If Tracy McGrady needs to do everything for the Rockets, they won't win many games. In the playoffs, they are lucky to have won the game that they did, and Rafer Alston came through and did his part for that to happen.
T-Mac is a great player, but like Michael Jordan, if you don't have a strong supporting cast around you, you won't be very successful in the post-season.
I feel for the Rockets and their fans. That 22-game winning streak may have been the worst thing that could have happened to them. It gave many people false hopes that Houston was better than teams like the Jazz.
I would prefer Houston to win. I don't like the Jazz. But like in any best-of-7 series, the best team always wins.
I hope the Rockets can win Game 5, and make it a series again. If not, then we get to hear all the negative talk about T-Mac being 0-7 in the first round for the next season. We'll see what happens, but I doubt the Jazz are going to lose the next game with Houston on the brink of elimination.
I never did say that Houston would lose the next game, so I don't know what you don't agree with.
I agree with you about the part where you say "to think it is because he is not talented would be a HUGE mistake."
I'd want Tracy McGrady on my team any day. He just needs a better supporting cast. Right now, all he has is Rafer Alston and Shane Battier. That's about it. And I have doubts about Yao Ming in the future. Big men can have significant health issues.
I hope his injury this season isn't a sign of things to come for Yao in his career moving forward.
I wonder about the Rockets' franchise. I wonder if they have any room under the cap to sign any free agents, or if they have to rely on players like Carl Landry to develop into better players.
As of right now, I just don't see this team getting any better in the future. I hope that's not the case.
I have alot of respect for Tmac. He has had some bad fortune come playoff time, but I believe sometime soon he will make a run. not this year, but soon. The cards have been stacked against him in the past playoffs, and that is not an excuse, but it does seem he and his team have not been able to catch the break they need. Granted, I dont think that the Rockets could get past the present Spurs, Lakers, or Utah, but I believe they are the next best team in the West. If Yao was available, then I think they could compete with those teams and even win. Houston, unlike the Suns have shown heart in this series and that is very important come next year. If, next year, they continue to believe in their team, they will be a team which will be pushing far into the playoffs. They need one more piece and some good fortune and the West is theirs for the taking
T-Mac does not have what it takes to be a winner. The guy is incredibly gifted. His talent is on the level of Kobe or LeBron, but he doesn't have the fortitude to will his team to victory.
Take any game of this series, for example. Every game has been close, but what does T-Mac do? He settles for jump shots looks passive and tentative. His play speaks for itself, so don't even argue that point. He's talented enough to get to the hole or get to the line. He just doesn't, then he blames it on whatever he can.
Last night was a perfect example of how T-Mac is, and why he'll never get anywhere near a title. Who were the people making big shots for Houston? Battier and Alston. Where was McGrady? This is where superstars are supposed to put their teams on their backs. Deron Williams did that for the Jazz. (Although he missed those last 2 freebies). Deron went to the hole, got a dunk, and a layup in the last 2:30. That's why the Jazz will more than likely wrap this series up Tuesday night. Deron Williams rises to the occasion and brings his teammates with him.
If T-Mac were to ever wake up out of his mental malaise and live up to his immense talent, Houston would be pretty good. They're outmatched talent-wise in this series, but 11 of their players are playing with heart. All of them but their best one.
