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Thu, Jan 5th 2012, 11:46
McGrady still getting it done
If Tracy McGrady is firing step-back jumpers and slicing inside for finger-rolls, then it must be 2004, right? Thought so, too.
Except he’s almost eight years removed from his peak and now coming off the bench for his sixth different team. And while you may have wondered where he’s been, he’s wondering where you’ve been.
“People sometimes forget what you’ve done in this league,” McGrady said with a laugh. “I haven’t gone anywhere. And I’m only 32. People forget that, too. I’m younger than Kobe, younger than Ray Allen, younger than a lot of guys. I just haven’t been healthy. I haven’t felt like this in a while.”
He laughs again, acknowledging his quickness isn’t the same, and that he’s been in the NBA almost half his life.
“Look, I know I’ve been around, but I can still play. I can help this team. I can make teammates better, I can make the team better.”
The Hawks are sold. They signed T-Mac to a one-year deal, a bargain as it turns out, and asked him to supply some nostalgia whenever possible. Rick Sund, the GM, chose McGrady over giving an extension to Jamal Crawford, the Sixth Man of the Year winner in 2009.
It was the cheaper option for a team unwilling to flirt with luxury tax issues, but was it the better one? The answer, obviously, won’t arrive until the postseason (assuming the Hawks make it) when we see if McGrady’s health and production holds up.
He’s a fixture in the Hawks’ rotation right now. Actually, McGrady is on the floor in the fourth quarter, and he’s not exactly there to set picks or be a decoy, either. Here in his 16th season, when surgeries figured to take their toll by now, McGrady is producing, averaging 10.0 ppg in 21.3 mpg and shooting 51.2 percent. He snuffed Miami a few nights ago with a 13-point fourth quarter, his biggest in almost four years.
So far, he’s the best offseason pickup from a value standpoint, considering he signed for the veteran’s minimum. Rip Hamilton is giving the Bulls a reliable mid-range shooter and 12.0 ppg after being waived by the Pistons. And Kurt Thomas, who was around in Bill Clinton’s first term, is a hired muscle in Portland, where the Blazers also have a 37-year-old Marcus Camby yanking down almost 10 rebounds a night.
But McGrady is different in that he was a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ who fell off the A-list suddenly. Only once in the last five seasons did he play at least 70 games (2006-07). Back pain, shoulder surgery and a repaired left knee all did him in by the time he turned 30.
Comments
Jason | 3 weeks, 5 days ago
T-mac you gotta get it rolling again. You’re the reason I fell in love with this sport and I like to see you score more than what you’ve been scoring the past few games man. Tighten up Mac.
mark joseph gatchalian | on 25/1/12
i believe tracy still an asset to atlanta’s team. he can score, assist,play defense.all he need is time and trust to his coaching stuff and to his taemmate.
Kyle | on 19/1/12
Tmac you said it younger then Kobe and the guy scoring 40 points start shooting the ball a lot get your confidence you keep saying comeback and you still playing washed up I’ve been tmac fan since raptors but I’m losing hope hawks make you star if you score the damn ball please b the tmac old plz
Mary Dunson | on 16/1/12
Wishing you a healthy and happy season,
Christopher Arciaga | on 13/1/12
Our T-mac has already proved that he’s an extraordinary nba superstar. But still, there are more years to come for him and i hope T-mac would make another historic chapter in the NBA, though he’s 32 and experienced several injuries… T-mac is still The One.
john | on 13/1/12
T-mac will always be the man. For me, he is better than kobe, lebron, wade and the other stars. Give the man chances. 1 year with the halks ain’t enough. Put him in the starting line up. Maybe he will tear up the stat sheets again,. Go T-mac. Get a ring and make us proud…again…
T-Tham | on 11/1/12
Glad to see T-Mac back again. Whereever you go, your fans follow. So I support Hawks now just because T-mac is there!!
jermon yowl | on 11/1/12
i knew you was goning to shake back. i been a T-MAC fan since you first hit the league. my best friend and i own a barber shop in OPELOUSAS La. and you know how it gets in there. me friend loves KOBE, man you cant say nothing bout that boy. and im the same way about you. when boys try to talk down i’m like “YALL MUST NOT HAVE A T.V. AT YOUR HOUSE!! i tell’um “YALL NEED TO YOUTUBE T-MAC, SIT DOWN AND ENJOY THE SHOW!! i love making them into believers man i’ll never forget the time you hit 13 points in 33 seconds. my brother and i watched that whole game. you can see rockets fans leaving the game. when i saw you hit that first 3 i was like IT ANT OVER TILL ITS OVER!!! man i knew you had the hot hand when you came up with the steal and took off, i was like HERE COMES THA DAGGER!!! HERE COMES THE DAGGER!!! all i heard was MCGRADY FOR THE WINNNNNNNN!!!! (SWISHHH). man people down the street heard us at my house cheering, man i’ll never forget that night. i’ve gone to a lot of your games in HOUSTON. man it hurt me when you left H-TOWN i was sick. but i still kept up with you all the way. im glad you’re back down south. im so happy to see you back and healthy,i know it was hard MAC but you did it. do your thang T-MAC and never forget this “MINOR SET BACK FOR A MAJOR COMEBACK”…. 1 LOVE JERMON
Da'Nivin Murphy | on 10/1/12
Been a fan of yours since Toronto. your the best scorer ever to play the game in my opinion. Keep working hard, all your fans know you can still play with the best of them. Im going to yiur game against denver not to see atlanta or denver, but to see you play. Been a dream forever, now i have the chance. Best of luck T-mac
Ahmet Selim kocaturk | on 8/1/12
I don’t mind what the people say something about T-mac. T-mac is the best basketball player I have ever watched and I’m sure that he is trying to be better. Playing in Atlanta is good choice for him. I hope that he will get the ring here!!! go T-mac go!!!
tisoy gordon | on 7/1/12
just continue what is your doing right now men..were always here for you. i miss you so on the court. goodluck!
ivan A. Garcia Sanchez | on 7/1/12
go t mac! you got millions of fans rooting for you, you can still score 20+ppg, be agressive, run the floor! ur in great shape show them what ur made of, u can win a championship this year no doubt you got to belive in yourself!
Xiao wei-Li | on 7/1/12
I think you the team’s head coach is really great，Although sometimes lost the game，But is wise，training young teammates，Some fans may not understand your coach，But I can understand，I believe your team will run in the future getting better，you are a team！
MARIANO | on 6/1/12
LOVE YOU MEN, DONT STOP!
Andy | on 6/1/12
Hi,T-mac:
It’s said that you have some problem with your knee,hope it is not series,and it will not affect the following play.
You really did great so far.
B.rgds
Mohamed | on 6/1/12
Wow T-Mac is great to have you back on the court like the old T-Mac. I was a fan since u played for the raptors and i will always be. Ur my role model so keeping doing what u do and T-Mac For MVP GO Atlanta Hawks u going to win ur first MVP and championship this year HOPEFULLY. Hopefully u make the all star team this year. :D
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