Crossroads ahead
The Rockets entrance into the second round of the playoffs will probably end the Tracy McGrady era in Houston. The Rockets could never get out of the first round with McGrady and now with him sidelined for the season, they are headed to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. I am a huge McGrady fan and personally feel he is one of the top 20 players in the NBA when healthy, but the problem for the Rockets is that he has not accomplished what they just achieved against a very good Portland team.
McGrady put up great numbers in last year’s playoff series against Utah (27ppg, 8.2 rpg and almost 7 apg), but they still lost and in Houston they want wins. This year’s version without McGrady produced all-around contributions and created more weapons to solidify a first-round win. It probably will force the Rockets to shop their star next year.
There are four areas the Rockets improved in without McGrady.
Better cohesion
McGrady dominated on the court, but off the court as well. Although the Rockets have Yao Ming, McGrady still had the spotlight on him 24/7 and I felt because of it, he tried to do too much – thus diminishing the skills of his teammates and especially Yao Ming. The Rockets now seem to co-exist with one another. They seem to relish in the sight of not having to expect one player to produce huge numbers for them to win big games, which becomes a devastating weapon to have moving into the second round against the mighty Lakers.
Better defense
Ron Artest has been one of the best defenders in the league for a reason. He does not need help to guard his man. This alone takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the team, knowing that Artest is self sufficient. This allows Rick Adelman to gamble and double other players like Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and he will be doing it with more aggressive/physical players like Shane Battier and Luis Scola. What does this have to do with McGrady? Well, because of Artest’s ability to defend and score, Adelman can keep the diminutive Aaron Brooks on the floor and surround him with players that are very good defenders and can score in double figures as well.
Better ball movement
This might be the most important reason why McGrady might not return. The Rockets seem more fluid on offense now that McGrady is on the sidelines. The ball moves and does not stick, which used to force teammates to stop and stare instead of moving. Adelman would rather have the ball stick in Yao Ming’s hands on the post than McGrady’s on the perimeter. He would rather have a high-percentage missed field goal in the post with Ming (54 percent shooting) than a well-guarded perimeter shot by McGrady (41 percent last year and 38 percent this season).
Better offensive structure
Balanced scoring has allowed the Rockets to concentrate more on defense and not depend on one player to score in order to win. This in itself will cause the Lakers problems in the second round. Who would have thought Scola would be the Rockets’ top scorer in the first round at 17 ppg. The best part is the Rockets had six players scoring in double figures against Portland and Ron Artest was taking only 15 shots per game compared with the 24 shots per game McGrady took last year in the first-round loss to Utah. The beauty of this is that there are three players taking more shots than Yao Ming. But it’s all based on the fact that Yao Ming was the big worry defensively for Portland… And will be also for the Lakers, which will allow Scola, Brooks, Von Wafer and Shane Battier to become threats.
This article was not written to diminish the McGrady era in Houston or blaming him for the Rockets’ faults in past years. He was giving them what they expected and it did not work in Houston like it is in Cleveland with LeBron James. The greatest players in history have been humbled for dominating the ball and critics have pointed the finger at them. Michael Jordan was called selfish and a ballhog until Phil Jackson convinced him the triangle offense was better suited to win a championship.
Rudy Tomjanovich convinced Hakeem Olajuwon to trust his teammates and pass it out of double teams instead of turning it over trying to beat it. When his teammates started knocking down three-point shots with regularity, it gave him more one-on-one matchups in the post and earned the Rockets back-to-back championships.
Shaquille O’Neal allowed Kobe Bryant to take on a bigger role, especially in crunch time, during the Lakers’ three straight championships.
The problem for McGrady is that all the good things have happened for the Rockets without him on the floor and he never got the chance to be the one who made the adjustment. Now the question is… Do the Rockets want to see if he understands the adjustment he would have to make next year and do they want to deal with it?
jay-rich#23 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 6:02 am
Lets face it! T-Mac won’t be in the roation next season. I don’t think there will be any takers for his heavy contract under the circumstances of his health and the economy.
Unfortunately his time in Houston has expired because he put his ego up first instead of the team.
I’m sorry for a talented player like T-Mac but he has to get healthy again and then sign a minimum contract with a contender to eventually have a shot at winning it all.
Craig Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 6:59 am
An expiring $23 mil contract in the year of Lebron is an asset that I’m sure a lot of teams would not mind having so he is very tradeable… even if T-Mac can’t play… and I think he’s still got something left.
omar Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:02 am
WTF are u talking bout I never liked Mac but stop with all this hating he will come back next year healty and back to his superstar self even if its with another team and him not being there was not the reason they won they just got like and got to face a young portland team if T-Mac played in this series the rockets would have won 4-0
omar Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:05 am
Oh yeah and eddie when are you gonna get off lebrons dick you are a laker hater cause your suns suck
ab_40 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:40 am
seriously comparing last years houston team to this one? ha ha
c’mon man and this season things weren’st going smoothly because he was in and out of the rotation all the time. If they had a sollid rotation with everybody healthy and T-mac doing the offense untill the last three minutes of the game they would be contenders.
And if you couldn’t see the rockets playing better without him? You’re not supposed to be an annalyst at all.
The Lakers don’t have a sollid rotation at all which could be their downfall this year because players want clarity from their coach. And besided kobe, gasol and fisher there isn’t much clarity in the Lakers rotations. Which creates tentions among the players towards one another and towards the coaching staff because well, everybody wants to play on the BIG stage.
And if T-Mac does get traded I hope he does well get healthy and be the george gervin to someones early michael jordan
GoLakerZ Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:46 am
T-Mac’s career went sour after he left Orlando. He was the real T-Mac as a Magic. THrowing dunks of the backboard in games. He was actually an elite player then. Now he is just a washed up broken down old man who needs to think about his team otherwise he aint going to ever get out of the 1st round. See how well his team plays without him? To think Artest would be this teams downfall is a joke because it is obvious. T-Mac is the downfall.
ACL Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:49 am
Everyone is being very hard on T-MAC, this is the first time in the last two or three years that houston has been healthy, and this deep in a long time. They have alot of weapons this year off the bench, TMAC had to take the load of the team on his shoulders and had two rookies playing for the first time in the playoffs and no real scorer on the team becaus Yao Ming was hurt, if Yao was healthy they would have beat the Utah Jazz last year. Houston has alot better cast around Yao Ming this year thats why they got out of the first round, not because Tmac is a ball hog. To be honest with you TMAC is the only player that can get the ball to Yao Ming in the post, no one on the current team can feed the ball to Yao Ming in the post and it will be exposed in the neext round with a better defensive team in the Lakers, T mac bring intangibles to that team that will help them next year
Michael Bennett Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Eddie - I read and understood YOUR article. But, I couldn’t comprehend a single thing in the subsequent responses. Utter confusion…
I, too, am a huge T-Mac fan. There was a time, when he was healthy, when he was THE best offensive player in the league. Most people don’t remember that he led Orlando to a 7 Game series against the Detroit Pistons in the same year they beat the Lakers in 5 for the Championship.
But, you’re right. This current team doesn’t need a player like T-Mac in its rotation. The Rockets are going to give the Lakers a tough time because of their gritty defense. T-Mac would only help to soften the Rockets defensively.
I hope T-Mac finds a great doctor/trainer that keeps him healthy for an entire season and settles onto a team that utilizes him right. I’d like to see him on a team with a true point guard, where they would run him off screens and curls for open jumpers - like a Rip Hamilton/Ray Allen style game.
HOW ABOUT THEM BULLS?!?!? I’m glad you didn’t write an article about the Celtics/Bull series like every other sports writer on the planet. But, I can’t help but mention them. JOAKIM!!! DERRICK ROSE… my new favorite person on the planet!
GL226 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:07 am
hey Michael Bennett, what are talking about? Tmac, the best offensive player in the league at some time? are you kidding me. You’re better than that. Since Tmac was in the league, kobe has been unstoppable, even at 18. He was beating up on guys like jerry stackhouse when he worked out for the nba WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL! Tmac also looks at kobe as a mentor, he said so himself. Lakers will win the championship this year and it’s about time.
In regards to TMAC:
He isn’t washed up as people claim. He still has some left in the tank. It will be hard for him to come back 100% from a microfracture, extremely hard. He will never be the first option on any team anymore, those days are over with. He will be a very good Second Option kind of like how Paul Pierce is. I see him doing the stuff that Paul Pierce does. He is also a better rebounder and a very talented passer. He is a VERY UNSELFISH player. I have watched him a lot throughout the years. He just has to control his emotions. He will be back, but not to superstar level. Sorry TMAC fans, especially you, LMAC.
john Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:35 am
Congratulations to all the Rockets fans on your team series win. The jinx is finally lifted and now you can go on to focus on your next assignment, the Los Angeles Lakers.
About the game, it was as exciting as compared to Game 3-5 but this was a typical classy performance from the Rocs. Finally both Yao and Ron had their biggest nights. Most of it was due to the Blazers defense shifting their focus on Scola who was doing most of the damage in the last 3 games.
About the Lakers series. Well it is obvious that Kobe & Co. are overwhelming favourites to win it but you’ll just never know what surprise the Rocs might have for them.
Here is my re-cap on Game 6 and appreciate your thoughts on how do you see the Lakers will turn out?
Chap Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:52 am
I have been a Rockets fan all my life and have watched my team with great pride. Now that we’ve finally stopped our 12-year playoff series drought, the T-Mac era at Houston has to be over! T-Mac and the Rockets have had plenty of chances to get out of the first round in the past. Did we forget about the 2-0 lead over Dallas in the ‘05 playoffs with a chance to go up 3-0 at home?? Yet we lose games 3 and 4 at home and lose game 7 by 40 in Houston…
I feel that would never happen with the Rocket team on the floor now just because of the Artest factor; bringing leadership, hard work and determination. I feel for T-Mac and the fact that he’s never made it out the first round; but its not a coincidence we’ve made it out this year without him. Its never been an issue of T-Mac’s talent. And he has put up some great numbers in the playoffs as well. The issue with T-Mac is the style of play that must be used to make him successful and his leadership!
Ron Artest has come to the Rockets; and in his first year, we get out of the first round. His leadership, along with Battier, willed this team to victory in Game 6. And its not about their statistics on the court, but the leadership and accountability that each player owns. I mean, look at the balance in scoring this series, the development of young talented players like Brooks, Lowry and Landry, the all-around maturity of Yao’s game, and the emergence of an excellent PF in Scola! In the T-Mac era and with his needed dominance of the ball to be successful, there would have never been a chance for these role players to be emerge.
Again, I feel for you T-Mac and appreciate what you’ve done in Houston. But your style of play does not fit the teamwork mentality of a Rocket squad. To me, you fall into the AI downfall…and that is that a team must adjust their style of play to suit your talents as opposed to you utilizing your skills in a way to maximize your team’s abilities. Your way produces great individual success, All-Star credentials and even regular-season wins. But when it comes to the playoffs, and the intensity and focus hits another level, that style of play does not produce wins!
basketboule Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 10:08 am
tmac over brooks and wafer. there is no doubt tmac would help the rockets. probably it would help more to get rid of his contract but if you put tmac on the floor at pg, artest and battier on the wing and scola, yao up front, you have an even better rockets team, no doubt.
pepe Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 10:15 am
the rockets passed the 1st round because Tracy “The Jinx” McGrady is not playing. A big thanks to you man. LOL
YeLLz Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 10:49 am
itz funny how quick people call our team “deep” this year & call certain players “weapons” when most of you didn’t even know who these players were at the beginning of the season.
the Rockets are winning because of 3 things:
COMMITTMENT (on defense & to the coach)
BALL MOVMENT & UNSELFISHNESS
COACHING SYSTEM
which all would not flourish with a T-Mac on the floor!
Von Wafer, Scola, movement through Yao, Aaron Brooks penetration, being able to refrain from LONG ASS SCORING DROUGHTS are all a by product of Tracy not being on the floor to dribbling all of his teammates out of the game!
When Tracy is on the court, this happens:
he makes a miraculous shot after he has iced his teammates for 22 seconds.
he passes to a teammate in bad position with 5 seconds or less on the clock because he scoured the perimeter.
he settles for a bad perimeter jumper with 22 seconds STILL on the clock & puts NO pressure on the defense to guard him and makes it easy to double Yao & play the passing lanes.
his skill set has always been great but he has seemed to lose basketball IQ over time.
i love my Rockets but… we ARE NOT A SUPREMELY TALENTED TEAM… they just have a will to win, players with defined roles & a love for the game now that the Tracy-cancer is out of the way…
BTW… anybody notice that he picked the Lakers to win it all this year & now we have to play them in the second round that he couldn’t get us to… LMAO! why don’t they ever show him on sideline cheering on HIS team like Garnett and other injured players do?!?!… hmm i wonder…
talent vs. IQ vs. committment = LAME ASS TRACY MCGRADY
Stephan Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Ok, I guess we have to set some things straight here.
First off, the above all greatest thing which made the Rockets way better than last year is - Rick Adelman. Things have to grow and I guess Adelman needed some time. The Rockets battled injuries the whole season and still they made it to the playoffs where they where able to beat a rather unexperienced team.
But, are the Rockets better than with T-Mac? Now, compare last years Utah Jazz against this years Portland. Sorry, but Portland only has Roy and Aldrige, maybe a bit Outlaw at some times. But the Jazz had (don’t count me for that, really dunno exactly last years lineup) Williams, Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko, Millsap… and Rockets? No Yao Ming.
So to say that the Rockets only won against Portland because McGrady is absent really does not stand to the facts. I totally agree that the Rockets improved in many areas as written by Eddie, but still I guess McGrady is a valuable contender for the team. Imagine a lineup with Brooks, McGrady, Artest, Scola and Ming. Battier could easily come from the bench and give additional defensive firepower, Landry (if healty) would backup Scola.
The most devastating thing for which McGrady is somehow not faulty is his back. If someone could explain to me how it is his guilt that his back hurts, you should go straight to the NBA and work for some teams. They could use that knowledge.
I also had to laugh about some comments how long McGrady holds the Ball and taking ill-advised shots. Hey, Aaron Brooks gone 6-20 in the 5th game?! From Germany I can only see the NBA.com 2min game recaps, but most of the Shots Artest takes also come from dribbling to long, penetrating, spinning 5 times and taking fade-away jumpers against more athletic defenders. So I guess there is some sort of tradition taking such shots in Houston.
(on the other hand, most of LeBrons and Wades shots don’t look better!)
Considering what was said concerning Tmacs contract I could even think of the Rockets keeping him another season, and if he is not healthy (remember, he scored 61 points in a game - if healthy I guess he is one of the deadliest offensive weapons in the game) they could also work on Lebron coming to Houston. Him with Ming would also be deadly.
At least I feel a bit sorry for McGrady cause Houston would have gone to the second round, with or without him, against Portland anyway. So know he has to endure all the mockery, but being honest, all have to admit that Portland really would have lost to any other team in the West in this playoffs.
Chris Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Stephan,
There is no “would have”, “could have” and “should have” in the playoffs. It is a fact that when Rockets finally got out of the first round for the last 12 years, Tmac was not on the court!! This is basketball. Everything can happen. Nothing is guaranteed. Portland is sure a young team but trust me, nobody in the west would guarantee winning a series against them.
Tmac was a fine all around player, but he couldn’t do it when he is not healthy. To be honest, I would prefer him going to the basket all the time and making free throws than shooting perimeter shots after shots. He might have made some big shots before, but unless he shows he is healthy, don’t count on it!!
I am sorry for Tmac. Maybe he should have gotten out of first round already because of his talent. However, so far in his career, this is his life and fate being a first round virgin. That is it. A FACT !!
Giovani Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
To that Idiot Omar…give your head a shake or comment on cricket cause you are an idiot…just like people saying that Dominique was better than Jordan in the mid to late eighties. Even Nique took his team out of the first round on numerous occasions….McGrady has failed every step of the way….in Orlando a few times and now in Houston and then without their so called top players they past the first round. So again Omar although you may have grown up here or even born here…stick to cricket or whatever you people play
ab_40 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
mr Bennet get your facts straight the year the pistons won the championship Tmac led the leuge in scoring but was on one of the worst teams that won a grand total of 21 games. the 7 game series was the year before that… and as he said in some interviews those were some of the worst supporting casts for a superstar EVER haha ah well
Porky Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
TMac is a TRex as in dinosaur. Time to change into Arabian oil. I need a drink.
J Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
This off season, they have to keep Ron, he is the kind of guy fit in Yao’s system. But in order to reach the next level, the rockets have to find someone can handle the ball. If Tracy McGrady can translate himself as a great passer, and play in the point guard position, he will be in the rotation. But of course, nobody know whether he will be healthy next season. At the age of 30, he is still young enough to play alongside with Yao and Ron.
Rockets fans, let’s face it. The rockets will not go any farther without T-mac, I mean to beat the Lakers and Cleveland in the finals. If Tracy McGrady can finally get healthy and figure out how to win, I think the Rockets will be the dangerous team in the NBA.
Duncan can never win a championship without Parker and Ginobile, and Yao need T-mac and Ron. They are still young enough to win couple championship. Yao is 29, T is 30, and ROn is 30.
Yelito Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
NO diss to T Mac, I love his game, but isn’t this the same thing that happen in Orlando? T Mac, Iverson, Carter are the type of cats that mess up a team chemistry and we give them a free pass because they are entertaining.
LJ Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
I believe that TMAC will adjust his game. If he comes back healthy the Rockets will be even more dominant because they can’t just double Yao. Also, his game will open up for other players thus allowing Brooks to score more and his assist will increase dramatically if they continue to run the offense thru him. TMAC is a great talent but must learn to take care of his body and know when to turn it on. Last but not least take the challenge personally when playing against the likes of Kobe,Paul Pierce, Lebron, and Wade.
frank B Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Eddie,
I think that you are being too hard on Tracy McGrady in this article. Correlation is not causation. Just because Tracy didn’t play and the Rockets won, doesn’t mean the Rockets won because Tracy didn’t play.
That being said, you are correct that the Tracy McGrady period is probably over in Houston. What we can all agree on is that given his career results, he is dramatically overpaid. You can’t count on him to carry a team and therefore can’t afford to throw one third or one half of the salary cap to him at the expense of other quality players.
One of my strongest impressions of Tracy was the all star game a few years back when he and Kobe started in the backcourt for the West. Wow. What a combination. Both players exuded greatness on both ends of the floor and their combined athleticism was incredible.
Let’s face it, Mcgrady has rarely been healthy at Houston and he might never get his groove back, kind of like Penny Hardaway. When he is healthy, he is as good on the offensive end of the floor as anybody. I will miss his grace and artistry on the court if he is unable to return to the game.
idris Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
the Rockets probably should have advanced the past 2 seasons, but the 06 and 07 Jazz were a much better team than the blazers.
This entire article is based on a a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy.
Just because the Rockets lost in 06 and 07 with mcgrady and won in 08 without mcgrady does not necessarily mean mccgrady is the cause for this turnaround.
having said this, i dont think mcgrady has anything left. Maybe he’ll pull a jason kidd and recover from this surgery, but Webber, Houston, and Penny were never the same after it, and all of them were about mcgrady’s age when they had the surgery.
The rockets will have little trouble trading McGrady. They can afford to take on a multi-year contract, and with a majority of the NBA desperate to unload at least one quality player with a long contract, the Rockets will have the pick of the litter.
Jaredallas Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
dude hates his job. period.
JAAM46 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
Welcome to the NBA Playoffs Houston Rockets!!! I predict Los Angeles Laker will this series either 4-1 or 4-2, promise Rockets will not win this series. promise.
JAAM46 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:21 pm
Welcome to the NBA Playoffs Houston Rockets!!! I predict Los Angeles Laker will win this series either 4-1 or 4-2, promise Rockets will not win this series.
JAAM46 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Houston will not have any cap room to resign Artest unless they trade one of their players. interesting summer coming up.
iceman 360 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
as for my view, i think T-Mac can stay with houston next year, or for many years to come. he will do what KG, ray allen and the truth has done: SACRIFICE HIS STATS! he needs to be more of a team player and not a STAR. After all, when he asked orlando for a trade, one reason he gave the media is, “I just want to WIN, man..” T-Mac, you now have a chance to win.. don’t let this chance slip away. ~ peace!
JAAM46 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
2010 for the San Antonio Spurs will be truly interesting with 2 players under contract, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker; better watch out NBA this is the year the Spurs reload with talent.
EDDIE Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
READ THE ARTICLE! AND THEN COMMENT. DONT READ A LINE OR A PARAGRAPH —READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE OMAR ASK SOMEONE TO READ IT TO YOU AND HAVE THEM EXPLAIN SLOWLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY
Holla Bolla Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
M. Bennett,
It might be time to remove your Johnson from Eddie’s backside. You are an absolute clown.
Eddie..Lakers swept Houston 4-0 this year, I know it doesn’t matter.
Holla
Chris Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
Imagine if because of all these injuries, 29 year old Tracy McGrady was 5 steps slower and only half as explosive out on the court. McGrady would still be the Rockets best playmaker. If you combine both of Houstons PG’s numbers, you still get less than 6 assists per game, which is what McGrady usually gets on his own. Right now what they are missing is a playmaker on the perimeter for when the offense breaks down, or when they can’t get Yao the ball. McGrady is still 6′8, and handles the ball like a PG.
Tracy being good for the team depends on a few things. Not all players who were/are superstars can’t accept a smaller role in an offense. If he’s slower and can be happy shooting less, then there is no question he would help this team out.
Playing the Lakers is going to expose the Rockets. Tracy at the very least would give them a different way to attack when they struggle.
bron42 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
the only real reason the rockets won this series was the matchups…the last times they lost, they went up against better teams. Portland is good but still too young so even with tmac this year i think the rockets would of beaten them. They were just lucky not to draw utah once again. As for tmac. I say he goes back to orlando. Its where he was at his best and now they have a better supporting cast, not to mention dwight. So he could play penny to dwights shaq. ALSO they magic have no real go to guy in the crunch who can create his own shot. Right now they have hedo but hes going to be expensive to keep AND hes a B list superstar at best. If tmac comes back at least 80% I think he’d be a upgrade in late game situations.
P.s: Anyone else notice a who changing of the guard right now… guys like iverson,tmac, carter, etc…all came in and sorta kept the NBA going and now their all on the decline and people are ripping them apart for not being superstars or something.
Brian Boitono Said Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
Michael Bennett is a pimply faced 19year old playing his NBA live smoking the system on easy. He constantly over talks himself into circles leaving you wondering what the heck he is even debating. Generally he attempts to make points for both sides, a typical flip flopper. OMAR now you got eddie Mad, read my comment SLLLLLOWWWLLY as well.
I liked the article and was worth the read, most of what Eddie says is.
T-mac does fit the mold of those shining stars on teams that just cant win. I.E AI, Vince. Would he be willing to be a 2 or 3 option on a team with a great leader???? who knows
Krynn77 Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
Tmac being out for the year really has made the the rockets blossom and made them go out of the first round hole they have been in. I totally agree with eddie that Tmac has been doing too much when healthy and made the other players stand around and diminish. But i do beleive if Tmac is healthy next year with all the other players now know what they can contribute, they could be in better shape to beat the Lakers than they are now. I just hope they get to beat the lakers at least a game or two (a game 7 might be askin too much). Watchin’ them still makes me think that still get into some point droughts that will be a big problem when facing the Lakers. If they trade Tmac, I think they need to go for picks and rough em’ up bigs with a bit more of height as support to Scola (who himself by the way is still small for PF). I like what Landry has done so far in the PF spot but I think three undersized PF’s will really make hard to beat the Lakers. Being a Rocket and Tmac fan, I still hope that Tmac gets to play healthy for the rockets next year and makes critics and fans take a better look on how he could still give the rockets a boost to get better and better…..
bron42 Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 12:12 am
its like orlando, if the go to the east finals, is it because their suddenly a great team or because they were able to avoid a detroit team that has had their number the last few years. Thats how houston was last couple years with the jazz. Last year the roles were reversed with yao being hurt but somehow it was all on tmacs shoulders to blame. Yet he took a bunch of c listers and won some games. Now the rockets win against a newbie blazer team and tmac was holdin them back? wow
nba_fan Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 1:02 am
this is the most stupid article i´ve read in along time, are you comparing, UTAH, to blazers???? you are stupid if you are
Saying that our ofense is worst without t-mac you are stupid 2, cause our problem this season is our ofense, our 4th quarters are ridiculous, even in the last game against blazers, we stayed half a quarter with 2 points
you can say that artest is better D man than t-mac, no problem but againts good defensive teams like lakers, we need to score, and i am sorry, but we have no offensive scorer, that all teams need in the 4th quarter and that is what t-mac is
i am not t-mac lover, i only say that he is a great playa, the question is, will he ever recover from the surgery??? does he worth 23 milions per year???? that are other questions but dont say that my rockets without t-mac is better cause that is not true
EDDIE Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 4:52 am
read the article i am talking about the rockets finally getting out of the first round and the perception it will bring. i personally think they are better with Tracy if he changes like the stars i talked about in the article did. do i have to write a separate article explaning my article? the problemn with some of you like omar is you fail to read and think first before you respond. so you should really read it 4 times.
omar Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 7:17 am
#
Giovani Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
To that Idiot Omar…give your head a shake or comment on cricket cause you are an idiot…just like people saying that Dominique was better than Jordan in the mid to late eighties. Even Nique took his team out of the first round on numerous occasions….McGrady has failed every step of the way….in Orlando a few times and now in Houston and then without their so called top players they past the first round. So again Omar although you may have grown up here or even born here…stick to cricket or whatever you people play
yeah hahaha that was funny whatever you people play yeah i played more basketball in one day then you have in your entire life you bum let me see if i got this right your probably some fat white guy who just sits on his couch watching sportscenter every hour to learn a thing or two about the game you were that guy in high school that never got to play ball so he became a male cheerleader and started playing with himself and now your on here trying use an Italian name to hide your identity hay pussy ain’t nobody gonna come looking for you.
and Edddie read slowelllly gotch ya so how does it feel to get passed up for that suns job and then watching them miss the playoffs what were you thinking qualified you for the job anyways just cause you made a couple of shooting videos hahaha that dont help no one i would not watch them even if paid to
Ps GET OFF LEBRONS DICK AND ALL YOU FAKE FANS GET OFF EDDDIEEE DICK
EDDIE Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
Giovani Said,
and Edddie read slowelllly gotch ya so how does it feel to get passed up for that suns job and then watching them miss the playoffs what were you thinking qualified you for the job anyways just cause you made a couple of shooting videos hahaha that dont help no one i would not watch them even if paid to
that was funny, trust me i laugh all the time at you guys comments. i assume you cant hold the basketball because of small hands because thats the only way my video would not improve your small game.
as for coaching the Suns. yes i did interview and did not get it. i am ok with it. i did not cry or blame anyone. i continued my solid confident life. just turned 50 while here in Berlin, Germany watching Olympiacos in the final four and cooling out with my wife and Greek friends. i am content and happy. by the way my video has allowed me to pay my sons and daughters college education for the full four years. i guess some people lovvvvvve my jumpshot. my readers respect my honesty and candor—- words cant hurt me man. give me some knowledge of the game or go buy my video.
big pete Said,
May 2, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
The Rockets are in the second round precisely because TMac is out. As the best Rockets player TMac set the example for the other players. He didn’t care if the Rockets won or lost. Many times in close games you would see him laughing and joking around on the bench after the Rockets gave up double digit leads and were about to blow another game. TMac gave up on the Rockets just like he did in Orlando. The Rockets will be a much better team if TMac never wears a Rockets jersey again.
Giovani Said,
May 3, 2009 @ 6:40 am
hay man thats not nice
FaStRmAn Said,
May 3, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
T-Mac is a Brittle glass figurine. Flashy, but non-functional. Too many injuries to be effective. The Rockets will have a hard time trading a player that has made a career collecting disability checks. On the other hand, keeping T-Mac on the roster doesn’t seem to make sense either. Clearly the Rockets are a better team without T-Mac. Some team will trade for T-Mac for the name value and the expiring contract. T-Mac isn’t a team plahyer and won’t play in pain. So some team will trade for him only to use his expiring at a shot for Lebron. Maybe the Knicks would do it for the Marque value and the expiring contract.
Bill Walton Said,
May 4, 2009 @ 6:36 am
Unfortunately T-Mac will stay in Houston. He still has a final year on his contract and nobody will take him. I tell you what, if T-Mac will allow somebody to coach him and not put his selfish ego first and play a team game, Houston could have definetely used him in the final stretch of games. If the Rockets don’t win early in games its pretty much over. A healthy, team-oriented Mc-Grady would have helped the Rockets over the edge in those final stretches of games where it was close against Portland. I think the same for the Lakers, if it gets close at all dat is.
dock808 Said,
May 4, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
Send him to the Bulls, we’ll give you Deng, Kirk Heinrich and our second pick in the first round. We’ll take him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan and Tony Said,
May 5, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
I’m sure the Knicks would be glad to take McGrady for the final year of his contract if the Rockets will take Eddy Curry.
Realistic Said,
May 6, 2009 @ 1:04 am
You guys are such Haters!
T-Mac will be at ALL-STAR status again in he is at least 90% healthy.
At one point TMac and Kobe were the best in the League… Now all these new kids are in the league (Lebron, DWade, Kevin Durant) you guys have forgotten about TMac….
TMac is still the shit and he will prove it next season… if it’s with the Rockets that would be nice… But he’ll do it wherever he goes…
STOP HATING!!!
Henryhk Said,
May 6, 2009 @ 4:10 am
I think a lot of discussion above lacks objectivity…too much love or hate re TC. If the Rockets had a healthy TC all yr long and into the playoffs of course they wld be a better team, possibly going all the way. Comparing to Orlando is not relevant given the rest of the team, plus even prior Rockets teams: he had Yao but also note a lot of the time he was not available either. Plus they did not have the pentration of Aaron Brooks, Scola has grown over time with experienc in the NBA, and they now have Artest as well as a far better coach. The real issue re TC, and thus whether he shld be on the team next yr is his health. Even if does manage to comeback will he be the same type of player? Some suggested he will adjust but his game, while NOT being a ball hog like AI, is built on his atheleticism…unlike say Paul Pierce who has savvy and post up game etc. As such it makes sense for the Rockets to move him if they can. TC’s shortcomings previously was not about his game per se, or even chemistry: he did create for others …more about health, the in and out of line up (if Kobe or Lebron or Wade were in and out all the time I doubt their teams wld do well either), and to some degree his lack of leadership. The best player, the most gited are not the best leaders…but that doesn’t they are cancer as some of the posts above suggest. In any case, too bad for TC, but I am afraid I think he is well past his prime and he will never the player he once was. The odds are stacked against him.
DJ Shooter Said,
May 7, 2009 @ 11:43 am
Eddie, please don’t even bother responding to hateful, ignorant posts.
A man that’s reached your level of success doesn’t need approval from delusional idiots on a Message Board.
Just ignore, or better yet delete, posts that are insulting & don’t add anything inelligent tthing to the topic at all.
Take the high road Eddie!
john marshall Said,
May 13, 2009 @ 12:34 am
Hey quit hating on Portland chumps responding to post. The main issue was they were out coached on every level. To say they only have Roy and Aldridge is just dumb. They put together a very nice season and have a very deep squad so be ready for next season after you get knocked off by the Lakers(even if I am rooting for Houston in that series).