Don't tear it down - tweak it...

edlove75 · Dec 19, 2007

matty101 said:

I like him, he is a nice defender and shoots the 3 well. I just think this team needs an older more savvy pg to wake up some of the more lackluster players. You know, light a fire under Tmac, Bonzi and James' ass.

Another guy who would fit nicely is Derek Fisher. I dont know if we can get him though, especially with his daughters situation.

Maybe a Damon Stoudamire.

Chris Duhon?

Sam Cassel?

Eric Snow?

Earl Boykins?

Speedy Claxton?

These guys may or may not be suitable. Im just throwing up names of some older, more savvy PGs that might be able to get this team going. Some of them arent even starters but again, im just thinking aloud.

I do agree with you though. This team needs a hard nosed, gritty player and i think it has to come from the PG position.
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The players that you named are already on this team and they suck.....why bring in more of the same?

hermbob · Dec 19, 2007

Nitro1118 said:

I agree with everything here...he is the easiest target to go after since he is the star player and of previous comments he made about slacking off in the final year in Orlando (had he not said that, no one would be questioning what he did in Philly). But on this site there is SO much T-Mac hating when it is very undeserved this season...I can understand if you don't think he is a player to bring us a ring, but from how he has actually layed he deserves the least amount of blame for the team's 12-12 start. Of course being the team's best player he has added pressures on him to take responsibility, but at the same time these role players are pro athletes who should not need extra motivation on a very talented roster to perfom MUCH better than what they have been doing. Francis is a former all star, Deke is a HOF player, James could have been an all star 2 seasons, Scola was a 2x MVP of his fromer Euro League, Wells has been on very successful teams and has played near all star caliber in prior seasons...these guys know how to get it done and many a times have been the main guy for their own teams; they should not need T-Mac or Yao's criticism and outspoken leadership to make them play much better than they have been,

He wasn't so injured that he couldn't play, and he tried to play through it. But when they went down by 30 and the game was out of reach...it simply wasn't worth risking another lingering injury (his elbow is probably still sore since he still wears that sleeve, and his back is always gonna be a concern).

There have only been 2-3 nights the entire year in which I felt he has dogged it or hasn't given an acceptable effort. The 2 that come to my mind are the Suns and Warriors games, in which he was literally sleepwalking out there. But, it is not because he was standing around when he didnt have the ball or wasn't in the play, or that he wasn't attacking the rim, or wasn't running up and down the floor...he just simply looked lazy and uninterested. T-Mac will always be a player to walk or lightly jog down the floor unless it is a fast break oppertunity, he will not run much off ball unless the play is called for him to set a screen or to run off the screen (which he has been amazing at this year), and he has NEVER been a player to attack the basket all the time. At the same time, he does what he is told. Last year he had the highest usage rating in the whole league, and with his injuries and how he clearly was a step slower last season was pretty damn impressive. When the coach wants him to run off ball...he does (as seen in first 2 games). When they want him to constantly run the pick and roll and be a playmaker, he does (Bobcats and 2nd Grizzlies game). It is the coach's job to give him direction and put him in positons for him to have maximum success...RA has been inconsistent in doing this as the gameplan has changed so much (switching off from using T-mac primarily as a playmaker and then primarily as a scorer).

I have had a few topics regarding the Rockets' problems (my topic entitled "heart isn't what the team need...execution is" or something along those lines summarizes my feelings), so I am not going to really go on a big list about what is wrong with the team. I just feel the need to give T-Mac some defense on a site that has, in a general sense, really bashed him for some and some not so ridiculous reasons and FALSE ASSUMPTIONS/FACTS.
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All I'll say is that when Bill Worrell is questioning your effort like he did against Dallas on Saturday, it's pretty telling. He has as good a finger on the pulse of this team as anybody, and he's made numerous comments this year about the exact same frustrations that I and others have about not only McGrady, but the whole team, making excuses, etc.

I do like your style, and I appreciate your evidence to back up your opinions. That's much better than some of the others. And I think now that I know where you're coming from, we really don't see things that differently (minus McGrady's injuries and his effort).

Raven · Dec 19, 2007

This is just a hunch, as I don't claim to be an insider, but I think Les is going to give T-Ming one more chance.

If the Rockets fail to make the playoffs, or fail - once again - to get out of the first round, I don't see any reason not to break it up. There's only so many chances you give your core and then it's time to try something else.

Sextuple Double · Dec 19, 2007

Antoine Walker.

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Don't tear it down - tweak it...

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