary jab
Not to mention that McGrady could counsel Dwyane Wade on how to milk an "injury" to maximum effect.
/seriously, it's just too easy. Sorry 'bout that.
Okay, okay, enough beating a dead horse. I'm glad the Rockets won last night. I'm glad the Rockets fans booed McGrady as he very much deserved given his passive-aggressive woe-is-me "I want to know who they're blaming around here now that I'm gone" statement. I'm also glad that McGrady isn't stealing $24M from Les Alexander anymore. But I also recognize that when McGrady is right in mind and body that he can make for a very entertaining basketball player. And we should appreciate and applaud that. For real.
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thank you dave
although you were that last person I expected to pay their respects to t-mac.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
Nice Read
I’m a T-mac fan first, but he converted me into a Rockets fan while he was in Houston, so i still like to watch the Rox whenever i can and i keep up with them, i hadnt gotten a chance to watch them on tv so i was excited to watch last night’s game, I’ve watched every Pistons game this year (i live in detroit) so I know how good T-mac has been playing and i knew some Rockets fans would be impressed by how he’s moving and running the offense etc., his numbers really dont do him any justice, a sort of Shane Battier effect
and trust me, its frustrating as hell watching him pass it into the paint or to a wide open shooter and see them miss the layup/shot every time
But about the Miami thing, i think he may end up there by the All-Star break, since no one had really seen him play since the whole NY-experiment, no one really wanted to take a chance with him, especially since he didnt want to take the Vet minimum at first.
anyway…back to Detroit Bad Boys I go!
This Article Sucks Ass
Are you serious dude..I’m tired of Rockets fans blaming shit on TMac..He averages 30pts everytime he steps in the playoffs..Where was Yao when 1ft shorter Carlos Boozer was KILLING him..Y’all are really bashing a guy who body simply failed him..He didn’t choose to get hurt..Shit happens..Tmac Simply had no help in Houston..And this faking injury stuff..REALLY?..Kill yourself Dude and Kill whoever let you post this crap
also
Facts… you fail at them. “He averages 30pts everytime he steps in the playoffs.”
wrong. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tracy_mcgrady/career_stats.html
Furrther, basketball is a team game, individual stats are secondary to playoff success. I would think anyone could appreciate that by now. Yao also didn’t guard Boozer. Chuck Hayes did.
Also, who said anything about “faking” an injury? I was merely stating that he was milking his bum knee (hurt – not injured) for all it was worth. You suck at reading comprehension, though I don’t suggest that you kill yourself. Instead, I just suggest that you do not contaminate the gene pool by reproducing.
Troll much?
McGrady went behind the Rockets back and seeked a second, third, fourth and fifth option before he got the answer that he wanted (microfracture surgery) and then announced it without notifying the Rockets. That destroyed a deal at the time for Vince Carter (maybe good in the long run but who knows what would’ve happened in that LA series with Vince) and just proved it was always about T-Mac.
by Patrick Harrel on Dec 8, 2010 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks
“Y’all are really bashing a guy who body simply failed him”
Grant Hill, Yao, TMac, and Gilbert Arenas all were superstars who got huge contracts but then couldn’t play up to expectations because of injury. How they dealt with the fallout from those injuries means that the first two are viewed very differently from the last two.
Tmac is dealing with it fine
He has accepted a backup role and, for him, low salary to toil away on a sorry team. He isn’t complaining. Tmac wanted to play. Tmac tried to play when he was too hurt to play. And after the surgery, he wanted to play again … probably wanted to come back too early. Do you really blame him for wanting to play or what is it? Tmac was the best player on the Rockets since Kareem. Tmac was a great player to watch and, in the last game, he actually looked pretty good again. Tmac sees what is happening better than 95% of the other players. Currently, Tmac is a bargain.
I was more talking about last season. I can’t forget the many times McGrady would cross half court and camp himself 28 feet from the basket for the remainder of the possession.
Giving your all for the team when you ARE on the court should be the absolute minimum we can expect from a professional basketball, and McGrady clearly didn’t do that at all times during his last 2 years in Houston.
Kareem who?
This is why I call you a fucking idit you dummy. I don’t know what “Kareem” you speak of but the best player in Rockets history is HAKEEM OLAJUWON!
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
actually
this is what really happened
T-Mac’s Knee Surgery Situation
(31 min. long)
He didnt go behind the team’s back.
Then how did the team find out through the newspaper?
T-Mac didn’t tell the Rockets anything till it was too late
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
He
made the mistake of not telling the team when he made his final decision, he apologized for that, but they knew he was finding a doctor etc., the trainers knew
heh, dude ...
If it is my leg or my foot or my knee, then it is about me too. I have a job right now but if I have to choose between what is best for ME and what is best for the company then I am going to choose ME. Did Lebron do what was good for Cleveland? Did Bosh do what was good for Toronto? These guys are just emloyees and have to think of A#1 first.
And Lebron is pretty much hated everywhere now, not just in Cleveland. You’re using some of the most vilified, hated athletes to justify TMac? You’re proving that what TMac did isn’t unique, but you’re also proving that if you act with a me-first attitude with no consideration for those around you, people will not like/respect you. If TMac personally is OK with being hated, fine. But don’t use Lebron to argue that TMac was somehow treated unfairly in Houston.
how can he kill himself and THEN whoever let him post it?
trap beyond the grave? huh. sounds like you’re the only 1 who doesn’t make sense here Jae. That means you’re alone.. maybe suicide is the only answer..for only one of us??
I found 83 cents in my backyard after last night's party..I'm not returning it until the owner describes what coins were lost in EXACT change. -Willie White's status
by chuckhayesALLSTAR2010 on Dec 8, 2010 1:53 PM CST reply actions
The Miami suggestion is an excellent one.
McGrady’s passes were as good as ever. If LeBron or Wade were receiving them we’d have seen some “Highlights for the Ages Dunks”.
He played well, and was clearly inspired to do so. But he also go frustrated that Rocket players could get the better of him, and that showed too. He’s in the wrong situation in Detroit. Miami, Boston, even LA would be good spots. Possibly Portland, too, where the slow pace, ISO offense and his good passing would be effective.
I’ll just say this, I’m glad he’s gone. He was never quite worth it. Not what he was paid, not what you had to put up with. Excellent at times, yes, no doubt. Victim of injuries, pre-existing conditions, and his own poor conditioning and rehab efforts all at the same time. In the end, for me at least, he was never quite worth whatever it was he demanded in return. He was amply compensated to be the best in the entire league, and he never was.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
TMac also looked about 25lbs lighter, at least.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
I think that's the most important part.
See the 13 in 35 video from 04 to his last game as a Rocket. Huge difference. He was more muscular, but some people just can’t handle that added stress from extra weight.
by basketball is cool on Dec 9, 2010 8:28 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Worth what paid
For sure, he wasn’t worth what he was paid towards the end. That said, however, I think Tmac was the best Rocket player since Hakeem. Remember, Houston basically got Tmac for Steve Francis … so compare those two. Tmac got paid too much but he was still better value for money than Steve Francis.
the problem with Miami now (if there is one)
Is that both Wade and Lebron create offense with the ball in their hands, and neither is playing well off the ball. Being in another guy who needs to play on the ball isn’t going to help. Offensively, Miami needs lights-out shooters, guys who can set picks in the pick-and-roll, and finishers (and some interior defense wouldn’t hurt). What they DON’T need is another on-ball creator with a shaky 3-point shot and little willingness to play off the ball, scrap for rebounds, and do the dirty work.
"Plus....... it would only make it more awesome when Miami fails to get out of the first round of the playoffs this year."
lol omg this is too funny
by benchot on Dec 8, 2010 10:18 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
All the jabs were flat out hilarious
"You don't have bad luck. Bad things happen to you because you are a dumbass" - That 70's Show. Fire Frank Bush!
by RocketsAstros on Dec 9, 2010 2:55 AM CST up reply actions
Tmac and Houston
Why all the negativity towards Tmac with Houston fans? Tmac was the best player the Rockets have had since Hakeem. The Rockets didn’t get far with him but the early exits never were totally his fault, where they? He had his injuries but that wasn’t his fault either. He was way overpaid but that was due to the injuries so once again, not his fault. The best luck the Rockets have had in my memory were the following: (1) getting the Sampson + Olajawon picks, (2) getting Tmac for Francis, (3) getting Scola for nothing, (4) getting the Yao pick. #2 and #4 turned sour with injuries which were not the fault of Tmac or Yao. It seems that Tmac carries more blame than Yao. Why is that? Because Tmac was sort of cocky and arrogant and Yao is humble and quiet? To me, Yao is the bigger disappointment as a player. He is an elite C who never really got anywhere in the playoffs. Can you name any others? I can’t. Elite Cs win championships or at least come very very close and Yao has not come close.
“Tmac was sort of cocky and arrogant and Yao is humble and quiet”
Absolutely! As far as I’m concerned, this has little to do with basketball.
However, TMac clearly went through the motions on the court at times the last 2 years, refusing to join the team and put in the effort. That alone is cause for hate.
But why is it a surprise that a player’s attitude and public persona affects how they are viewed?
Fans will tolerate an egotistical SOB only so long as he’s winning. The list of examples of once-loved players is pretty long: Iverson, Marbury, Arenas, Kobe (pre-Gasol).
truth
I was a T-Mac fan and supporter until the Toronto game in the ’08 season when he openly, visibly and unexplainably just quit on his team in the 2nd quarter. It was so bad even Battier bitched about it to the press. That was the beginning of the end for Tracy and everyone knew it.
I disagree
I saw people starting to turn their backs on him when he started getting hurt.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
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