Comments on: Tracy McGrady: Pleasure and Pain http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:30:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: JAMAAL STEPHENS http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-6529 JAMAAL STEPHENS Fri, 30 May 2008 12:44:43 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-6529 YEA MY NAME IS JAMAAL STEPHENS FROM PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND AND TRACY MCGRADY YOU ARE MY FAV PLAYER AND I JUST WANT A CHANCE TOO MEET WITH AND AND WORK OUT WITH YOU SO JUST GET BACK AT ME. FLYKIDD35@AIM.COM THANKS YEA MY NAME IS JAMAAL STEPHENS FROM PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND AND TRACY MCGRADY YOU ARE MY FAV PLAYER AND I JUST WANT A CHANCE TOO MEET WITH AND AND WORK OUT WITH YOU SO JUST GET BACK AT ME.
FLYKIDD35@AIM.COM
THANKS

]]> By: Austin Kent http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5691 Austin Kent Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:32:56 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5691 I would love to take a look at the video of the press conference back in 2003 when McGrady made the comments about the second round. I can't even come up with a transcript or even quotes from a legitimate web site. All the internet seems to have is variants of this (from Wikipedia)... Prior to the fifth game in Detroit, McGrady was quoted as saying how wonderful it was to "finally be in the second round (of the playoffs)". If anybody has a hidden link to ESPN or a newspaper please go ahead and post it. As for McGrady himself, what's up with how he's been acting lately? Not only has he done a complete reversal from last year, he's kind of being snarky about it too. "It's my fault a couple people in the stands ordered Heinekens and they got Budweisers. It's my fault, sorry." Dude, so many people still want to see you advance, we know you're not alone, find some middle ground. -AK Ast Ed I would love to take a look at the video of the press conference back in 2003 when McGrady made the comments about the second round. I can’t even come up with a transcript or even quotes from a legitimate web site. All the internet seems to have is variants of this (from Wikipedia)…

Prior to the fifth game in Detroit, McGrady was quoted as saying how wonderful it was to “finally be in the second round (of the playoffs)”.

If anybody has a hidden link to ESPN or a newspaper please go ahead and post it.

As for McGrady himself, what’s up with how he’s been acting lately? Not only has he done a complete reversal from last year, he’s kind of being snarky about it too.

“It’s my fault a couple people in the stands ordered Heinekens and they got Budweisers. It’s my fault, sorry.”

Dude, so many people still want to see you advance, we know you’re not alone, find some middle ground.

-AK
Ast Ed

]]> By: Adam S. http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5685 Adam S. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:14:23 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5685 I've always tried to summarize my feelings for T-Mac, and I think this article did a great job. I've never been a big time fan of his, or his teams, but I've always wanted to see him succeed for some reason. I’ve always tried to summarize my feelings for T-Mac, and I think this article did a great job. I’ve never been a big time fan of his, or his teams, but I’ve always wanted to see him succeed for some reason.

]]> By: benj http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5674 benj Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:24:35 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5674 Say what you will - the guy plays in the playoffs like a man possessed. I think most criticism comes from the people who haven't really watched him play in the playoffs but in small clips. For the most part, he raises every single aspect of his game up another level in the playoffs. Compare McGrady's regular season stats each year to his playoff stats and you'll find he absolutely a top 5 guy in the league for increasing his game in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he just has the poor fortune to have played for some really bad teams(as playoff teams go). His stats are even more impressive when you figure teams (like the Jazz) can double and triple team him when Tmac's next best offensive threat with Yao and Rafer out is a guy like Battier. Even last year's Houston team had a piss poor lineup - look at their team shooting stats without Mcgrady & Yao in the games they lost. It was brutal to watch as the Rockets role players shot sub 30% in losses - mostly missing open shots their stars set them up with. ...my only gripe with Tmac is he still tends to put up some bad shots and his shooting percentages reflect that but I think you can accept that when he brings so many more assists, rebounds, steals/blocks, etc. It's just a shame so many writers feel the need to unfairly cast Tmac as some sort of playoff disappointment when the stats and the actual flow the game show the exact opposite. Say what you will - the guy plays in the playoffs like a man possessed. I think most criticism comes from the people who haven’t really watched him play in the playoffs but in small clips. For the most part, he raises every single aspect of his game up another level in the playoffs. Compare McGrady’s regular season stats each year to his playoff stats and you’ll find he absolutely a top 5 guy in the league for increasing his game in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, he just has the poor fortune to have played for some really bad teams(as playoff teams go). His stats are even more impressive when you figure teams (like the Jazz) can double and triple team him when Tmac’s next best offensive threat with Yao and Rafer out is a guy like Battier. Even last year’s Houston team had a piss poor lineup - look at their team shooting stats without Mcgrady & Yao in the games they lost. It was brutal to watch as the Rockets role players shot sub 30% in losses - mostly missing open shots their stars set them up with.

…my only gripe with Tmac is he still tends to put up some bad shots and his shooting percentages reflect that but I think you can accept that when he brings so many more assists, rebounds, steals/blocks, etc. It’s just a shame so many writers feel the need to unfairly cast Tmac as some sort of playoff disappointment when the stats and the actual flow the game show the exact opposite.

]]> By: gdfgdfgd http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5666 gdfgdfgd Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:51:57 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5666 ninjas conspire to david stern to bribe the refs agains T_Mac ninjas conspire to david stern to bribe the refs agains T_Mac

]]> By: David http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5664 David Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:01:16 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5664 one of the rapidly fading elite players in the league, with a template that was formed during the 90's-early 2000's (with which guys like Kobe, Michael Finley, MJ, Baron Davis, etc were formed). it's so very great (as a McGrady fan), to finally see T-Mac, once buried in a Toronto bench behind superstar cousin Vince Carter(who he has ably surpassed in the past 3 years or so), finally mature into the complete basketball player that he is today. once upon a time, T-Mac was looked as "the next Magic", the one(on paper) capable of putting up stats that rivaled the old Showtime Lakers guard. hell, he was running neck and neck with a developing young guard like himself, someone who was part of the revamped Lakers' new tag team. he's widely regarded now as the best basketball player on the planet. someone named Kobe Bryant. from his ballhogging days in Orlando, where they could not assemble any sort of squad to assist T-Mac, he moves to Houston, where he plays under the mentorship of Jeff Van Gundy, and ultimately, learns to share the ball more and has played the best defense of his career. to be labeled a choker on a team that depends almost solely on him (Yao has been largely undependable in the playoffs) in April, McGrady has put up some eye-popping numbers, assist- and points-wise. in fact, there are only a couple of squads in the NBA that rely on one superstar to carry them (the Cavs' Lebron James and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant comes to mind), and only James has succeeded, so far, in carrying his team past the first round by his lonesome. as one of the NBA's best, and a true baller, it is nothing short of blatant disrespect to label him something when he has truly given it his all. McGrady is a warrior. need proof? see the Rockets' game against the Sonics this season, where McGrady plays his first game back off an injury which is not even close to healing. T-Mac basically plays that entire game on one good leg, but still does enough to sink Seattle to offset Kevin Durant's awesome scoring antics. KD says as much. one of the rapidly fading elite players in the league, with a template that was formed during the 90’s-early 2000’s (with which guys like Kobe, Michael Finley, MJ, Baron Davis, etc were formed).

it’s so very great (as a McGrady fan), to finally see T-Mac, once buried in a Toronto bench behind superstar cousin Vince Carter(who he has ably surpassed in the past 3 years or so), finally mature into the complete basketball player that he is today.

once upon a time, T-Mac was looked as “the next Magic”, the one(on paper) capable of putting up stats that rivaled the old Showtime Lakers guard. hell, he was running neck and neck with a developing young guard like himself, someone who was part of the revamped Lakers’ new tag team. he’s widely regarded now as the best basketball player on the planet. someone named Kobe Bryant.

from his ballhogging days in Orlando, where they could not assemble any sort of squad to assist T-Mac, he moves to Houston, where he plays under the mentorship of Jeff Van Gundy, and ultimately, learns to share the ball more and has played the best defense of his career.

to be labeled a choker on a team that depends almost solely on him (Yao has been largely undependable in the playoffs) in April, McGrady has put up some eye-popping numbers, assist- and points-wise.

in fact, there are only a couple of squads in the NBA that rely on one superstar to carry them (the Cavs’ Lebron James and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant comes to mind), and only James has succeeded, so far, in carrying his team past the first round by his lonesome.

as one of the NBA’s best, and a true baller, it is nothing short of blatant disrespect to label him something when he has truly given it his all. McGrady is a warrior.

need proof?

see the Rockets’ game against the Sonics this season, where McGrady plays his first game back off an injury which is not even close to healing.

T-Mac basically plays that entire game on one good leg, but still does enough to sink Seattle to offset Kevin Durant’s awesome scoring antics. KD says as much.

]]> By: Thriller http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5658 Thriller Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:37:01 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5658 Any stats on how T-Mac performs in playoff situations with the game on the line in the closing minutes? If I recall correctly, t-Mac usually amasses his numbers in the beginning of games (like the last Jazz game) in the first half and just disappears altogether in the 4th. Being tired is not an excuse. Other NBA superstars always seem to have gas left in the tank in tough 4th quarter situations despite having to work every bit as hard as T-Mac (Kobe and AI to name a couple). It's funny when T-Mac apologists just chalk all of T-Mac's playoff shortcomings to "bad luck" or something of the sort. If T-Mac trained like Kobe, maybe he'd have the conditioning to play effectively in those 4th quarters. Or if T-Mac had as much heart as AI, he'd somehow find a way to push through all the fatigue. Fact is, no one's to blame for T-Mac's shortcomings but himself. And that's the truth. Any stats on how T-Mac performs in playoff situations with the game on the line in the closing minutes? If I recall correctly, t-Mac usually amasses his numbers in the beginning of games (like the last Jazz game) in the first half and just disappears altogether in the 4th. Being tired is not an excuse. Other NBA superstars always seem to have gas left in the tank in tough 4th quarter situations despite having to work every bit as hard as T-Mac (Kobe and AI to name a couple). It’s funny when T-Mac apologists just chalk all of T-Mac’s playoff shortcomings to “bad luck” or something of the sort. If T-Mac trained like Kobe, maybe he’d have the conditioning to play effectively in those 4th quarters. Or if T-Mac had as much heart as AI, he’d somehow find a way to push through all the fatigue. Fact is, no one’s to blame for T-Mac’s shortcomings but himself. And that’s the truth.

]]> By: Lakers Blog http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5656 Lakers Blog Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:29:33 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5656 He is so great and has so much potential. I guess this just goes to prove how much power the heart has. Kobe Bryant has been criticized for being too passionate about winning and not caring about his teammates, I suppose I rather have a guy that wants to win than a guy that just wants to be a good friend. He is so great and has so much potential. I guess this just goes to prove how much power the heart has. Kobe Bryant has been criticized for being too passionate about winning and not caring about his teammates, I suppose I rather have a guy that wants to win than a guy that just wants to be a good friend.

]]> By: Sol http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5654 Sol Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:40:40 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5654 You should update the part about McGrady's second round quote: From True hoop on ESPN: Round 1 was extended from best-of-five to best-of-seven for the 2002-03 season. That made it easy for pundits to joke that Tracy McGrady apparently forgot about that little rule change after leading the eighth-seeded Magic to a 3-1 series lead over No. 1 Detroit, because T-Mac dared at this point to describe how it might feel to finally advance. "For me, a guy who hasn't experienced the second round, that would be great," T-Mac said. He was responding to a question about finishing off the Pistons off in Game 5. Sadly for T-Mac, though, no one ever tells the story that way. Orlando got pounded in the next three games, and NBA legend turned McGrady into the guy who prematurely proclaimed Detroit to be done You should update the part about McGrady’s second round quote:

From True hoop on ESPN:

Round 1 was extended from best-of-five to best-of-seven for the 2002-03 season.

That made it easy for pundits to joke that Tracy McGrady apparently forgot about that little rule change after leading the eighth-seeded Magic to a 3-1 series lead over No. 1 Detroit, because T-Mac dared at this point to describe how it might feel to finally advance.

“For me, a guy who hasn’t experienced the second round, that would be great,” T-Mac said.

He was responding to a question about finishing off the Pistons off in Game 5. Sadly for T-Mac, though, no one ever tells the story that way. Orlando got pounded in the next three games, and NBA legend turned McGrady into the guy who prematurely proclaimed Detroit to be done

]]> By: Taylor http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/22/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5653 Taylor Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:35:50 +0000 http://hoopsaddict.com/2008/04/23/tracy-mcgrady-pleasure-and-pain/#comment-5653 The Jazz aren't throwing double and triple teams at McGrady. He's settled for fadeaway 20 foot jumpers and not taking it to the basket in the 4th. The Jazz aren’t throwing double and triple teams at McGrady. He’s settled for fadeaway 20 foot jumpers and not taking it to the basket in the 4th.

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