Tracy McGrady: Pleasure and Pain
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:26 pm
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:27 pm
Think the cursed thing is thrown around. His situation in Orlando is an example. His situation this season without Yao. Last year was truly his chance though. I can't get the images of him failing to take game 6 and 7 when both games were there. At that point where the best player on the floor just takes over. I mean game 6 while the Jazz were on the verge of choking. When we trailed by 1 point for about 5 straight minutes.
Its unfortunate the majority of things thats gone on his career. A lot of it isn't him. But last season...in the playoffs. It was all him. He didn't step up when he had to.
Its unfortunate the majority of things thats gone on his career. A lot of it isn't him. But last season...in the playoffs. It was all him. He didn't step up when he had to.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:21 pm
Iggy is right in the sense that last year was his chance, or IMO his last chance. And I don't mean that in the sense that he will never get out of the first round (he most likely will) but the fact that last year was his last chance to win a playoff series with him as the #1 option.
His playoff failures are very much a combination of both his shortcomings and unfortunate circumstances. But if you follow his career, he's always looked to be (and probably deep down knows himself to be) a #2 option. Unfortunately for him he had chosen his #1 options to be injury-ridden Grant Hill and now Yao Ming.
In terms of his shortcomings I think Doug Colllins hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that double teams were so effective vs McGrady because the defense could easily make him give up the ball and take him out of the play. McGrady never looks to aggressively re-establish himself after he passes out of a double, and that's not how #1 options should behave.
His playoff failures are very much a combination of both his shortcomings and unfortunate circumstances. But if you follow his career, he's always looked to be (and probably deep down knows himself to be) a #2 option. Unfortunately for him he had chosen his #1 options to be injury-ridden Grant Hill and now Yao Ming.
In terms of his shortcomings I think Doug Colllins hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that double teams were so effective vs McGrady because the defense could easily make him give up the ball and take him out of the play. McGrady never looks to aggressively re-establish himself after he passes out of a double, and that's not how #1 options should behave.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:43 pm
BaYBaller wrote:Iggy is right in the sense that last year was his chance, or IMO his last chance. And I don't mean that in the sense that he will never get out of the first round (he most likely will) but the fact that last year was his last chance to win a playoff series with him as the #1 option.
His playoff failures are very much a combination of both his shortcomings and unfortunate circumstances. But if you follow his career, he's always looked to be (and probably deep down knows himself to be) a #2 option. Unfortunately for him he had chosen his #1 options to be injury-ridden Grant Hill and now Yao Ming.
In terms of his shortcomings I think Doug Colllins hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that double teams were so effective vs McGrady because the defense could easily make him give up the ball and take him out of the play. McGrady never looks to aggressively re-establish himself after he passes out of a double, and that's not how #1 options should behave.
Without a doubt. Doug Collins knows McGrady well. He is a 100% right. When McGrady gives it up to the weakside of the floor. He stands there on the other side just watching.
The guy is a bonafide #2 option and had he just chosen his situations better (not his fault how was he supposed to know about Hill and Yao) we would not be having this discussion. He has #1 option talent but a #2 option mentality. Thats always been him save for 3 years in Orlando and he was probably highly motivated to prove to people that he was a good player. That motivation has passed and this is who he truly is.
There is nothing wrong with that and it irks me that people seem to blame him for that. And the money he is being paid...great number 2 options get paid the same. He would make a great #2 option. A triple double threat every night IMO. An all defensive NBA player. Thats what he would be if there was a better player than him on his teams.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:47 pm
I think he still can be #1 option on a right team. He need a good PG to let him play off the ball for 3 quarters, a good shooter to spread the floor, and a big guy who can consistently finish around the basket off his passes. In that respect, the Orlando Magic would be perfect for him. At this point of his career, I just don't think he can handle both playmaking and scoring for the entire game.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:22 pm
Somehow McGrady apologists always manage to blame others for their own player not being better. This thread is a perfect example.
On the subject of who is better between Yao and McGrady, you can ask McGrady. He said Yao is the best player on the team.
On the subject of who is better between Yao and McGrady, you can ask McGrady. He said Yao is the best player on the team.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:43 pm
therack06 wrote:Somehow McGrady apologists always manage to blame others for their own player not being better. This thread is a perfect example.
On the subject of who is better between Yao and McGrady, you can ask McGrady. He said Yao is the best player on the team.
Compucomp, is that you?
(That name definitely has the potential to rise to idiomatic levels on this board.)
I have to say that everything that Iggyemu and BayBaller said is pretty much on the money. One questions is, can Yao be the #1 option allowing T-Mac to flourish? I think he has the skill and the mentality for it (he really impressed me this season in that regard, when T-Mac went down), but the big issue is his health. Hopefully after this summer his national commitments will lessen giving his body a chance to rest up properly between seasons. Otherwise, sadly, I think we're looking at a Walton type situation.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:47 pm
Tracy McGrady has some legitimate excuses. His entire career of postseason play has generally been briliant, but last year he has no choice but to accept some of the blame. Yao getting dominated no destroyed by Boozer has a lot to do with it, but McGrady's post season pefromance last left a lot to be desired.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:23 am
grond wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Compucomp, is that you?
(That name definitely has the potential to rise to idiomatic levels on this board.)
Good call...
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:41 am
Personally I think T-Mac is our best player, We win without Yao but we dont win without T-Mac. You cant ask any more from him since he has to do alot more than most superstars in the league.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:27 pm
wow, Compucomp got owned by the grond-vator duo.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:39 pm
T-Mac United wrote:wow, Compucomp got owned by the grond-vator duo.
That is his 2nd attempt at a comeback actually. He just can't stay away. He misses you.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:51 pm
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:17 pm
vator wrote:That is his 2nd attempt at a comeback actually. He just can't stay away. He misses you.
I want him to come back. I desperately miss his insane rants on the CA board. Besides, I haven't seen anyone get called a TOF in a while, and it breaks my heart.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:09 pm
RaoulDuke79 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I want him to come back. I desperately miss his insane rants on the CA board. Besides, I haven't seen anyone get called a TOF in a while, and it breaks my heart.
You say you miss his rants huh? Well here you go. Check out a few of this guy's posts. I think you will find them especially entertaining. smitingpurpleem
I have a strange feeling that there may be a rant or two in there that may quench your thirst a bit.
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:59 am
Ahhhh yes compucomp. The easiest guy to make fun of ever. Dude ran from thread to thread protecting Yao like it was his daughter's virginity.