Tracy McGrady's Rebirth as Point Guard Helping Revitalize Pistons

[SlyPokerDog]

Major knee surgery may have ended his days as one of the NBA's most prolific scorers, but after wrestling through various stages of rehabilitation the last two years, he is beginning to emerge as a slightly unorthodox, but valued point guard.


The Pistons (17-28) are 5-3 since McGrady became their starting point guard. In Monday's victory over the Orlando Magic, McGrady had 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. His quick start -- 14 of those points in the first period -- provided the confidence that made the upset possible.

"I like the way the team runs when I have the ball,'' McGrady said. "If this can prolong my career, I'm all for it. When I was younger, that's how I envisioned my career being, just an all-around player and not a scorer.''


"Your traditional point guards control the team," said Pistons coach John Kuester. "The luxury we have in him is that he's also 6-8, and a former superstar who plays with no ego. When he attacks the basket and is not settling for jump shots, he's awfully good. Not only does he create for himself, he creates for others.''

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/tracy-mcgradys-rebirth-as-point-guard-helping-revitalize-piston/

 

[maxiep]

I'm sure McGrady and Brandon will talk.

 

[THE HCP]

Won't last, he's done.

 

[Sug]

Both guys rehabbed hard.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Both guys rehabbed hard.

 

[THE HCP]

TMAC was my favorite player in the league forever!

 

[hasoos]

Well part of that too, is the Pistons finally realizing Stuckey is a 2. Steve Smith had the same problem in the beginning of his career. Everybody kept trying to turn him into the next Magic Johnson, but he wasn't. As soon as they moved him to SG, he excelled. Hell it wasn't that long ago PJ Carlesimo was trying to play Durant at the 2 and failing miserably. But everybody seems to have forgotten that. The good old PJ Carlesimo. I don't understand why anybody would hire a guy who started Dudley over Sabonis. That should be enough decision making pedigree to tell you not to hire him.

 

[illmatic99]

TMAC was my favorite player in the league forever!

Along with AI and Reggie, mine too. He was so fluid, and used to score so effortlessly. KD is sorta similar, but his movements aren't as smooth as TMac's were.

 

[Minstrel]

TMAC was my favorite player in the league forever!

Same. As yuyuza says, he was just so fluid. Until his back problems started, he was every bit the player Kobe was...it's such a shame that players like Penny, Hill, McGrady and now Roy have been cut down in their primes. I most love watching awesome perimeter players, especially if they have all-around games.

KD is sorta similar, but his movements aren't as smooth as TMac's were.

And Durant is not the passer McGrady was. That's the thing that will likely prevent him from becoming a prime T-Mac/Kobe level player. He's as explosive a scorer as they were.

 

[jlprk]

Yeah, but I read that Hamilton is one unhappy camper.
Yin -----> yang.

 

[maxiep]

The good old PJ Carlesimo. I don't understand why anybody would hire a guy who started Dudley over Sabonis.

And I don't understand who would fire Rick Adelman to hire PJ Carlesimo. It says a lot about the state of Blazer management at the time.

 

[jlprk]

Sabonis had things to learn. And he didn't want to start. He wasn't any better than Dudley at defense. As for offense, the team had been playing a style customized for Dudley, so that he didn't hurt (similar to when Przybilla won us 54 games).

Dudley was having his best year of his career. It was no more obvious that Sabonis should start, than it was last year that Oden should start over Joel.

As for Adelman, the whole league had been saying for years that he was good at offense, but bad at defense. He lost that bad reputation after he left here. Our roster was about to get much younger because Drexler and Porter were old, and Adelman wasn't excited about going through the Reconstruction. These things usually take many years. No one knew that Whitsitt could pull it off with only two .500 years, during which we made the playoffs anyway, before motoring back up to the 50-win level.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Good for T Mac

While only marginally relevant, this video below is the most amazing finish to a basketball game I have ever seen...[video=youtube;1jbtt6OGLms]

13 points in 33 seconds against a very good defensive team (Spurs)... WOW!

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Good for T Mac

While only marginally relevant, this video below is the most amazing finish to a basketball game I have ever seen...[video=youtube;1jbtt6OGLms]

13 points in 33 seconds against a very good defensive team (Spurs)... WOW!

A thing of beauty.

 

[THE HCP]

Good for T Mac

While only marginally relevant, this video below is the most amazing finish to a basketball game I have ever seen...[video=youtube;1jbtt6OGLms]

13 points in 33 seconds against a very good defensive team (Spurs)... WOW!

Man, I remember watching that! What a finish!

 

[THE HCP]

Rodney Rodgers was with the Nuggets back in the mid 90's and did kind of the same thing. I think it was against the Jazz.

 

[THE HCP]

Found it.......[video=youtube;rhCy8q2p5Jw]

 

[Sedatedfork]

Found it.......[video=youtube;rhCy8q2p5Jw]

Wow, that's crazy!!! Hmm, i might like that better than the T-Mac finish.

 

[THE HCP]

Rodney Rodgers was a good player. Tragic Story!

 

[jlprk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Rogers

I thought the tragedy was just his paralysis, but:

age 8: his real father died.

His brother was in the deaf school. He's deaf.

age 10 to 20: His other brother was in prison 10 years.

age 17: His mother almost died in a car accident, was hospitalized 3 months followed by memory loss, and needs home care.

age 18: His stepfather, the only father he ever knew, died of lung cancer.

age 22: His 2-month old daughter had a 5-hour emergency operation. 7 days later, the rookie hit 3 3-pointers in 9 seconds, but Jeff Malone then hit the winning shot to beat Rogers' team.

age 37: In an ATV vehicle accident, he was paralyzed over his entire body except for his head.

He is now 39.