Will T-Mac ever get passed the first round?

[Infamous]

For his career he's 0-6 in the first round. There's been a couple of times where it looks like he's going to the second round..back in 2004 against Detroit when Orlando was up 3-1, they blew it. In 2005 they were up 2-0 against Dallas, and both those wins were on the road not to mention..they blow it and lose by 40 points in Game 7. This year T-Mac seemed determine as ever, putting the load on his back and saying however far this team rides, it's all on him. So they won the first two games..dropped two in Utah, won the pivotal game 5, however they dropped two straight after that, including Game 7 in Houston which marked the first team a team in that series lost on their home court. So, blame McGrady for this loss?

NO WAY.

Tracy McGrady did everything he possibly could for this team. He played 41 minutes, scored 29 points, handed out 13 dimes, grabbed 5 boards and had 3 blocks in the Rockets final game of the season. We saw a bit of the scoring McGrady, we saw the playmaking McGrady, and the defensive McGrady. Also, Between the points and assists, he was responsible for every single Rockets field goal, BESIDES 9 FIELD GOALS. 9 FIELD GOALS. He carried the offensive load for this team and did everything he could. There's just a couple of problems..

1.Yao Ming is the softest player in the NBA. He's 7'6 and he can't get a rebound over players that are 6 feet tall. He get's blocked by people that are 5 feet tall. If he's 10-15 feet from the basket you can bet a million dollars he's going to take a fadeaway jumper instead of posting up and getting a higher percentage shot. He is also the most turnover prone center I've seen on a team.

2.Point guard problem. Rafer Alston is a great back-up, but no way should he start. He isn't much of a playmaker and he can't even knock down open three's, and Luther Head lost his confidence.

3.Waste of a bench, and Old back-ups. Juwan Howard and Mutombo..get younger and get more athletic. Houston used a 8 man rotation tonight..it's hard to win like that especially when your bench is old. It's going to be a long offseasion, all I need to say.

4.Jeff Van Gundy. Is it time to move on and hire a new coach? This is the second time he's let his team blow a 2-0 lead as head coach of the Rockets. Should he get the pink slip?

Those are some things Rockets need to address in the offseason.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

i think you meant jeff van gundy not stan

[Infamous]

Ah I always do things like that..put the wrong first name if two people have the same last name. Thanks for the correction.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

anytime, and yeah I do think t mac will get past the first round, but despite what people say, this is a 50 win team and not being able to get past the first round is inexcusable

t mac is in the same boat as garnett for the most part

(though garnett did get past rd 1 once)

[DOMINATOR]

problem is T-Mac has to do everything offensively. not only does he have to create his own shot but he has to create the shots of 4 other players on the court. hell half the rockets cant even make an entry pass into yao posting up.
need a legitimate PG who can create options along with T-Mac. PERIOD.

i think he will get out of the first round... just hope his heart will be in it still and not on the baseball field.


also http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/basketball/nba/07_playoffs/2007/05/loss-not-mcgradys-fault.html

[mffl89]

Send Mcgrady to the Mavs for JET, Stackhouse, Croshere.

[Roxsfan]

For his career he's 0-6 in the first round. There's been a couple of times where it looks like he's going to the second round..back in 2004 against Detroit when Orlando was up 3-1, they blew it. In 2005 they were up 2-0 against Dallas, and both those wins were on the road not to mention..they blow it and lose by 40 points in Game 7. This year T-Mac seemed determine as ever, putting the load on his back and saying however far this team rides, it's all on him. So they won the first two games..dropped two in Utah, won the pivotal game 5, however they dropped two straight after that, including Game 7 in Houston which marked the first team a team in that series lost on their home court. So, blame McGrady for this loss?

NO WAY.

Tracy McGrady did everything he possibly could for this team. He played 41 minutes, scored 29 points, handed out 13 dimes, grabbed 5 boards and had 3 blocks in the Rockets final game of the season. We saw a bit of the scoring McGrady, we saw the playmaking McGrady, and the defensive McGrady. Also, Between the points and assists, he was responsible for every single Rockets field goal, BESIDES 9 FIELD GOALS. 9 FIELD GOALS. He carried the offensive load for this team and did everything he could. There's just a couple of problems..

1.Yao Ming is the softest player in the NBA. He's 7'6 and he can't get a rebound over players that are 6 feet tall. He get's blocked by people that are 5 feet tall. If he's 10-15 feet from the basket you can bet a million dollars he's going to take a fadeaway jumper instead of posting up and getting a higher percentage shot. He is also the most turnover prone center I've seen on a team.

2.Point guard problem. Rafer Alston is a great back-up, but no way should he start. He isn't much of a playmaker and he can't even knock down open three's, and Luther Head lost his confidence.

3.Waste of a bench, and Old back-ups. Juwan Howard and Mutombo..get younger and get more athletic. Houston used a 8 man rotation tonight..it's hard to win like that especially when your bench is old. It's going to be a long offseasion, all I need to say.

4.Jeff Van Gundy. Is it time to move on and hire a new coach? This is the second time he's let his team blow a 2-0 lead as head coach of the Rockets. Should he get the pink slip?

Those are some things Rockets need to address in the offseason.


We need a penetrating pg that can create for himself inside and outside and for others.

You also forgot having a dominant/quick 4 with postskills and a consistent 15ft jumpshot.

Yao Ming is good for 26 and 10 every game. Yes, he has to work on his timing for rebounds, and re-gain his dropstep dunk, his hookshot and his faceup shot and his allaround postmoves. He had all of this this season prior to breaking his leg. He also needs to work on adding aggression to his game and reducing turnovers...having him less tired from not defending the high pnr, will help with this. Having a young offensive and defensive minded backup up 5 will help roxs too.

You are correct on the bench....we need a legitimate 3rd scoring 6thman and a deeper offensive minded bench.

tmac and yao need to be surrounded by pure offensive players, pure shooters, with a defensive mind.

Not defensive only players with an occasional eye to offense.

[BUMP]

We need a penetrating pg that can create for himself inside and outside and for others.

You also forgot having a dominant/quick 4 with postskills and a consistent 15ft jumpshot.

you had Mike James

Juwan Howard has a good 15 foot jump shot, Yao has the post moves


You are correct on the bench....we need a legitimate 3rd scoring 6thman and a deeper offensive minded bench.

i agree, Luther Head could turn into that guy


tmac and yao need to be surrounded by pure offensive players, pure shooters, with a defensive mind.

Not defensive only players with an occasional eye to offense.

pure shooters with a defensive mind? isnt that Battier?

im not sure who you're looking for, give me an example

[Roxsfan]

you had Mike James
The Rockets passed on Mike James because he wanted a trade kicker. Instead, they used their MLE to sign Bonzi Wells to a 2-year deal, Steve Novak to a 3-year deal, Vassilis Spanoulis to a 3-year deal and John Lucas III to a 3-year deal. Again poor decisions from the front office. But, Mike James has attitude problems and not a team player...but under another coach, he could work...not under jvg




Juwan Howard has a good 15 foot jump shot, Yao has the post moves

JU HOWARD IS SLOW, OLD AND INCONSISTENT AS HELL, AND IS NOT A LOW POST PLAYER and hasn't had a consistent deadly 15ft j. shot since 04-05 season...I said we need a dominant/quick 4 with a CONSISTENT 15 ft jump shot......that is NOT j. howard.......

i agree, Luther Head could turn into that guy
luther is great in the reg. season and was a no-show in the postseason.....could that improve......hopefully..but he does not have good handles or passing skills and turnover prone. He only exels when tmac and yao CREATE WIDE OPEN SHOTS FOR HIM from the 3.....or the easy cut for a layup. We need a legitimate 3rd scoring 6th man that can create his OWN shot. That is not luther, but he can hopefully be part of a deep future bench provided this organiz. can learn to trade and select the right free-agents.


pure shooters with a defensive mind? isnt that Battier?
Not under jeff van gundy, he is urged to play d and occasionally go off from the 3. But, he is not offensive minded FIRST, perhaps with a Rick Adelman type coach he could be just that....offensive minded first and defense second.

im not sure who you're looking for, give me an example
Matt Barnes, he drives and dunks, has a midrange and 3 pt shot, heart, and offense first, and defense second.

[ChumpDumper]

So you just need Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Matt Barnes.

:tu

[Roxsfan]

So you just need Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Matt Barnes.

:tu
dont forget popovich.

We had a shot at Tony Parker and instead did this:

2001
13th pick: Richard Jefferson (traded to New Jersey along with Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong for Eddie Griffin)
18th pick: Jason Collins (Griffin trade)
23rd pick: Brandon Armstrong (Griffin trade)
Passed on: 13 Richard Jefferson, 19 Zach Randolf, 27 Jamaal Tinsley, 28 Tony Parker, 31 Gilbert Arenas, 38 Mehmet Okur,


Notable undrafted players
Carlos Arroyo (PG), Puerto Rico and Florida International
Maurice Evans (SG/SF), Texas
Slava Medvedenko (PF/C), Ukraine
Paul Shirley (PF), Iowa State
Mike Wilks (PG), Rice

The roxs suck at player movements.

[Purple & Gold]

tmac and yao need to be surrounded by pure offensive players, pure shooters, with a defensive mind.

Not defensive only players with an occasional eye to offense.
Sounds like you need a third scorer. Too bad you traded away last years lottery pick.

[Suns>Spurs]

Shane battier for Rudy gay stupidest trade ever