T-MAC APPRECIATION THREAD!!

[Iggyemu]

When he was healthy he played hard. Never forgot his inability to take over game 7 against Utah in Houston but other than that...when he was healthy he was the main reason this team was a 50+ win team during his tenure.

[TMACFORMVP]

It's hard to imagine two seasons ago, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and racked up another top ten finish in MVP Voting. Since his tenure in Houston, he's been named to three all-star teams, three All-NBA teams (once second team), with a 7th, 6th, and 8th place ranking respectively in MVP Voting. The only players to at least accomplish that in the last five years are Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant. And that's with his decline we've witnessed in Houston.

Obviously my moniker would suggest I'm a homer.

I was a homer for McGrady, but the Rockets will always be my team. I'll always have a special place for McGrady though, and will continue to root for him in New York. I think we as fans got caught up in a wrong situation with T-Mac. I don't think he intentionally tried to hurt this franchise, or did anything wrong per se. We all saw the emulation of joy when Artest was traded to the Rockets. It unfortunately didn't work out as McGrady went down with injuries, and ultimately handled the situation wrongly in addressing the media on the course of action he chose to take before speaking with the organization.

The numerous moments in 04-05, the 22 game winning streak, the stepped up play whenever Yao went down, and that overall edge turned a rather talentless Rockets team into one that could at least contend and win 50 games every year. I think that's where the frustration lies, his best years were with our worst supporting casts. When we get one good enough, injuries came about, and the way he handled that made fans, and the organization turn on him. Ultimately though, there's likely a good chance we wouldn't have made the playoffs in three of those five seasons listed. But in all, his tenure will look as a promise that wasn't filled, or a talent that went to waste.

I'll miss him, but it's time to move on. I'll monitor his play, and wish him the best of luck in NY, but he fetched us a nice package as well that should set the Rockets up nicely for both the present and the future. It's hard to ignore last season, as that was our most successful one, but I wont forget what was done for this franchise prior to last year. Thanks for all the memories, I only wished it could have turned out better, if not for those damn injuries..

[Young_Star11]

The 2nd half of the 04-05 season was great to watch, and incidentally it was his last full season of health. We slowly built up our core of role players for what should have been T-Mac's prime years, but instead his health went the other way. Things never fell into place.

[SirHuey]

idk if this was posted or not, but..

Today, as I officially say good-bye to the Houston Rockets, one of my greatest regrets is that I was unable to bring Rocket fans a championship during my time here in Houston. This great city has been my home for over six years. Three of my kids were born here and this is where CleRenda and I will continue to raise our children. It is where we call home. Over the years, I have received so much support from the communities throughout the city, on a personal level and for my Foundation and Darfur School Programs. I have nothing but sincere gratitude for the city of Houston and the generous people who live in it.

I wish the current Rockets team nothing but success this season. They are a great group of guys, tremendous teammates, and very talented on the court. One of the highlights of my career has been playing alongside Yao, a truly exceptional player and human being. I have great respect for him as an athlete and as a friend, and will remember fondly our time playing together.

To all my fans who have backed me throughout all these years, I can promise you one thing, that my desire to play and to win has never been as strong as it is today. No amount of road blocks, injuries and critics could stop my need to play ball. It is who I am and what I do.
I am on to the next chapter of my career and I thank you again for taking the ride with me.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/tracy-mcgrady/ny-here-i-come/308816435793

[Guy986]

Tmac's agent most likely wrote that.

[Jaykoolzboy]

idk if this was posted or not, but..

Today, as I officially say good-bye to the Houston Rockets, one of my greatest regrets is that I was unable to bring Rocket fans a championship during my time here in Houston. This great city has been my home for over six years. Three of my kids were born here and this is where CleRenda and I will continue to raise our children. It is where we call home. Over the years, I have received so much support from the communities throughout the city, on a personal level and for my Foundation and Darfur School Programs. I have nothing but sincere gratitude for the city of Houston and the generous people who live in it.

I wish the current Rockets team nothing but success this season. They are a great group of guys, tremendous teammates, and very talented on the court. One of the highlights of my career has been playing alongside Yao, a truly exceptional player and human being. I have great respect for him as an athlete and as a friend, and will remember fondly our time playing together.

To all my fans who have backed me throughout all these years, I can promise you one thing, that my desire to play and to win has never been as strong as it is today. No amount of road blocks, injuries and critics could stop my need to play ball. It is who I am and what I do.
I am on to the next chapter of my career and I thank you again for taking the ride with me.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/tracy-mcgrady/ny-here-i-come/308816435793

I smell one day we are going to bring him back with LLE or Vet exception

[giordunk]

The dynasty that never happened.

Other than that, pretty much what everyone else said. Dunk on Bradley, 13 in 36, 22 win streak, the Ws in the playoffs. I was excited when I saw you come back and you played 7 minutes a game and I was hoping that you would get to play more. I remember that 3 that I went nuts over. I remember the Jazz Game 7 and when Mac was crying I started crying too. I don't know what Mac's going to do in New York in terms of winning but I hope one day he gets out the first round and plays a role on a championship team. There are those times when I'm just frustrated at T-Mac but looking back at all those good times... Best of luck to T-Mac.

[grumpysaddle]

[LHead2]

The T-Mac/Rockets situation reminds me of the Conan O'Brien/NBC situation earlier this year. Both were genuinely good at what they did, were extremely happy to be where they were, but had a string of hardships and came into a deadlock with the management where neither side was willing to put forth reasonable negotiations. T-Mac should've accepted being slowly reincorporated into the lineup, but the Rockets should've given him more of a chance.
When he was healthy, when he got playing time, he was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Rockets jersey. When he was hobbled, when he was neglected, he took away from the team. He should be honored for his great performances, his ability to single-handedly take the Rockets to the playoffs when Yao went down, but he should also be remembered as a warning to younger players and less-experienced GMs that stubbornness can ruin a player's career and disrupt a team's balance.

[dunleavyjr]

I will always will remember 13 in 35 and 22-0.

Thank you for the memories.

^^^ Add to the above: self-proclaimed injuries + sometimes slacking + 1st round bust + trade wrecker

[Zubby]

He will be missed... I'll watch his 1st couple games as a Knick.

You know he is gonna light us up when he returns.

[RaoulDuke79]

He finally got his wish Thursday in the three-team deal, saying he was disappointed this season by a lack of communication from Rockets management.

“I didn’t know. I really didn’t know,” McGrady said. “And that’s just the unfortunate situation, that I just like for management to be upfront and honest with me.

That’s all I ask, honesty. And if we can’t sit and have a conversation eye to eye and be honest with me, then all the respect and trust goes out the window.”

Ugh. I loved watching you play T-Mac, always have, but this is some hypocritical nonsense coming from you. I seem to recall you shutting it down last season without consulting the team or management first, or maybe I am just insane and that never happened.

Wish you well in New York or wherever else you end up, except when you play against Houston, but you need to be quiet and move on.

[playaloc916]

Wow, it's weird seeing T-Mac leaving. I think my fondest memories were back when the team had the likes of Jim Jackson, Bob Sura, Mo Taylor, Mike James, Juwan Howard. Dikembe... And of the already mentioned teabagging of Shawn Bradley, 22 in a row, and the 13 in 35. And even the "it's on me", and the subsequent press conference departure.

It's a shame that his departure was on a sour note. I'd like to remember him for the good memories, not the bad. Hope he can still have a few decent years.

[DumbyTheWizard]

He is going to start for the Knicks in a couple of minutes. It will be so weird seeing him as a knick.

I started loving TMAC as a magic, and it is such a shame he couldnt stay healthy when he had a good team arround him and when he was healthy, everybpdy else were not. His injuries ruined his career but if Grant Hill and Yao were also heathy he would have had so much more success. What a waste of talent...

[Virus4762]

He is going to start for the Knicks in a couple of minutes. It will be so weird seeing him as a knick.

I started loving TMAC as a magic, and it is such a shame he couldnt stay healthy when he had a good team arround him and when he was healthy, everybpdy else were not. His injuries ruined his career but if Grant Hill and Yao were also heathy he would have had so much more success. What a waste of talent...

Is there a streaming video of that game?

[KiDdFrESh]

Looks like hes still got it. Not bad after sitting out the entire season.

We should sign him as a FA this summer.

[M4P]

Looks like hes still got it. Not bad after sitting out the entire season.

We should sign him as a FA this summer.

I lol'd. Do you really think that he'd even consider coming back to Houston?

[Got em Coach]

Looks like hes still got it. Not bad after sitting out the entire season.

We should sign him as a FA this summer.

I lol'd. Do you really think that he'd even consider coming back to Houston?

ever heard of sarcasm?