The HOF watch: Tracy McGrady
Photo. Marc MorrisonWhen Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley and Joe Dumars were enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year, it pushed the number of inductees in the Hall’s “Players” category to 134. When you consider all the guys who have passed through the NBA and international ranks over the years, that’s a small number, and it tells you just how exclusive the Hall is: not just any 20 ppg guy or multiple-time All-Star is worthy of getting a spot in Springfield, Mass.
Every day for the next few weeks we’re gonna take one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and break down his resume. We’re looking at not only past accomplishments, but how a player’s career realistically projects for the future.
Of course, it goes beyond just numbers. Perception is often just as important as stats and awards. Take someone like Vince Carter. While the numbers (eight All-Star Games, 24 points a night over his career) say Vince is likely in, his rep could keep him out. Vince is viewed as someone who’s soft and doesn’t play hard all the time, but how much of that is perception and how much is reality? Vince told us himself in Dime #30 how he silently played through aching knees and a quad tear in Toronto –- yet, he will probably always carry that “soft” label no matter what he does. These are all factors that will determine whether Vince is in or out when he appears on the ballot, and unfair or not, some guys have been left out (or get in) based on more than just what they did on the floor. First up in the Hall of Fame Watch: T-Mac.
TRACY MCGRADY (11th year; Rockets/Magic/Raptors)
22.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 spg.
Why: This generation’s Clyde Drexler (the numbers are almost identical) is all but unmatched when it comes to pure talent. Only a handful of guys in this era can see McGrady when it comes to his physical gifts combined with size and everything else you want from a basketball player, not to mention a charisma and marketability that has made him memorable to anyone who’s been around during his career. T-Mac led the League in scoring in ‘03 and has recently added more of a playmaker element to his game. His career numbers are great, but they don’t even display how dominant the seven-time All-Star can be sometimes.
Why not: Between playoff failure and injuries, T-Mac has never really reached his full potential on the big stage. Since he makes everything look so easy and wears that Droopy Dog look, it’s easy to think he isn’t playing hard.
Our call: IN
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:15 pm
djKianoosh says:
this is not to knock TMac directly per se, but how many of the HoF players won titles or at least did damage in the playoffs? I think he has to at least get to the conference championships or at least the finals before he can be considered Hall of Fame material. I’ve been known to judge more harshly than others but that’s what makes something like the HoF great. Not everybody can make it. Clyde actually made it to the finals in Portland. and not to mention his Rockets years. sorry, if it were up to me, TMac doesn’t get in.
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
mic says:
t-mac is a good player but he’s no clyde drexler. clyde was regarded as the number two talent in the league when Mike was number one. He played in an era where bird, magic, isaiah, barkley, malone, etc. played… and frankly, the competition back then on both ends of the floor was overall better than it is today. T-mac is talented, but was number two on his own team in toronto and is number two on his team now in houston. Also he hasnt won anything in the playoffs – not even a second round appearance. Forget the droopy face label – that has noting to do with it – the hall is for winners, and any player not able to win in the playoffs is simply not a winner. period. my vote: OUT
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm
mic says:
btw simply scoring is nice but in todays league scoring doesnt mean what it did in other eras. Dont compare T-mac to clyde … its just not appropriate, and to do so is like downgrading clyde’s accomplishments in the toughest era in NBA history.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Captain America says:
Remove Isiah. Besides, Dumars was always better than him.
I’m surprised they found a spot for Barkley’s big mug.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Andy Buckets says:
“T-Mac is no Clyde Drexler” Come one man, you can be serious. Drexler is NOT a better basketball player than Tracy McGrady. For one, if you watched Clyde play he was very erratic and often dribbled with his head down. T-Mac’s J as well as his handle is better.
Clyde went to the finals with a great Portland team. T-mac does have Yao but that doesn’t compare to Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey, Danny Ainge, Terry Porter, and Cliff Robinson.
The only knock on Tracy is that he is very injury prone. He was young in Toronto. Vince was already established, that’s why he was number two. Mic, how can you say he is number two in Houston? When it comes down to having two seconds left and you need a bucket you’re NOT going to Yao.
All the guys that say you have to win in the playoffs I feel you. But with that said, what about The Mailman, and CB34? They aint win shit. And don’t give me “They’ve been to the finals” either because they lost. If there was an “NBA Championship Party” tomorrow Michael Doleac and James White would be allowed in and Karl Malone and Charles Barkley wouldn’t so winning a chip ain’t everything.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Austin Burton says:
You say T-Mac was #2 on his own team in Toronto, but check this out: Drexler wasn’t even a full-time starter his first 3 years in the NBA. As a rookie, Drexler started 3 out of 82 games. The next year he started 43 games, and the following year started 58 out of 75 games. He was, like T-Mac in Toronto, coming into his own. So you can’t hold T-Mac’s Raptors career against him unless you wanna say Drexler’s early Portland career means he wasn’t that good overall.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
SWAT says:
That’s what i’m talking about andy buckets! True my man hasn’t made it past the first round but it’s not for lack of effort on his part. Last year still breaks me down when i think of Tmac crying in the press conference. He left it all out on the floor but his team, really just Yao, let him down. Living in H-town I’ve had the privlege of seeing both Cylde and tmac play and i think he deserves his HOF. Holla at the h-town boys this year though….mac, yao, scola, battier, head, mike james, franchise, brooks, wells, mt mutombo…deadly baby!
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Bron42 says:
ya for real, you can’t say tmac isn’t close to drexler when a) their stats are identical b) last I checked, the shooting guard/small forward position is pretty stacked in this era too,
THe guys also hasn’t really had anyone around him until last year. Toronto he was #2 cuz he was fresh out of high school on a expansion team playing the same position as vince. In orlando he owned everyone, murdering teams like the lakers by himself (mike miller and a rookie drew gooden were his best options) and was pretty much legit till the whole “glad to be out the first round thing”. And #2 on the rockets? are you serious. Everyone knows the team runs smoother with tmac handling it all. Sure everyone says yao is the cornerstone of the franchise but if yao goes down tmac can easily carry the team and has proven it time after time. I mean you gotta remember, at one point this guy was considered eq
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Bron42 says:
ya for real, you can’t say tmac isn’t close to drexler when a) their stats are identical b) last I checked, the shooting guard/small forward position is pretty stacked in this era too,
THe guys also hasn’t really had anyone around him until last year. Toronto he was #2 cuz he was fresh out of high school on a expansion team playing the same position as vince. In orlando he owned everyone, murdering teams like the lakers by himself (mike miller and a rookie drew gooden were his best options) and was pretty much legit till the whole “glad to be out the first round thing”. And #2 on the rockets? are you serious. Everyone knows the team runs smoother with tmac handling it all. Sure everyone says yao is the cornerstone of the franchise but if yao goes down tmac can easily carry the team and has proven it time after time. I mean you gotta remember, at one point this guy was considered equal to kobe at the offensive end and in houston offered to guard the teams best guy. remember when he scored liek 15 on the mavs in 30 seconds AND guard dirk? not to mention the every famous allstar game dunk.
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Mike says:
We can’t really compare their career accomplishments yet because T-Mac still has several years left in him. A fair comparison would be to compare T-Mac’s career thus far against Glide’s career before he joined Hakeem’s Rockets. With that being said, Drexler was without question the better playoff performer, because he was the centerpiece of the Blazers team that was a perennial powerhouse in the west during the late 80s to early 90s. But then if you’re talking about pure individual talent and what a player can do on the court on a given night, T-Mac when he was with Orlando was far more explosive than Clyde at any point during his career. So if T-Mac can turn the current Rockets into a title contender for the next few years, then I’d say he gets the slight edge.
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
sans says:
In. He’s better than World B. Free and a host other supremely talented players that have been left out of the Hall. The comment about Barkley not deserving to be in there is ludicrous. This isnt the NFL–if you’re an MVP you pretty much get in. And if the Rockets were in the East last season, then TMAC would have gotten the MVP for the way that he carried the Rocks when Yao was sitting, but you just can’t get that award when you’re 4th in your conference.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Tom Toronto says:
All this talk of TMac in Toronto brings back memories, ahh what could have been! He used to get booed here before VC became the most hated man in the city. Anyway, I’m going to have to say Tmac gets in.
He used to be a hardcore chucker on Orlando, and wouldn’t pass if his life depended on it. I remember one game, Tmac had the ball, had four guys on him, and his coach was yelling for timeout. He still ran down the court and jacked up some hopeless shot, which wasn’t even close, and the Magic took the L.
That was then, this is now. While he still wants to take over games and needs to be that #1 guy (Yao is NOT the leader on the Rockets, please), he has dropped down in scoring and upped the assists a little and decreased his FG attempts (read: decreased the jacking) in order to win more games.
So overall, he’s improved into a more complete player, has always been at the top of the League in scoring, plays serious D, if rings aren’t a factor than he’s gotta be HOF.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:18 pm
DOC says:
Tmac is the truth just get to the conference finals and that should be enough to put him in.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Lucky Lester says:
Remove Isaiah and you can’t believe Barkley is in – my good God, Captain America has gone off the deep end. I don’t care what you think of Zeke and his problems running teams, leagues, and ownerships into the ground, but that little point guard killed out on the court. Bottom line.
T Mac is in in my opinion. He doesn’t get through the playoffs? He played for Toronto and then Orlando. Last year he should have been through. Next year they’ll win a series. Anyway, you can’t blame one guy for not getting you through the playoffs. T-Mac is scary good talent-wise, and he’s a gamer. You never see him quiver in a big atmosphere.
I’m sick of people saying you need to win ‘Chips to be in the HOF… That’s what Championship Rings and trophies are for – you get into the HOF for being one of the best players in the league. Tracy is great. He should be there.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Triple Threat says:
If T Mac can make it in the HOF, with he’s NBA achivements, so should Artis Gilmore and other players who never made it in yet.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Amar says:
TMAC needs to maintain his pace, his ability on the basketball court was never in question — he can do it all. Clyde was known more to be someone equally as good on offense as he was on defense, and he took his team (good team mates and bad team mates alike) to two finals with portland (vs. detroit and vs. the bulls) before going to houston to get a ring with Dream. Getting steals and blocks isn’t the same thing as being a good defender, btw. So to be at Clyde’s level Tmac would have to be a guy who could defend a Jordan type and not get laughed at. The other thing is that Tmac needs to advance a bit farther than out of the lotto sometime in his career.
He has a great team now, so we just need to wait and see. He should be in, but if Tmac doesn’t go far in the playoffs, and gets in, then Vince should be in too, for having better numbers in some areas, and going farther in the playoffs consistently.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Amar says:
and to the hobo who said that barkley and malone aren’t HOF worthy because they only LOST in the nba finals . . . well, you know that guys like magic and bird also lost in the nba finals a few times too, right? barkley was one of the best in his era who absolutely dominated in a way a 6′4 guy shouldn’t. malone is simply the #2 scorer of all time (and had he stayed in utah and didn’t put up 11 ppg he probably had a chance to be the #1 scorer if he played there for 1 season more or so)
October 4th, 2007 at 9:23 am
girlybballluver says:
I vote IN. His talents, skill, and basketball IQ can’t be denied. I just don’t think it’s fair to deny him entrance because he hasn’t advanced in the playoffs. That isn’t entirely his fault. Forget about the other 82 games played in a season because he doesn’t win 4 games in the playoffs? That’s a bit much…
October 4th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Amar says:
is it too much to ask for a hall of famer to be able to win at LEAST 8 playoff games in the same season? (let alone 4)
October 4th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Amar says:
seriously, ‘Nique went to at least the 2nd round in three consequitive playoffs (‘86, ‘87 and ‘88) and in those regular seasons won an average of 52 games a season (what houston got this last season) . . . and you know what? he didn’t have a yao ming to play with. he was going around with antoine carr, tree rollins, spudd webb (nate before nate, as in: a dunker with nothing else), randy whitman, doc rivers and jon konkac.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:23 am
erich says:
Please note that in order to be considered one of the greatest, you have to show up when the game is on the line. Can T-Mac score? Yes, but so can everyone else in the NBA. My question would be what has he done to deserve the HOF. No, playoff series wins, he dosent play defense, never has, and is a poor mans KB24. I remember watching a game a couple years ago where T-Mac was just killing the lakers, until Kobe started guarding him (all my friends were just trashing Kobe all night until that point) Kobe held T-mac scoreless for the rest of the game just dogged him out.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
skywarp says:
LOL at mic
Tmac was nuber2 in toronto becaues the coach failed to see that Tmac was more of a complete player and vince was only good at dunking..Tmac is not number 2 in houston!
LOL at erich yea i remeber a night when elephants where flying.. show as proof!… by looking at the stats u can say that his a poor mans kobe but Tmac PASSESS!! and is a better teammate that kobe!!…. so kobe doesnt deserve to be in the HOF since kobe hasnt really win a series with out shaq!… even though he has lamar ODOM!.. and a great coach!!..
October 4th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Austin Burton says:
T-Mac is too talented to be a poor man’s anybody. At one point (pre-81) there was a very legit and close “Kobe vs. T-Mac” argument, and I remember a lot of people were taking T-Mac.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Patrick Corcoran says:
If T-Mac were to retire today it would be a close call. I could understand it going either way.
But he is not to fault for not progressing into the 2nd round. He has never been on a team that *should* have progressed. Last year Utah was clearly the better team, having played a much more rounded and dangerous game all year long than Houston. (They slipped to 5th place only because of an ill-timed slide at the end of the season. But they were definitely of a higher caliber than that.)
And does anyone remember the Dallas/Houston series from 3 years ago? T-Mac was killing the Mavs single-handed, and Dallas was a *much* better team than Houston. It took them five games to figure out how to contain him, and when they did, finally, there was nobody else on Houston who could make up the difference.
Not making the 2nd round when you’re not on a better team than your opponents is no disgrace.
And I’m sure nobody has forgotten that T-Mac is responsible for one of the 10 nastiest, most clutch close-outs in NBA history. I’m referring of course to the 13 points he scored on the Spurs in 39 seconds, to steal a come-from-behind win in San Antonio. Nobody can take that away.
I like the guy, obviously, so I’d love to see his career go down in the history books. I think he’s on the bubble now. Time will tell.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Meica says:
Come on, let’s think about this one for a minute. Undoubtably, T-Mac is a great player, but he has NOT left any kind of mark on the NBA whatsoever. While he has the talent, he’s squandered it. He hasn’t really had a prolific season since ‘03 and aside from his scoring his stats aren’t that astounding.
Also, if you want to talk about playoff success, which is really one of the best indicators of a players own production, Karl Malone and the Jazz went to two finals, in a row, and lost to one of, in not the, best team to ever play basketball in MJs Bulls. Barkley may have never won the big dance, his teams were almost always in the mix and did make it to the finals and also lost to MJs Bulls. What does T-Mac make you think of in the post-season? Most notably, in my mind, chocking and being upset. Now throw in the injuries and you have a player, a very good player, but not hall of fame worthy. Close, but not quite. Of course he still has time to change his fate and my mind, but right now, no way.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Amar says:
okay, those nique hawks teams that used to advance weren’t always the best team on the floor . . . even barkley in philly with guys like shackelford (sp?) and crew used to advance. tmac has, apparently, the best center in the league on his team.
what’s his excuse? “i don’t need to have playoff success, lots of kids on the internet who grew up thinking penny was oldschool think my regular season ability and one really outstanding game in my entire life = HOF”
where’s marquise johnson’s HOF pass then?
October 4th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
fiyaman says:
I personally think that u need a ring to be considered 1 of the gr8est of all time.
With that said i hole the HOF to lower standards. U can only have 1 gr8st but u can have many great players and thats what HOF is for, great players. I think if TMAC keeps same pace he will past 1st rnd and might get a ring and should make HOF regardless of the ring. If u asked now i would say no simply b/c he never got past 1st round. I dont think u can look at Orlando except if u gonna look at it in a gd way. He was a rookie straight from high school and they wanted him to run the team. I think he did a pretty gd job at that time.
Great players can get u to the playoffs but u need help to win it all b/c in the playoffs 1.u got better all around teams.. 2. teams get time to prepare for u. 3.. if its just u on a team other teams can focus on u and its will be up to teammates to step-up.
About him being 2nd fiddle on his team. NEVER(maybe in Toronto with Vince but u see what happened there.) he is #1 in Houston. Yao gets more publicity b/c he’s a bigman (aint that many of em out there), and he’s chinese(u see wht they trying wit YI. (publicity)). When game on da line its all about T-MAC. he takes da credit win or lose.
About Clyde. No way is Cldye better than T-mac. (im a drexler fan but also tmac fan). Clyde might be athletic but his skill (shooting,passing,dribbling, rebndg, defnse,etc) cannot compare to T-mac. (like someone Dime said ,He makes it look so easy). I Clyde wasnt even all that when he won with da Dream. (He went to Houston so cause he knew da dream can deliver hima ring. )(Now Yao is hoping Tmac can deliver the ring .. see da difference?)
As for T-Mac and Kobe. SO WHAT KOBE IS BETTER THAN T_MAC BIG WOW!!! Tell me something i dont already know. I’ll tell you this tmac is the closet comparison to kobe (yes I know who lebron cant shoot jumpers is).. and if it wasnt 4 his back he wud probably be better than kobe..
For the record IM a KINCKS fan. But T-MAC is da man.. If da Knicks cant do it. Rockets all da way…
October 4th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
skywarp says:
T-mac is a better all around player than kobe he makes every ffeel comfortable and doesnt over shadow any1 like kobe does maybe kobe will beat t-mac 1-1 but NBA is 5v5!.. its like comparing nash and arena arena maybe 1v1 but on a 5v5 arenas cant touch nash!
October 4th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Logan Light says:
T-Mac in the Hall? Only if he wins a ring.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
dolomite says:
tracy mcgrady is better than kobe!!! he is the jordan of today!!1
October 4th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
dolomite says:
he has more talent with him this year and he is going to make his team better with his newly shown play-makin skills!!!
October 4th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
dolomite says:
in HOF defenitely!!!
October 4th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Doobie says:
He’ll be in the HOF… in about 30 years.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Cory says:
Tmac is not better than Kobe! LOL are u guys serious, three years ago it was close and Kobe was slightly better, but now Kobe is in a class of his own! I think DWade and LeBron are better than Tmac. Tmac is still a good player though!
October 4th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Gee says:
Indeed. For the H.O.F. Tracy will have to not only get past the first round in the playoffs but also do something memorable while in them. I think if it’s one player that, despite injuries and playoff results thus far, will be worthy of the H.O.F. it’s Tracy. He has all but carried his teams to the playoffs whenever they did make them and it’s not like he has had “significant” help outside of Yao who can be very inconsistent. He (Tracy) has the numbers, he has credibility, marketability and memories (1st off the backboard dunks in games (All-Star and others) that I have seen, and I think before Kobe’s 81, Tracy poured in like 70 or close to it on some team). Tracy’s defense is real (ask Big Dog or Dirk). Once he gets real help (hopefully this year) and makes a “Playoff Statement” I believe his H.O.F. slot will be secure. Till then he just needs to keep ballin’ and stay injury free. Indeed.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Tamilan says:
At this time, theres no way T-Mac is a HOF player. It’s obvious he has talent, but that doesn’t result in wins. It’s not like he’s not surrounded by talent. He has a lot to prove. Even Lebron James got to the finals with a crappy team.
“The Glove” has to get in the HOF, no question about it !
October 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Cal says:
T-Mac is not a hall of famer…at least not yet. Hall of Fame players need to make noise in the playoffs. If players get bounced from the first round regulary and/or miss the playoffs more often than not, it matters little how much they accomplish during the regular season. Barkley, Malone, and Ewing never won rings, but they took their teams past the first round on a more regular basis and have all reached the Finals. Stats are important, but winning counts for a lot. It doesn’t have to be championships, but at least make noise in the playoffs when following up a strong regular season. Same goes for KG…he’s got a lot to prove.
T-Mac = OUT
October 4th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Ian says:
i agree with u cal
no tmac no kg not yet anyways
and bron lol u r the best tmac is not better than clyde
i like thay u way u always defend the nbas losers
clyde was way better during the playoffs
gp is in
and lol on the barkley and malone comment that they shouldnt be in
those are the 2 and 3 best pfs ever
cal u missing something in that equation
t-mac=kg=out
October 4th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Ian says:
a couple of seasons ago tmac was the second best guard/small foward in the league
now dont know if he cracks the top 5
October 4th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Nemie says:
R u all serious? Come on nah, T-Mac Not making it to the HoF, plz ppl will go insane, this guy has so much talent that he doesnt even know about. and for his failures at playoff season? come on 1man cant do it all.
Kobe had Shaq and Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson..
M.J. had pippen, rodman, longley, steve kerr, harper.
so all the greats have had there partners through playoffs, if the rockets dont get any help for him anytime soon he needs to get traded where he can get ring.
Come to think of it, Let him go to the Lakers and See wat happens when the 2 best scorers in the NBA put up 60pts a night on u? there no wai in hell ppl would compete…
or reverese that
October 4th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
omar says:
I think t-mac was this generation best wing player, the only thing that stop t-mac was tmac, his depression and his injury. It is sad to see the best player just vanished away, this is suppose to be his prime years and now it is his down years. I only hope he can come back to his 02,03 forum, If he was healthy there is no doubt he will be a hall of famer and I think he does deserve to be in the hall of hame.
P.S. If he was healthy kobe couldnt even hold his jock strap
October 4th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Brian88 says:
wtf is this?-” If he was healthy kobe couldnt even hold his jock strap”
If TMAC had shaq as a partner they still wouldnt win a championship. His generations best wing player is KOBE. The stats and the accomplishments speak for themselves.
At the end of the day TMAC is not worthy of HOF. It’s not because of his injuries….He’s only doing this basketball schtick for money. The guy has no drive or work ethic. The guy has Yao Ming (the league’s best center) for a teammate what more can you ask for?
October 4th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Manuel says:
I say yes! I say hell yea! he is a 2 time scorin champ.
13 points in 30 sec. And beat da spurs at da buzzer!
He has shown through out his career he can take over a game in da 4. Just score when he wants or make plays.
T-mac is da best all around nba player on da planet.
One of da best dunkers of our time. Scorer. And now has a very very great passin game.
Rockets wit yoa and no t-mac were losing almost every game.
T-mac wit no yao. They were da hottest team in da NBA!
T-mac did wat da team needed from him and just scored from all over da place! I SAY IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 4th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Bullish_1 says:
T-Mac is most certainly a HOF’er. On the positive side you have the career scoring avg and the multiple all-star games on the other you have a lack of playoff success. To me, watching him play I see the second most talented player in the league(Kobe#1).Unfortanetly the talent didn’t come with a great back, if not for those issues we would defintaly see more playoff success. In the next 3 yrs T-Mac will win a ring and be a first ballot nominee!
T-Mac=In
October 4th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Jamya says:
The big thing about T-Mac is that his career is not over, he can still win in the playoffs. On top of that T-mac still has time to even legitimize his entry into the HOF even further. The Rockets now do not have all the pieces in place to make a substantial run at any championship. What that team really needs is a point guard who can dish it and hit from the perimeter, if you put a guy like steve nash on the rockets, they couldve already won a chip and T-mac would be on his way to the HOF. Thats a dream. I think he still will get in.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Alex says:
Tmac is the best player ok he can pass shoot dunk he is just an all around player i mean come on can u ask for a better player then that dont come at me with this labron james shit hes not better then tmac or not even the next MJ tracy is the # 1 player on his team not yao i mean they give yao the ball at the beging then down the stretch u tell me who they give it 2 tmac ok I know for a fact TMAC IS IN THE HALL OF FAME! that simple
October 4th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
retro923 says:
I cant say TMac and Drexler are similar…McGrady hasn’t been around the talent Drexler has in their respective careers. By the time Drexler got to his 11th year, he had been to the NBA Finals twice and lost to 2 dominant teams(Detroit & Chicago)…McGrady hasn’t sniffed the 2nd round of the playoffs, in either league. TMac, like many other players in this current league, spent so much time trying to be the next MJ, instead of really utilizing his strengths/talents. TMac’s game really resembles Scottie Pippen’s…A LOT!! Well, his game is Scottie’s game would have been, had MJ and him not played together after MJ retired in ‘93. Right now, he is not a HOF but he still have some years to pad his resume and make it look better
October 4th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Austin Burton says:
T-Mac has been with Yao for 3 years. Their first season, when Yao was still coming into his own, they took Dallas to seven games in the first round and T-Mac was KILLING the Mavs. Dallas had a better overall team that year, though. In Year 2, both Yao and T-Mac missed a lot of time with injuries and the team didn’t make the playoffs. Last season was Year 3; T-Mac had an MVP-caliber year, Yao was having an MVP-caliber year before he got hurt, and in the playoffs took Utah (again, a better team) to 7 games. You can’t just say “T-Mac’s had Yao on his team, he should have gone farther than Round 1″ and leave it at that.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
lil summa says:
Yo man look T-Mac done everything he did when he was #2 in Tronto cuz of vince. He was under da shadows of his own cuzo. When he did good THe coach took him out and wen he went to orlando the season he got injuried the team lke onli won 16 games. that tells you alot that tracy is Glide. And he is #1 in da rockets i havent seen Glide make 13 points in 35 seconds. I aint tryin to be on t mac side cuz i am from houston but u gotta give the kid some slack. too
October 5th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Zach says:
Well this is kinda tough there are so many potential HoF ers in the league right now its crazy, lebron will be there, shaq, AI has a chance, but T-mac puts up consistent numbers, but much as I hate to say it cause I love the guy, he prolly will not make it in unless he has a monster season sometime soon, something with 30-5-8 or some kinda average like that he also needs to get to the playoffs, had a nice 06 season staying healthy but he can’t do it on his own, they need yao to stay healthy all year and if he does they are a top 5 nba team.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Zach says:
please speak plain english not low income english, thanks.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:21 am
713 spartan says:
Being From Houston T.X. “H-Town” I Feel First Round Exits. The Worst Being Favored To Win. Drex Helped Pull Those Much Needed Road Wins. But He Had Dream , And Dont Compare Yao To Dream Plz DONT. T-Mac May Not Of Scored 82 Against Who? Who Cares. He Beat The Spurs In 30 Seconds Something Kobe Is Still Trying To Do Since Shaq Quit Babysitting His Crying AZZ . T-Mac Keeps Me In Every Game So I Always Have A Shot Of Wining. If HoF Aint About Desire And Heart , Then Screw IT, I Put Him In My HoF Houston Of Fame. Dream, T-Mac, Drex.
October 5th, 2007 at 1:19 am
brandythefox says:
This article is another example of Dime magazine ditiching objectivity so it can fawn over an NBA celebrity. T-Mac does not deserve to be in the HOF based on what he has done. Until he wins a playoff series we shouldn’t even be dreaming about this. I know the guys at Dime would like to stay in a celebrity’s good books but c’mon man, have some self-respect and stop the boot-licking!
October 5th, 2007 at 1:21 am
omar says:
T-mac is very gifted and before his injuries the sky was the limit…he still has a chance to improve on his #’s and make a serious bid for the hall of fame…and the comparison to cylde stop it right here…tmac is way better than cylde, it is not even worth arguing
October 5th, 2007 at 3:30 am
Austin Burton says:
George Gervin’s numbers (ABA/NBA): 26.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.8 apg. He made it as far as the 2nd round of the playoffs three times in his career and never got further than the 2nd round. He’s in the HOF. T-Mac’s numbers are equal or better, and Iceman’s playoff resume ain’t exactly Tim Duncan’s.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:08 am
YAYAY says:
LOL of course he is in.. Kobe is a hog.. thats all im gonna say
Tmac=in
October 5th, 2007 at 4:59 am
TOM JORDAN says:
who said TMAC was mentioned in the same breath with Kobe?
Oh Austin Burton. Lay off the “weed” my man. Not even close. 3rings to 0 3 scoring titles to 0 All NBA defensive team 6 times to 0 KB is sooooo much more a competitor than TMAC. And by the way remember a couple seasons ago when TMAC was having a great game vs the Lakers(32 after 3 quarters) and Kobe asked Phill to check him. I remember Kobe holding him down like a child in the 4th and throwing 26 in the quarter on his way to 45 for the game and a Lakers win. DONT EVER SAY TMAC IS EVEN CLOSE TO KOBE. I BET THERE ISN’T ONE GM IN THE LEAGUE THAT WOULD PICK HIM OVER KOBE FOR HIS OWN TEAM
October 5th, 2007 at 5:28 am
Jamal says:
T-Mac will be MVP this season!
http://www.squidoo.com/TracyMcGrady
October 5th, 2007 at 9:21 am
TrainWrex says:
Looky here, Tracy Mac is one of the best players in the league right now, when he came in and when he retires. Not many players come into the league their rookie year and do so well. Tracy Mac came into Toronto and immediatley wrecked shop up there and everybody knew he was a better all around player except Toronto which is why they traded him. Yeah, he doesn’t give you that MJ killa instinct on the floor, it’s more like that stealth mode killa because you never see it coming until he goes off on you like he did the Spurs when he scored like 8-12 points in like 1 minute to give the Rockets the win. Its things like that, that make Mac great. He is not a team leader, Houston is finding that out which is why they have surrounded him with guys that can take the pressure off of him. Just as the intro states the numbers are their, the victories are missing and I’m pretty sure they are on the way, I predict at least one championship for Tracy Mac and the Houston Rockets in the always heavy set Western Conference, if they get more then great job but as far as rating MacGrady he is the truth and the light.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Truth_Speaks says:
Greatness isn’t about stats; its not about being lucky enough to be on a good team either. Greatness isn’t potential or who is “the man.” Greatness is winning when it counts. Greatness is overcoming all obstacles to achieve great things. Greatness is in making a major difference for your team. Its earning the respect of your peers and fans. Its having success in whatever form it comes in.
Given that, is Tmac a great player? Hell no, he is just another stat stuffer who has had his moments but ultimately done nothing.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:19 am
NBA GOD says:
If Kobe is #1, then T-Mac is #2. Last year he had a tremendous season leading the Rockets to 52 wins with YAO missing lots of games, whike playing in the tough WEST. He had a better year than Kobe. He scored, he defended, he ran the offense and set up his teammates, he even sold popcorn during halftime. To sum it up, the man did EVERYTHING. Even NBA.com had him at #3 in the MVP race.
T-Mac managed to put up 25 points in a Van Gundy offense. Imagine what happens when you give two offensive powers like Yao and T-Mac, an offense coach in Rick Adelman. I smell championship!
October 5th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
NY Knick-Hater says:
With all due respect to Clyde, he still could not win a championship until he got together with the Akeem(his real name).McGrady deserves to be in the HOF. Ever since leaving Toronto T-Mac has been the main scorer and has had to defend the best offensive player on the other team.(Ask Dirk about that one!!) And by the way, Yao is no Hakeem. There are more guys in the HOF that never won a championship than there are who did.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Austin Burton says:
No one said T-Mac was better than Kobe now. But a few years ago, “Kobe vs. T-Mac” was a legit debate. You don’t remember that?
October 5th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
M. Jenkins says:
T-mac has been my favorite player for long time. I have never really seen knowone with his skill level in the nba in long time, when you add up height, ball handling, peremiter shooting, and just pure talent. he deserves to be in the hall of fame period. It’s a few players that didn’t have playoff sucess that made, why not T-Mac
October 5th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Dave says:
There was a Kobe v TMac debate a few years ago. However, we’re talking about the HOF here, which is about a career. Kobe is now a far better player, and has always had more skill defensively even though both of them pick and choose when they want to play defense. TMac was a better shooter at one point, but now Kobe is better. Kobe has consistently improved his game, while TMac has regressed. Granted, partially due to injury, but that’s what being an elite athlete is about. There is no debate here, Kobe is the best wing player of this generation BY FAR.
Someone mentioned Kobe playing with Shaq and Fisher. Sorry, but Fisher isn’t very good. He’s a leader and a nice role player, but very overrated as a player. And, I’m a huge DFish fan. Also, they said Jordan had Pippen, Rodman, Longley, Harper. Longley and Harper should donate their paychecks to Jordan for the years they played on the Bulls. TMac has Yao, a legit star at Center, along with Shane Battier and other nice role players.
TMac is a very talented player, and on talent alone he’s in the HOF. But, you’re not judged against former players in the HOF, because we all know that athletes are bigger, stronger and faster now than in the past. And, should be judged accordingly.
Sorry, but TMac is out. Close though.
October 5th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
skywarp says:
@tom jordan
the only reason kobe got the ring was because of SHAQ!.. with out shaq look what kobe have accomplished… never got pass 1st round!
October 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
mervin13 says:
TMAc’s career reminds me of the career of Bob McAdoo (prior to his stint with the championship Lakers). Great talents and great scorers, but both did very little to push forward a team concept. McAdoo’s best ball came at the end of his career when he was not “the man” on his team. Yes McAdoo can shoot better than most ballers today from his rocking chair. TMac needs that “icing on the cake” with a championship. Tiny made it to the Hall because of his playoff years with the Celtics and the scoring titles made him a good player.
Great players are made during the compettition in the playoffs. Are you listening Dirk?
October 5th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Jason says:
He needs a chip or 4 great playoff runs to get in, his person averages are there.
October 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Gee says:
“We’re looking at not only past accomplishments, but how a player’s career realistically projects for the future.” -Dimemag.com
If that is the criteria then T-Mac is “more than likely” in. Where does character come into account? T-Mac is not a player you hear about fighting in clubs (lol probably cause of his injury lol) or cheating on his wife or anything. If you look at that and what he has done then if he “indeed” does go past the first round and really make his mark in the future playoffs, T-Mac will be in! I am not saying he might be, I am saying he WILL be in. Count it!
October 5th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
David says:
I believe T-Mac is on the bubble now but will make it to the HOF. The Rockets will get past the first round soon and T-Mac will be their leader. If the Rockets were in the East, they would have been playing the Spurs for the championship. At this time, there is no comparison between Hakeem and Yao or Hakeen and any center of the last 25 years.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
DUB says:
T-MAC = IN. One thing I love of about these discussions is that it shows just how people do NOT know about the game. Tracy McGrady is one of the most dynamic offensive of our time. And he can D up. Just ask Dirk. Yeah, he was kinda quiet in Toronto, RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL PLAYING ON THE SAME TEAM AS HIS COUSIN WHO PLAYS THE SAME POSITION WHO JUST SO HAPPEN TO BE A STAR OUT OF UNC. Are you kidding? You almost shouldnt be able to count that. Look at what happened as soon as he got to Orlando…He locked down the league, until playoff time. Which we all know NO one can do alone. Except maybe Lebron. And even he got the help when needed it. Not Shaq,Duncan,Kobe or even Mike for that matter. McGrady had no help once the playoffs started during his days in Orlando. Ask any coach he faced during that time and they will all offer the same strategy: “shut everyone else down and make T beat us”. And he almnost did every year! Moving on to Houston helped his game but hurt his scoring. He gained components to work with teamwise, but it took away from what he can do best, “go off”. With the offense now running through Yao, obviously there will less of those moments. But if you look at the rest of his game, he’s only gotten better. Check the numbers. He WILL get out of the first round. He SCHEDULED to get a ring in Houston. And I believe he WILL be selected for the HOF. Before I go, here’s some food for thought: Shaq never left Orlando, Orlando keeps Webber in the trade for Penny, then a couple years later this Tracy McGrady guy walks in…How many rings is that??? Way to go Orlando!
October 5th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Ian says:
Austin the iceman made the conference finals and he was bettet then tmac
October 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Ian says:
btw if kobe had yao they make it pass the first round and lol on the tmac win vs the spurs thats regular season and it doesnt mean shit
October 5th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Saint Richard says:
Has this guy ever played an entire season? Has ever been able to put his team on his shoulders? The answer to both is a resounding “NO”. Being talented and having god-like ability does not mean a thing if those two things are not there. Even when healthy, he has shown flashes of greatness but HOFers don’t flash they mainstay.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
simon says:
T-Mac = HOF, Watch the guy in a R.Adelman system. Go Rockets(Tmac) win championship and remind the rest of the league you are the greatest!!
By the way the notion that TMAC is # 2 in the Rockets is ridiculus and should not happen again
October 5th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Avo says:
Tmac needs vindication this season. He will be judged by what he does this year, which I think will be a breakout season for him and the rox.
October 6th, 2007 at 4:47 am
deliver says:
T-mac in HOF. his numbers over te years are consistent barring injuries. comparison to Kobe – no comparison. put Kobe in Houston last year and Tmac in LA. Houston goes deep into playoffs if not win, LA doesn’t even make playoffs!!
October 6th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Tracy Underaty says:
T-mac at the top of his game (2003) had a PER of 30!
PER might just be “some” stat, but let’s take a look at Guys who’ve had seasons with a PER of 29 or higher:
Michael Jordan (7 times)
Kevin Garnett (1 time)
Kareem (3 times)
Wilt (3 times)
Shaquille O’neal (5 times)
David Robinson (3 times)
Besides this company, you have to go all the way down to the 24th, 25th, and 26th best seasons respectively by Wade, Barkley, and Karl Malone – a few more sure-fire HOFers (barring a major injury to wade, even then he still had that crazy finals run to make his legacy off of) Kobe, the so-called league’s best offensive player doesn’t show up until #42 on this list!
T-mac’s one of the best all around players to ever play the game. A brilliant scorer, a very good passer, amazing ball handler, supreme defender man to man when he does play defense, amazing shotblocker for a wing (had a season averaging 1.9 bpg), and a very good rebounder, too.
However his best shot to make the 2nd round was before his injury, when he played in the east and was an elite player – If the magic had pulled through after the 3-1 lead over detroit, T-mac would be heralded as one of the best players ever. He might have more talent on his team now, but his jump shot and quickness have gone down the drain which is imo unfortunate.
October 6th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Rod says:
This post season will dictate my opinion; I think we all agree that TMac is a hall of fame “talent”…but so far hasn’t shown the ability to win a playoff series. This season, he has the talent around him to not just make it out of the first round, but to go deep. Should he fail his team this post season, it won’t help. If his career should end without any playoff success, then he’d probably agree he doesn’t deserve it. Let’s see how it plays out…..
October 7th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
bOBBY says:
TMAC RIGHT NOW HAS ROUGHLY 16000 POINTS, I THINK IF YOU SCORE 20,000 Points your in the hall of fame. Tmac is only 28, he gonna be a 20 point scorer until he’s like 32-33.thats like another 5000-6000 points. then he’s Still gonna play like 3-4 more years…thats another 3000 points.
So when tmac’s all done he could potentially have 24,000 points……no way he doesnt make the make the hall of fame.
Plus tmac gonna go more allstar games,named to more all nba teams, most likely get out the first round especially with the team rockets have this year….just maybe win a championship in the next three years…
October 7th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
ICEE says:
Definitely in the HOF to me. I can not believe people are questioning his ability to elevate his game when its on the line. He has got to be one of the most feared players when it comes to crunch time. If this guy ever had some talent aroung him in Orlando he would have gone to the finals. Same thing in Houston.
MJ had Pippen
Kobe had Shaq
Clyde had Hakeem
TMac has who?
October 8th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Cochise says:
T-Mac is a Hall of Famer. Yeah, he has not made it out of the first round…ever. But that is not his fault…completely. He left it all out on the floor (his numbers in those playoff games speak volumes) but its very difficult doing it when you have nobodies running with you. His Orlando squad was not the best neither were the Raptors; plus he had to take over in the Raptors series because VC had no balls whatsoever. Once he touched Orlando he has been top 5-10 players in this league easily; at his position top 2-3. I say he is a Hall of Famer because he will get past the first round once his career is done and with the way they are rebuilding the Rockets team he may be in the Finals or win atleast one before they raise his number. And, for the record I will take a HEALTHY and I stress HEALTHY TMac over any shooting guard in the league besides KB24 hands down.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Dogman says:
Very interesting discussion. As a huge NBA fan for almost 50 years, I just had to weigh in here. As some of you have said, we probably should wait a little, BUT if he continues at or near his current level for a few more years, he definitely deserves to be IN!! For you naysayers, would you deny Ernie Banks the HOF? Granted, it’s 5 players vs. 9, but it’s still a team sport as Kobe (IMO the greatest current active player) will certainly tell you – how many playoff victories does he have post Shaq? A championship (or finals appearance) should not be required, IMO.
I have no doubt that McGrady is one of the 50 best overall players ever, and if he had one of the following as teammates – Duncan, Shaq, Jordan, Hakeem, Jabbar, Russell, Oscar, Wilt or Mikan, he would have already won at least one ring.
Ian – I loved the Iceman and he deserves to be in, but he is not as great as T-Mac as an overall player.
Deliver – What are you smoking? Without T-Mac the Rockets don’t win 30 games! Kobe would’nt have made that much of a difference, and Yao has potential, BUT is definetly NOT a great player.
Saint Richard – I’d say 16,000 points despite a bad back IS “mainstaying”
“Truth_Speaks” – I know “BS_Speaks” when I hear it. McGrady meets everyone of your definitions of greatness.
Beyond a reasonable doubt, McGrady should be, and will be, in the Hall!
October 9th, 2007 at 5:30 am
hahaok says:
T-mac in the hall of fame? Thats not even a question. Mac is just so unique you cant compare him to any other player. The ball just seems to like want to follow his movement. He’s silky smooth.
Sure he’s had some first round blues, but every great player has been through failure to get to great success. He is only 28, jordan won his first title when he was 27. Tmac will be great. you want to know y? coz it’s tmac to the rac!
October 9th, 2007 at 9:59 am
illest says:
hell no
he has no heart hasnt won anything and is not leader
just being you score a lot doesnt mean you are a halloffamer
and he hasnt even won a playoff series
October 9th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Gee says:
He will be in. Those who have argued against that will one day eat their words. Oh yea and just for predicition sake when he actually does get past the first round the Rockets will sweep whoever it is they are against. Just for prediction sake.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Celts Fan says:
I agree illest. I love watching TMac and that show he put on against the Spurs a few years ago ranks right up there w/ anything I’ve ever seen in sports, but he’s gotta win some playoff series (or cop an MVP or something) before he can be worthy. I think he will eventually win some series and should, at some point, get to the finals if not get sized up for a ring, with this Rockets squad, which will leave no doubt he has to be in, but as of right now, no.
October 9th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Big Dog says:
Like everyone else has been saying, he has to win something before you put him in the fall of fame. I watched game 7 of the first-round series of the Jazz this year and just watching the last 6 minutes or so should show why hes not a hall of famer. I’m not sure how many shots he took in those 6 minutes but it wasn’t many. Every time down the floor he was giving it up. In my opinion, in a game 7 of the playoffs is when your stars let alone hall of famers are supposed to demand the rock and carry your team to the W.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Big Irv says:
Hey everyone we are comparing Tracy to one of the 50 greatest players. Equal or not the numbers are there, the talent is there, yet they are diffenrent in many ways. So to discuss that he is equal or better than the glide is like voting T-Mac in the hall. What other HOF Small forwards are there that Clyde was better than. How about Tracy, let me ask this if we use Clyde as the model for Small forwards to get in the HOF then tracy should be in. Reason being that Tracy is not far off from Clyde or to some he is equal. I don’t think he is better team player than Clyde by the way, I bet T-Mac would tell you the same, but T-Mac might have better athletic talents.
Enjoy the game
October 10th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Voice of Reason says:
T-Mac has no heart. He has all the talent and no drive. Take Larry Bird as an example–worse back problems, a quarter of the athleticisim and 200% of the heart. All you need to see is the last four minutes of game 7 agains the Jazz. McGrady dominating the ball and shooting jumpers–clang! He could have dominated against a young team but he punked out. He didn’t drive and get fouled, he didn’t school a young team with no experience. Deron Williams has heart and passion, T-Mac has none. Talent alone won’t get you there. Put him in the fanasy HOF, leave him out of the real one–the real HOF is for warriors.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:27 am
f15crew88 says:
t-mac sould get in. hes numbers and his accom. prove that. mac isone of the most talented players in the nba and should be looked at so.
i say in
October 10th, 2007 at 5:57 am
#1rockets says:
vocie of reason u have no idea what ur talking about. t-mac has all the heart, and the talent. the mac has everything he needs to get that ring this year and he has everything he needs to get in the hof. next time u want to say something stupid like t-mac has no heart, rethink it, and maybe just maybe ull see he dose.
vote= in hof
October 10th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
J One says:
T-Mac as good as Kobe? Stop that right now…if you really think that, spend less time posting, and more time paying attention to the game.
T-Mac in the hall of fame? Pure talent says yes…toughness and ability to endure? Not a great argument there. I am as big a T-Mac fan as any, but it takes more than loyal or disillusioned fans to get in the HOF.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:01 am
chris says:
maybe yes or maybe not. he needed to show everything come playoff time. his efforts aren’t enough yet to merit a playoff series win.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:06 am
mcargina says:
i believe this is about weither T-Mac is an HOF material? not a debate for whomever is better than who.. if you think otherwise please stop posting.
with all due respect T-Mac as of the moment do not deserve to be in the HOF, he hasn’t done anything worthy to be mentioned deservingly. other than occasional scoring explosiveness..However, with all his agililty and skills he has time pick-up his game show the world that he belongs to the HOF after all he is only 28…
As of the moment NO, No, No, Dime ask again in two years maybe we’ll get a definite answers not opinion.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Gee says:
Hold on! I am a serious T-Mac fan. Even I know that he will never, especially at this point, touch or come close to Kobe. Perhaps when they started they might have been neck and neck but as time and injuries and motivation went on, the difference has shown itself. Kobe is a beast unchained while T-Mac has unfortunately been caught by the zoo. You still don’t want to get to close to T-Mac’s cage though lol. Trust that! Oh I didn’t even comment on the H.O.F. thing with T-Mac this time because I am off that. He will get in. No doubt!
October 11th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Rob Dan says:
T-Mac has at times been a great player, but his results and attitude could or should keep him out of the HOF at this point
Aside from never being able to take his team past the first round, I think his biggest downfall is his attitude. First, he screwed the Toronto Raptors to go to the Orlando Magic. When he arrived in Orlando, he promised big things, but when they didn’t happen – he blamed management and the players. Then off to Houston where he again made himself number one, but still hasn’t lead the team past the first round – (let alone play for a whole season).
At this point, Mike James stands as good a chance of being HOF, as McGrady, based on their promises and results.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Gee says:
I think at a point of most careers NBA players get frustrated. T-Mac still does what’s needed. He will get in easy! Mike James will not lol and to compare the two is crazy!
October 14th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Coldchain says:
T-Mac is a Hall of Fame talent, but the playoff thing will keep him out until he goes a couple rounds deep.
As far as comparing him to Kobe … T-Mac is a better passer and rebounder … Kobe is a better defender and scorer … But T-Mac is a better team player. You don’t hear about T-Mac ripping his teammates in the media or demanding trades or doing shit during games like not shooting on purpose to prove a point and costing his team a game. The last time T-Mac lost a Game 7, he put up crazy numbers and was so broken up after the game he was crying in front of everyone. The last time Kobe lost a Game 7 he gave up halfway through the game.
Is Kobe better overall? Yeah. But like someone said, since Shaq left, what has Kobe done that T-Mac hasn’t done? Anyway, if I were an NBA player and I could choose, I’d rather play with T-mac than Kobe. Mac doesn’t seem like an a**hole like Kobe.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:54 am
J Bizil says:
T-Mac should definetly get in if he stays on this pace. He’s still in his 20’s so he has a chance to get that elusive ring. MJ didn’t get his first till he was 28 and was still the king at 35. Drexler may have played in the best total era in NBA history but Mac is playing in the best era ever for two guards. The only 2-guard you can put over Mac in this era is Kobe. After that you got Mac, Wade, Vince, Pierce, AI, and Ray Allen.
October 18th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Qwame says:
You cannot be serious with this issue of Kobe and T-Mac? lets all look at it like this, is there even a question that Kobe is in the hall of fame? and here we are discussing whether or not a sometime great sometime bum that barely makes the playoffs is as good as Kobe. Thereis no dicussion in anyones mind that Kobe is in the HOF but we are discussing T-Mac, nuff said, T-Mac good, does he deserve the HOF, jury is still out, depends on what he does over the next 3 years. If injuries and lack of defense persist I say no but if he stays healthy I dont see how anyone could he doesnot deservbe the HOF. Also all you youngster under 30, please do you research because one of you said something on the GP site about Jerry West, you need to shut up, go take the bottle out of your mouth, spend a month with th eold-school games and then comment. and on the Issue of Isaiah, dotn confuse his managing talnet with his basketball talent, he is by far the best point gaurd since Magic Johnson.
P.S. Please stop withthe KB24 hating. He does what he do, when he tries to pass to his team you complain he didnt shoot enough, when his team is down 18 in the 4th quarter and he brings them abck and win, he shot too much, it goes to show that no matter what he does you hate him .Lakers know that so please just keep you opinions to yourself and let the man be and remember, for 7 years everyone talked about MJ exactly the way they diss Kobe now, ask any real jounalist that lived and worked during that time.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Gee says:
T Mac is in!
October 26th, 2007 at 11:13 am
HL says:
blessing!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Nick Dillon says:
yeah the one thing that people miss is the one thing that he will always be remembered for and that is…..
13 POINTS IN 35 SECONDS
and that wasn’t 13 pts against the worst defensive team or anything, it was against one of the best teams, the Spurs, so drop it,
2 time scoring champ also
T-MAC= IN
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:43 pm
TheFallen says:
No playoff wins (in his entire career), no championships, no MVP awards, and no particularly outstanding numbers… he’s out.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Rashard Dillan says:
I kinda feel sorry for kids who diss T-Mac for not taking his team out of the first round.
In Toronto, how old was I again? Screw that, was he even the first option there?
In Orlando, his best teammates in his playoff days were…. rookie Drew Gooden and rookie Mike Miller (who was traded the year later).
Last year in Orlando, his best player was cursed n cancered Juwan Howard. Third best player? Legendary Tyronn Lue. Players like Iverson and Jason Kidd shake their feet when they see him in the court.
First year in Houston, Mac had a MUCH better supporting cast he ever had, but… the Mavs were just BETTER. Rockets lost. Btw, that series was IMO the worst officiated (or rigged should i say) series i have EVER seen my whole life. Michael Finley steps out of bound n slaps the ball IN FRONT OF THE refs, no whistle.
Seconds later, T-Mac double team, ref call it a foul.
Josh Howard (or Marquis Daniels) shoved Yao and Yao gets hit with a T.. LOL
Two season later, Houston face Utah, both hard nosed Defensive team facing each other. Ugly series =[
T-Mac had his laziest series of his career, still manages to drop close to 25-5-5 on one of the best defensive squad in the L.
It wasnt McGrady’s fault that Yao’s FG% dropped like Brittany’s hair.
It wasnt his fault Luther Head (who shot like 45% from 3) starts bricking like Antoine Walker.
Just wasnt his fault he passes the ball to wide open teammates and they brick.
Wasnt his fault his “BENCH” came up up ZERO (0) points.
Wasnt his fault only two other players beside Yao n Mac realize they’re supposed to score.
Only Chuck Hayes showed heart and dedication all series long.. After all, he’s a 6-6 PF who had to Guard Boozer after he raped him in the post. WoW.. Boozer really got scared to see someone INCHES shorter than him. Wasnt he?
Tracy is great.. though i must admit he sometimes lack energy in him but come playoff time, guy expoldes. Dropped 30-6-6 on Mavs in playoffs. He should DEFINITELY make the HOF.
As for Championships, how old is he again? 20 something right? When did MJ got his first ring?
No MVP awards? Awwww.. Maybe LeBron, n Kobe shouldnt go to HOF either. Right?
No particular outstanding numbers?.. LOL
99-present T-Mac anyone?
15pts 2 blks 6 boards off the bench isnt enough?
what abt? 62 points?
ummm
what abt the 01-02 Mcgrady who avg 26-8-5 to go along with 2.5 blks n stls combind.
still aint enough?
02-03 T-Mac? 32-6-5?
If Kobe can be HOF and T-Mac dont, it’d be shame.
Kobe got his chips first, then got ballhogging records.
T-Mac ballhoged, and is now preparing to win chips.
Still give him time, dude is only in his prime right now.
Peace
1
November 9th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Ben says:
Not to mention he did this coming out of high school…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Eric H says:
I know this is an old post, but I found it today while doing some research for a similar post for my blog. Wanted to say thanks for the good info.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:47 am
Zach A says:
First off the person who left the comment about him not being able to be compared to clyde is bogus he is just as good as clyde besides the fact that clyde had better players around him. No fence to clyde though he was AMAZING!!! Still I think tmac is hof material
February 19th, 2010 at 4:35 am
iknowbball says:
Bottom line is if mac don’t stop getting hurt and he continues to produce he should be in. Bottom line! When healthy he was actually being compared to kobe bryant and would win those battles head to head with the best in the nba. I agree he needs to win something in the playoffs but give him a real player who can actually help him out and see what happens!