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[Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 2:59 am
by TMU
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 93966.htmlAbridged
...
Rockets teammates, however, have spoken to McGrady throughout the season about his erratic effort. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and coach Rick Adelman have spoken with him at least twice in the past two weeks, including since the game in Toronto on Friday. McGrady, however, has struggled while dealing with the soreness still in his left knee. Teammates say they need more from him, though always add that they need it when he is healthy enough to bring it.
"It’s going to come down to Mac getting healthy and then Mac’s got to kind of be more of a dog," Artest said. "Yao is definitely doing his part.
...
After Friday’s game, however, Alston went so far as to suggest the team issue fines for poor effort, a step Morey said the team has not taken. Alston had said then that the team is "not at all" on the same page. On Saturday, he would not go as far as to say it is splintered, but did say that Saturday’s effort could serve as an example.
"We all know we should be on the same page, but if you look at the four or five game, you have lackluster performances. You get blown out in two games. At times out there, guys take it upon themselves. You get down and try to come from behind, guys try to get more aggressive and try to take on more of a scoring load, rather than stay within the scheme of the offense."
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So how much fine will Alston accumulate by the end of the season?
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 3:08 am
by YoungMoney23
I respect Rafer for saying that, I don't question the effort he puts in its his shooting that I hate but right now hes playing like an all star compared to t-mac
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 3:20 am
by T-Wack
Oh man, this dude has some balls. Hey Rafer, you know what got everyone on the same page, and playing the best basketball of the season? You being injured. That's when we're at our best. When you aren't on the floor.
He's been the one guy who's played worse than Tracy during this stretch, and he's going to call out people saying "some guys try to take in upon themselves". You mean guys like you? I seem to recall Gayfer trying to take things upon himself last night, and getting the **** blocked out of him.This dude is awful. He doesn't know his place in this league, and he needs a serious reality check.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 3:29 am
by Iggyemu
This team is in disarray.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 4:56 am
by Baller 24
T-Wack wrote:Oh man, this dude has some balls. Hey Rafer, you know what got everyone on the same page, and playing the best basketball of the season? You being injured. That's when we're at our best. When you aren't on the floor.
He's been the one guy who's played worse than Tracy during this stretch, and he's going to call out people saying "some guys try to take in upon themselves". You mean guys like you? I seem to recall Gayfer trying to take things upon himself last night, and getting the **** blocked out of him.This dude is awful. He doesn't know his place in this league, and he needs a serious reality check.
Lol, but you don't question Alston's
effort no matter how badly he sucks it up.
I agree with them all, McGrady needs to turn this around or its going to go all down hill. And you know whats scary? The locker room atmosphere is going to be just terrible.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:27 am
by HTown_TMac
I was hoping for good locker room chemistry this year, but i guess not.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:34 am
by Baller 24
Rafer Alston has had issues with Vince Carter (LOL go figure) in the early part of the 2004 season; hes called out Vince, and hes had beef with him, so this may not end well. The emotions are going to be VERY high.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:39 am
by TMACFORMVP
It's funny too, last year, the main strength in this team was our heart, our hustle, our locker room chemistry. We went through so much adversity last year, early injuries to McGrady, Yao going out for the season, but we continued the winning streak, and continued playing our brand in basketball. Everyone trusted each-other, and IMO there was no debate in who was the more cohesive team unit was last year.
And so early in the season so far, not even half way, we have Alston calling out McGrady, Artest also saying McGrady needs to toughen up. Nobody trusting eachother and getting blown out by WAY below .500 teams.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 10:02 am
by grond
"At times out there, guys take it upon themselves. You get down and try to come from behind, guys try to get more aggressive and try to take on more of a scoring load, rather than stay within the scheme of the offense"
That might be a call out to Yao as well. Not sure.
Well, respect to Rafer for speaking the truth. Still, given Mac's childishness it's hard to say that being called out so publically will result in anything good. Unfortunate thing is is that Rafer was probably just speaking his mind in the locker room session rather than deliberately calling people out in the press in a pre-meditated way.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 2:53 pm
by moofs
The awesome thing is that Rafer is free to call McGrady out like that since he has another voice behind his with more backing. Granted Artest isn't on super solid ground himself, being in a contract year, but sadly, it seems to be more firm than McGrady's right now.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 9:53 pm
by KaZiSaiZ
Rafer can say whatever he wants, he sucks but we all know he sucks and consistently sucks. Tmac on the other hand doesn't suck, so we expect things from him and thats whats causing all these flare ups...... sadly the locker room is having a toll taken on it too...
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 10:02 pm
by Ribalding
KaZiSaiZ wrote:Rafer can say whatever he wants, he sucks but we all know he sucks and consistently sucks. Tmac on the other hand doesn't suck,
Which team have you been watching? And whose value system have you been drinking?
Sure, Rafer isn't Steve Nash, but the guy kills himself night in and night out.
T-Mac, on the other hand,
pouts - visibly - on the court.
So who sucks?
P.S. - The secret answer is "the guy who doesn't put his heart into the game".
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Mon Jan 5, 2009 11:49 pm
by T-Wack
Ribalding wrote:Sure, Rafer isn't Steve Nash, but the guy kills himself night in and night out.
He has no problem killing his team, either.
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Tue Jan 6, 2009 3:41 am
by Mike12345
Anyone that says comments like that to the media is contributing to the lack of communication within the team and raefor definately isnt on the page as the team hes struggled out the gate. I personally think Mcgradys comments were directed at alston and alston isnt happy with mcgrady and maybe losing some minutes to brooks.
The comment tmac made about not getting the ball was just (Please Use More Appropriate Word) hes either lost his mind or he was directing it at raefor for not creating him and the team shots and breaking down the defense (tmacs to slow to do it himself rightnow)
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Tue Jan 6, 2009 4:13 am
by tisbee
In Orlando,Darrell Armstong would get after McGrady for his effort,esp on D. Occasionaly they had some very heated talks on court. McGrady respected Armstrong and would usually play harder after one of their discussions. One of reasons I wished Rockets had signed him over past 2 yrs.
Rafer is one of the primary team leaders,so his words carry a lot of weight. You can certainly question Rafers' results,but not his effort-he plays hard all the time.
Ribalding's comment reminded me of his enthusiasm for drafting CDR. I have no doubt that CDR would be a heck of alot more useful to the Rockets now than Dorsey. W/Battier,McGrady and Artest's poor health,think Adelman couldn't use a SF who knows how to score off a motion offense?
Re: [Chron] Tonight's article
Posted: Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:40 am
by KaZiSaiZ
Ribalding wrote:KaZiSaiZ wrote:Rafer can say whatever he wants, he sucks but we all know he sucks and consistently sucks. Tmac on the other hand doesn't suck,
Which team have you been watching? And whose value system have you been drinking?
Sure, Rafer isn't Steve Nash, but the guy kills himself night in and night out.
T-Mac, on the other hand,
pouts - visibly - on the court.
So who sucks?
P.S. - The secret answer is "the guy who doesn't put his heart into the game".
come on RB we all know rafer isn't nash....but kills himself night and night out? now who's watching the wrong team? killing yourself would be like yao showing up hours before the game to work on your shot or tmac playing through the flu after being checked out of the hospital..... not dwi charges and issues with valet guys.... i've met the guy , he's the nicest person in the world but if we're discussing the grading scale on who sucks, rafer's a "true pg" yet averages less assists than mac.... kissing carl landry shouldn't make someone suck, the dwi's and valet shouldn't make someone suck but if your the the pg aka the floor general and your floor sucks then my finger will firstly point @ him....