Will Mcgrady drive to the rim more this year?

JordansBulls · Post #1 » by **JordansBulls** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 2:06 pm

Will Mcgrady drive to the rim more this year? Also should he drive more to the rim more?

I've noticed the past few years that he has mainly just relied on his jumpshot. While it is good in the season, he needs to drive more when the playoffs arive. A lot of why he relied on his jumpshot was due to him having to run the offense as well.
However, now that Rafer has turned into a much better PG and now that Scola has developed into a player that can create his own shot, it would be nice to see Mcgrady become more versatile in the sense that he keeps opponents thinking more on what he will do.
Also the added artillery defensively and offensively from Artest should enable Mcgrady to see less double teams where teams used to force him to give the ball up.
Teams can't do that now because realistically anyone in the starting lineup on the Rockets can hurt you now.

With that in mind, do you think Mcgrady will drive more to the rim this year? Also should he?

Transistor · Post #2 » by **Transistor** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 3:07 pm

of course he should drive more....if he will is another question

I like what I saw from him in that Game 6 last year...he won't need to score as much as he did that game but that agressive Mcgrady is always a good thing

Ribalding · Post #3 » by **Ribalding** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 4:17 pm

Transistor wrote:of course he should drive more....if he will is another question

I like what I saw from him in that Game 6 last year...he won't need to score as much as he did that game but that aggressive McGrady is always a good thing

That's exactly the game I was thinking of.

PLUS, with a healthy Yao and RonRon stunting off back cuts, T-Mac's drives to the basket are going to come with the bonus of 4 good options (as opposed to the 1 option he had in game 6).

1. Dunk on somebody.
2. Dump it off to Yao.
3. Dump it off to RonRon.
4. Kick it out to Barry for 3.

I wouldn't want to draw this Rox team in the playoffs. Just sayin'. If they're healthy, they're a nightmare.

Baller 24 · Post #4 » by **Baller 24** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 5:17 pm

McGrady this past season actually had the most dunks I've seen since his first year in Houston. His back looked nice and fully healed, remember he was shooting up to 43, 44 %? until that shoulder injury, which I believe hurt his shooting percentage. I think he will be driving more this time around, especially with Ron Ron here.

ShaY · Post #5 » by **ShaY** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 5:56 pm

What I want from T-mac this year is to improve his jumpshot.

I want him to shoot at least 33% from 3 and 75% from the line , his free throw shooting last year was pathetic.

I am not worried about him driving more , especially since we have Artest now , T-Mac always drives more in the playoffs.

Improve you jumpsot T-Mac , you were once a deadly shooter but every here you become worse and worse.

Post #6 » by **King Roosk** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 6:31 pm

I freakin hope he does. He's a monster when he isn't jump-shot happy.

Post #7 » by **Vator** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 6:32 pm

I hope not. Save it for the playoffs. The risk of getting injured rises the more he takes it hard to the basket. I want him healthy for the playoffs and then hopefully he will let it all hang out and step his game up like he usually does.

Iggyemu · Post #8 » by **Iggyemu** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 9:11 pm

Doubtful. But if he fixed his jumper in the offseason it won't matter as much.

2fast4u · Post #9 » by **2fast4u** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 11:12 pm

mcgrady driving more = to more screaming like "aiyeeee" for him

BaYBaller · Post #10 » by **BaYBaller** » Fri Sep 5, 2008 12:52 am

I always thought the whole T-Mac driving more is way, way overblown. It's got to the point where writers even comment about it. People always equate driving = aggressiveness, but what about "letting the game come to them"?

What T-Mac needs to do is find a better balance in his game because versatility is his greatest strength, especially now under Adelman and with a potent team around him. He also needs to stop taking those "heat check" 3s he chucks up. He's simply not a good 3pt shooter.

And I hate to break it to you guys but T-Mac's jumper is only going to get worse. It's gotten worse every year since his prime, and that even includes his FT% (which is very abnormal)!

P.S. Rafer hasn't gotten 'much better.' He's gotten perhaps slightly better, slightly improving his floater and finishing around the rim. That's about it.

P.S.S. Scola didn't 'develop,' he's always been able to create his own shot in the post. But he's still not a go-to guy on offense.

Post #11 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 4:46 am

I'd rather him save his aggressiveness later for hopefully the playoffs, but better shot selection and occasionally more driving would be nice, lesser threes and more face up mid-range (18-20 foot) jumpers is more where he should concentrate and operate.

tisbee · Post #12 » by **tisbee** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:11 am

I'd reframe the question-will McGrady drive more this yr looking to score? Usually when he goes into the lane he passes off to open Battier,Alston,Head or diving Yao,Hayes,Scola,Landry. It's usually in the 4Q that he looks to score,accepting the pressure. Do we really want him ignoring his teammates so T-Mac can score more? Is it better for the Rockets to have T-Mac get 30-32ppg and 3-4assists per game,or for him to get 24ppg and 6 assists per game?

kevC · Post #13 » by **kevC** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 4:26 pm

That's a silly question. It just depends on how he gets those points?

playaloc916 · Post #14 » by **playaloc916** » Mon Sep 8, 2008 2:01 am

2fast4u wrote:mcgrady driving more = to more screaming like "aiyeeee" for him

Lol, can you imagine if we signed Maggette? Add in Alston's occasional high pitched noises and we'd have the most vocal team in the NBA.

A.J. · Post #15 » by **A.J.** » Mon Sep 8, 2008 2:36 am

I sure hope he does. When his shot is not falling I hate when he shoots. He should shoot second and go to the rack 1st.

dunleavyjr · Post #16 » by **dunleavyjr** » Mon Sep 8, 2008 4:38 am

If you have Luther Head on the floor with Tmac, might as well Tmac just shoot jumpers.

The art of driving to the basket is to break down the defense, open up a spot for shooter. If shooter like Luther Head who can't buy a damn basket, what's the use of attacking the basket? It's not like Tmac is a good freethrow shooter or something.

2fast4u · Post #17 » by **2fast4u** » Tue Sep 9, 2008 10:46 pm

dunleavyjr wrote:If you have Luther Head on the floor with Tmac, might as well Tmac just shoot jumpers.

The art of driving to the basket is to break down the defense, open up a spot for shooter. If shooter like Luther Head who can't buy a damn basket, what's the use of attacking the basket? It's not like Tmac is a good freethrow shooter or something.

maybe you could ask tmac for some tips on how to get a hot chick? :roll:

RayStats34 · Post #18 » by **RayStats34** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:14 am

Hopefully

Eralp · Post #19 » by **Eralp** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:34 pm

baller24@

when did mcgrady say this sentence ?

"I will be back stronger next year, WE will be back. You can laugh all you want at me now, but when it's all said and done I'll be having the last laugh"

i'm just wondering.

Don Draper · Post #20 » by **Don Draper** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:37 pm

If he doesn't drive we are sunk.

I gave T-Mac a pass last season because he was injured but he certainly needs to drive more next season.

And saying he needs to save it for the playoffs is absurd. It's called developing bad habits like settling for jumpers. As we saw in Game 6 when T-Mac drives he is close to unstoppable. The most important this are than he would open up the court for his teammates and create easier opportunities. Is not driving is not being blown out of proportion and I wish people would keep on harping on it.