Jordan4life_2007

QUOTE (Willard Decker @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 06:55 PM) I'd be interested in knowing how you intend to verify this assertion, particularly given that McGrady was unable to advance past the first round of the post-season in each of the seasons in question save the two in which neither Orlando or Houston qualified for the playoffs. And your use of his body-type as proof of sound work-habits is laughable in the face of eye-witness accounts of exactly the opposite from one of his former head coaches. Jeff Van Gundy's resume is irrelevant, as are his comments about Michael Jordan- comments I believe to be true, for why else would Jordan take them so personally? He was around Tracy McGrady on an almost daily basis and had numerous opportunities to observe the former's behavior in both practice and game situations. If he says McGrady didn't always give maximum effort, I'm inclined to believe him. --Captain Decker So, basically without the Van Gundy comments, you'd have nothing? Did you say to yourself back in 2001, "Man, that McGrady is so good, but he could be much better if he just tried more." I already know the answer so you don't have to say anything. If there's a bunch of guys, former teammates, coaches, assistant coaches, etc - that's different. As far as him not advancing past the first round, go back and look at some of these Orlando rosters and that answers that. I will say Houston kinda choked in '05 because they were up 2-0 with games 3 and 4 at home. And even then T-mac averaged 31.7 ppg in that series. Other than that they could never stay healthy. No need to over analyze. It's really that simple.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) No doubt injury has derailed his career, but what I am trying to get at is even when healthy, McGrady wasn't trying as hard as he could have, and yet, he was close to being the best player in the league for a few years. If you have time, please read this piece, it pretty much sums up McGrady's career in 10 minutes. http://tuesdayswithhorry.com/2013/08/28/th...hat-comes-next/ No doubt about it. Like in 2003. If T-mac had tried more, he would've averaged 35 ppg and a 32 per instead of 32 ppg and a 30 per. T-mac had a higher per than Kobe from 2001 to 2005. In 35 playoff games from '01 to '08, he averaged 29.5 ppg, 7 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.1 bpg. But he could've done more! No. His body is what did him in, not a lack of work ethic. T-mac was as cut, fit, trim as anybody of that time and he played an insane amount of minutes. You can' play the minutes he did at that level if you're work ethic sucks.

If only Rose's work ethic was better, maybe he would've - oh that's right, he still would've gotten hurt over and over and over. Just like Grant Hill and Penny and others. If your body betrays you, nothing else matters.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 02:41 PM) He got two scoring titles through undeniable talent but yet questionable work ethic. If he had put in more work in his jump shot, use better shot selections, and compete harder on defense, he could be have been hands down best player in the league for at least 5 years, that's how talented he is. If you choose to ignore a comment coming from a guy who coached him for 4 years, and who is around him for everyday of the basketball season, that just shows how ignorant you choose to be sometimes. No, the ignorance is coming from you for not acknowledging the chronic back issues and all the other physical ailments that cut down his career. I'm sure Van Gundy could go back and say a lot of things about guys he's coached, you know, since he won exactly nothing and the only thing he's really remembered for is calling MJ a con-man and hanging off of Alonzo Mourning's leg like a f***in' idiot.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 02:33 PM) I seriously drop everything I'm doing whenever he's playing. LeBron is still a better player but I'm obsessed with watching Durant play. His offensive game is peerless. Combine that with the efficiency, and we might very well be witnessing the GOAT scorer.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 02:27 PM) Durant one assist away from going triple double with 41 points. He sucks.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) You're kidding right? Even when he was the best offensive player in the league, T-Mac wasn't the biggest competitor on the court, often settling for outside jumpers when he could take anyone off the dribble. He was an All Defense talent when he tried, but he never made much effort on that end. And even Van Gundy has called him out in recent years about the amount of work he has put in when he was with the Rockets. Vince also had the same issue, but I'd take maxed out T-Mac over him for range, playmaking, and length advantages. GMAB. Let me guess - you have to scream, yell and punch guys in the face to be a competitor. Guess what, LeBron doesn't do that either and he might be the GOAT in 5 years. T-mac routinely had those Magic teams in the playoffs with guys like Pat Garrity, Darrell Armstrong and Andrew Declerq. T-mac put up most of his great scoring seasons in the early 2000's which was the peak of defense aka, grab, maul, punch, wrestle, etc. In Houston, neither he or Yao could stay healthy at the same time. I don't know what Van Gundy said and don't really care.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 01:27 PM) Looking at Kevin Durant today, I can't help but picture how good McGrady would have been if he had better work ethic and put everything together. A better work ethic? Don't you mean a back that actually worked? You thinkin' Vince Carter. From '01 to I say '05, T-mac and Kobe were mirror images of each other. T-mac's body wouldn't cooperate. Had nothing to do with a lack of work ethic.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 9, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) They have an unbalanced me-first joke of a roster, nobody is going to take them to the next level. Mo deserved better How is Joe Dumars still livin' off of 2004? He's terrible.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 7, 2014 -> 01:05 PM) ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo 1h Kevin Durant's .327 win shares per 48 minutes this season are on pace to be the 2nd-most IN NBA HISTORY (Abdul-Jabbar - .340 in 1971-72) We've got this guy and LeBron going at the same time at their peaks. We're lucky.

Damn, Maurice Cheeks didn't make it to the all-star break of his first year.

QUOTE (Willard Decker @ Feb 6, 2014 -> 07:46 PM) I wonder if we'll see Andrew Wiggins in the contest next season. --Captain Decker I hope so. I want him, Gordon and Chris Walker from Florida. That would be nasty.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 6, 2014 -> 07:41 PM) Hell yea. He pitched his dick off for us, in a good way. I feel like he was automatic 7-8 innings of 2 run ball when we got him. Let's not forget the pressure-packed situation he was traded into. Dude manned up right out of the gate. That sounds painful.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 6, 2014 -> 07:37 PM) Who else? George, Wall, Ross, Barnes, Lillard, and McLemore.

Not sure anybody here cares about it anymore. But I like the field for the dunk contest this year. I got McLemore takin' this.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) Or just a goats package. you're right. They'd probably f***ed that up as well.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 07:47 PM) How has Mike Brown not been fired yet? True. I'm done with team predictions. I had them as the 5-seed in the east. That franchise is a mess. I still like Waiters though and would like to see the Bulls make an attempt at him.

The Cavs are so awful. If they get a top 5 pick they should deal Irving for a GOAT package.

Man, John Wall is so fast.

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 08:54 PM) Well they're getting assf***ed by the Bulls right now so it's ok to cheer for your team. I don't cheer for or root against the Bulls anymore after the 11-4 January. NBA hell is here in Chicago and not going anywhere anytime soon.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 08:26 PM) Are the Suns missing some key players??? On paper and judging from the first quarter that team looks awful, yet they have a .600+ win%. Ever hear of Eric Bledsoe? The Suns have been amazing this year. But let me slow down. 2k5 is going to call me a bandwagoner if I give them to much props. #myteamsuckssohateallteamsthatdon'tsuck #the2k5way #twtw

The Kings are the most entertaining yet can't win a game for s*** team I can ever remember. I wonder what Rudy Gay's fantasy ranking is since he became a King?

Love one board shy of a 40/20 night. And they still lose.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 1, 2014 -> 09:06 PM) Anthony Davis is so much fun to watch. I know PF is LOADED out west. But Davis not in the all-star game is a shame.

At least John Wall gets it. It's the BFF era in the NBA.