Does TMac have his confidence back?

Pancho_Pantera · Post #1 » by **Pancho_Pantera** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:25 am

I was watching some highlights and he is looking like the Tracy McGrady of Orlando. He's been an emo the past season or so and he hasn't really been playing to his full potential, obviously due to injuries. But it's good to see that he is past those back injuries, and heating up at the right time.

Texas Longhorns · Post #2 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:26 am

Yes he has been good for the past two games. Please, if you are going to ask this question, ask it in the game thread. There is no point in making a new thread about something we already know.

Pancho_Pantera · Post #3 » by **Pancho_Pantera** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:28 am

Well excuuuuuuse me.

I'm currently stationed in Iraq and don't keep up to date with what's going on in the league, so excuse me if I offended you in any possible way.

jzmagik · Post #4 » by **jzmagik** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:29 am

He needs to continue that new pre-game routine of shooting around for 30 minutes prior to warmups.

Post #5 » by **TMU** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:30 am

I think this is worthy of discussion, given the fact he's been inconsistent throughout the season. His confidence is his jumpshot... the guy plays like a superstar when he shots fall, but when he has an off-night, he plays like a benchwarmer.

Iggyemu · Post #6 » by **Iggyemu** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:30 am

He is a great player when he is attacking. I dunno if its a confidence thing or not. But when he is attacking like he was tonight he is great and the team is great and feeds off him.

PurpleTestament · Post #7 » by **PurpleTestament** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:38 am

I think the thread starter is right though. I think he's starting to get his legs and athleticism back. I recall a few blown alley-oops in prior games but now he's finishing strong. A little too strong. I thought he broke his back after that strong throw down early on cause of the way he came down weird.

Thanks for serving the country and take care over there in Iraq.

Ksnyder18 · Post #8 » by **Ksnyder18** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:41 am

I just think that he feelin alot better now and his legs are healing, giving him more lift in his shot. I guess hes doing a new routine now shooting 30 minutes or something beofre each game( anyone have any info on this) this allows him to get into a rhythm quicker imo

NYKnick87 · Post #9 » by **NYKnick87** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:48 am

It's his approach to the game that's changed. He went out there 30 min and started shooting around and it showed. Plus, him and the Rockets pretty much all went out there knowing that it was a statement game. Winning this game pretty much cemented this winning streak as legit. He came out tonight playing the way he did because he knew full well what a win would mean.

Why can't he do this every night? Who knows, it's Tmac. He's an enigma. But if he plays like this every night or at least play with the agression, then he could take the Rockets to new heights.

Post #10 » by **TMU** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:51 am

NYKnick87 wrote:It's his approach to the game that's changed. He went out there 30 min and started shooting around and it showed. Plus, him and the Rockets pretty much all went out there knowing that it was a statement game. Winning this game pretty much cemented this winning streak as legit. He came out tonight playing the way he did because he knew full well what a win would mean.

Why can't he do this every night? Who knows, it's Tmac. He's an enigma. But if he plays like this every night or at least play with the agression, then he could take the Rockets to new heights.

For me, it's surprising to hear that an NBA superstar doesn't shoot around before games. It surely took awhile for McGrady who's turning 29 this season to just realize this.

Post #11 » by **dream34** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:58 am

T-Mac United wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
For me, it's surprising to hear that an NBA superstar doesn't shoot around before games. It surely took awhile for McGrady who's turning 29 this season to just realize this.

He shot around before every game started, and anyone who has seen the Rockets play and shown up early has seen him shooting around before the game starts. He also also shot in the team shootaround in the morning before each game. What he is doing now, is shooting around 2-3 hours before the game starts, and getting in a rhythm then.

Post #12 » by **TMU** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:08 am

dream34 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He shot around before every game started, and anyone who has seen the Rockets play and shown up early has seen him shooting around before the game starts. He also also shot in the team shootaround in the morning before each game. What he is doing now, is shooting around 2-3 hours before the game starts, and getting in a rhythm then.

Thanks for the clarification.
I wasn't talking about the shootaround that takes place few minutes before games. Your latter point was what I was really looking for. I believe most players should shootaround few hours prior to the game, and it would have made absolutely no sense to me if McGrady didn't do this.

BaYBaller · Post #13 » by **BaYBaller** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:43 am

T-Mac more or less does this every year, i.e. working himself into midseason form. T-Mac usually looks off for the first half of the season, although this season he came into camp in pretty good shape and have a good rhythm before the injury. But T-Mac has always turned in on in the latter part of the season.

Maf · Post #14 » by **Maf** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:49 am

you mean until PO came, right? :lol:

Alex_De_Large · Post #15 » by **Alex_De_Large** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:27 am

I don't know why people surprises at something normal like this, a superstar playing like a superstar, i mean, someone who is in the same league as lebron or kobe like tracy mcgrady, u can't ask him for less.
i don't agree he was bad last year, from january to the end of the regular season he was a true leader, it's true last year in november and december was not at 100%, same this year, but this year he had excuse because of the injuries.

giordunk · Post #16 » by **giordunk** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:49 am

He said "I suck" and he's had 2 great games in a row.

Shabi__5 · Post #17 » by **Shabi__5** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:57 pm

It's all about health , earlier this year he was the Orlando T-Mac , dunking and everything , then he injured his elbow , then his knee and again looked hesitant , had no elevation on his jumper and sucked scoring wise.
Now he is healthy again and he plays that way.

rocketworld · Post #18 » by **rocketworld** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:10 pm

he played with fire...a swagger we haven't seen since he came back from the flu

sule · Post #19 » by **sule** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:47 pm

didn't that confidence also get him eliminated from the playoffs after he guaranteed a win?

maybe a low self-esteemed Tracy is better than a confident one? o_O

Post #20 » by **King Roosk** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:55 pm

Texas Longhorns wrote:Yes he has been good for the past two games. Please, if you are going to ask this question, ask it in the game thread. There is no point in making a new thread about something we already know.

Me and Vator will worry about things like that, thank you.

I feel this is worthy of its own thread. Everyone around the league has been writing Mcgrady off as close to being done, and rightfully so. However, I think he knows his team, and he knows what situations he needs to be assertive in. For example, on national TV against Miami and against an elite team like NO, T-mac was aggressive and took control. Other nights against inferior teams T-mac has been letting the rest of the players pick the team up. I don't necessarily agree with what he does sometimes, but I don't care about his stats anymore as long as we win and it looks like he feels the same way. He's probably saving his best for if we make the playoffs.