Rockets offense with McGrady

Texas Longhorns · Post #1 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:42 pm

Since everyone is double teaming T-Mac everywhere, I was wondering what type of offense can free up McGrady. I mean how does Kobe Bryant do it in LA? He has to be double teamed the same way right? But I always see him split the double, how does he do it or how do other players do it? What is the BEST offense for McGrady in this situation? Ex. Triangle

RaoulDuke79 · Post #2 » by **RaoulDuke79** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:59 pm

Kobe probably does it by being the far superior player(scoring wise) to T-Mac but that's just my guess.

Maybe it's the triangle offense though.

Nah, probably just the fact he's the far superior player(scoring wise).

jove9 · Post #3 » by **jove9** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:03 pm

I won't pretend I know the answer to this question, but I do know that the Rockets have run the triangle at times this season.

It may be worth mentioning at this point that Kobe is a better offensive player than T-Mac, which is difficult for me to admit.

Years ago, when the Kobe vs. T-Mac debate was all the rage, I chose McGrady every time because of his youth, height, and explosiveness. Vince Carter was also mentioned at times in the debate. How times have changed....

Play_Smart! · Post #4 » by **Play_Smart!** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:23 pm

Kobe is a much better dribbler than T-Mac

etopn23 · Post #5 » by **etopn23** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:35 pm

^Yeah McGrady's handles and shot have diminished significantly compared to what they were in 04-05 coming into Houston.

Hopefully that'll change by next season. It took Carter a few years to fully recover too.

jove9 · Post #6 » by **jove9** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 pm

etopn23 wrote:^Yeah McGrady's handles and shot have diminished significantly compared to what they were in 04-05 coming into Houston.

Hopefully that'll change by next season. It took Carter a few years to fully recover too.

Recover from what?

McTracy · Post #7 » by **McTracy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:47 pm

Adelman's offense is good. First of all other guys need to make shoots when they are open, so that defense can't lack on T-Mac cause if somebody is hitting you don't wana leave him open.

McGrady needs to dribble less and he shouldn't play that many pick and rolls especially with Deke or Hayes.

I'd love to see that play when McGrady come off the pick without the ball for an 18 footer. Last night NO defended it well but this play has been always working pretty well so he needs to do it more often

etopn23 · Post #8 » by **etopn23** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:51 pm

jove9 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Recover from what?

Recover his game post injury. Carter had a stretch of years where his athleticism/talent was down from not being healthy. Ironically he was the same age as McGrady is now when it happened to him.

02-03 was reminiscent of Mcgrady's 05-06 season, 03-04 reminiscent of McGrady's 07-08 season. They both stayed productive, but not at the levels that we're used to seeing them play.

When VC was 29 (that first year in NJ), he had his best season in the NBA. This was mostly due to the fact that he had stayed healthy the season before.

grond · Post #9 » by **grond** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:43 pm

With his height, I'd like to see him post up opposing 2's a lot more. Save himself from running around on the perimeter all the time.

also re: kobe/tmac, Kobe has the ability to make forced and/or challenged shots. T-Mac's not bad, but Kobe just has an amazing knack for it.

Post #10 » by **TMU** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:43 pm

It's McGrady's poor work ethic man. The guy needs to focus on other aspects of the game. Running plays during practice and practicing FT shooting alone won't expand his game.

McGrady can no longer beat double teams and occasionally let alone a single coverage. He speed and handles have greatly diminished over the years.

KaZiSaiZ · Post #11 » by **KaZiSaiZ** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:27 pm

i'd like to see him post up also

but to answer your question the best option i see that works is that pick & roll....

BaYBaller · Post #12 » by **BaYBaller** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:20 pm

It's a multitude of things. Both Kobe and T-Mac are smart enough to post up smaller defenders when they are on them. The problem is coaches are not stupid enough to stick small guards on them.

Neither Kobe nor T-Mac can "beat" doubles regularly. Kobe does split screens on occassion (Kobe is a bit smaller, faster, and has better handles), which is a great play and breaks down the defense completely, but it is not something that can be done time and time again, you have to catch the defense completely off guard. Plus splitting a double is usually done off "soft" doubles, like after a pick-and-roll.

Most teams don't do hard doubles, which means an immediate double once they catch the ball. T-Mac usually sees soft doubles off the pick-and-roll, and it is effective in making T-Mac give up the ball and at the same time the defense can easily recover. The solution is either having a player who is a threat on offense set the pick, or not to set a pick at all (i.e. run a T-Mac iso like on the mid-post/elbow, have T-Mac run off of screens off the ball, etc.).

Having our 2 best screeners (because of their offensive capabilities), Yao and Landry, out right now has really hurt the offense. Gasol and Bynum being out has really hurt the Lakers offense as well.

Teckon · Post #13 » by **Teckon** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:49 am

I believe Scola can shoot some 15 foot jumpers and have seen him make those in the earlier part of the streak. But i don't see Tmac doing pick n roll with Scola often lately and getting scola the ball. The way the defense is keying on tmac, Scola would be open most of the time. Anyone can explain why rockets don't use scola as roller?

Iggyemu · Post #14 » by **Iggyemu** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:16 am

Teckon wrote:I believe Scola can shoot some 15 foot jumpers and have seen him make those in the earlier part of the streak. But i don't see Tmac doing pick n roll with Scola often lately and getting scola the ball. The way the defense is keying on tmac, Scola would be open most of the time. Anyone can explain why rockets don't use scola as roller?

Because Scola has been missing that shot. Landry makes that shot more than Scola does.

McTracy · Post #15 » by **McTracy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:56 am

Iggyemu wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Because Scola has been missing that shot. Landry makes that shot more than Scola does.

I agree. Scola right now can't his this shoot, he's having a lot of problems at the line too.

Landry - I hope he will be back for tonight.