I begin this post by stating point blank that Tracy McGrady is my favorite basketball player. T-Mac has long been my favorite guy to follow in the NBA, and I've been a fan through his best (leading scorer) to his worst (barely played last year, and when he played, he wasn't playing very good).
I just read an article on T-Mac. Apparently T- Mac is feeling awesome and for Rockets and T-Mac fans, that's good news.
Let's talk about T-Mac for a second. McGrady has been an elite scorer for most of the last decade. He's one of those Bryant/ Wade/ Kobe guys: a streak shooter with a knack for finishing at the rim. He's been labeled the best player never to get out of the first round, and as much superlatives are great, no one wants that title. His teams have blown plenty of playoff leads, and you have to wonder how much of that has to do with his inability to be a good leader. But I digress...
T-Mac says he will be back next season better than he has been in a long time. He's ready to be the elite player that he was. Of course, Rockets fans have heard that for the last 84 seasons, so it's hard to tell whether he's really feeling that good. I personally think he truly believes in what hes saying, and I think he really is working harder than ever.
It's pretty simple. T- Mac has been much maligned, and usually, he tries to deflect rather than defend. However, he's at a point in his career where accountability is important. He's becoming a grizzly veteran, and he probably realizes that time is no longer on his side. He came to the Rockets five years ago, and he's failed to meet a lot of expectations. He's also in the last year of his current contract and he probably realizes that a healthy, consistent season could mean big money next year. People don't realize what this guy is still capable of, and if some sort of duo featuring Wade/ Bosh/ LeBron doesn't work out, T- Mac could be a cheaper alternative. He easily has four to five years of good basketball left, and he has at least three elite years still in front of him.
An interesting season awaits Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets. I'll be looking forward to seeing him either become one of the league's best players or crash and burn. It's pretty crazy that either is possible, but man it makes for some good drama.
