Why T-Mac loves the game
September 1, 2006 | 12:00am
Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady said the other day the reason why he has such a passion for basketball is because its an unpredictable, if not weird, game.
On his second visit to Manila in six years, McGrady cited as an example the last National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game where he was headed for MVP honors until the East came back from 21 points down to shock the West, 122-120.
"Man, that was a weird game," recounted McGrady in an exclusive one-on-one interview. "The MVP trophy was taken away from me. It was really funny. Our team (West) was in control much of the game then in the fourth period, we couldnt do anything right. We turned the ball over, we didnt make our shots and the East started to get going. But thats basketball. Youll never know what can happen on the court. Thats what makes it so exciting."
McGrady finished the All-Star Game with 36 points but the MVP award went to the Easts LeBron James.
But McGrady wouldnt be denied a win after he scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds to lift the Rockets to an 81-80 decision over the San Antonio Spurs in a regular season game in 2004.
Houston trailed by 10 with just a little over a minute left but McGrady refused to surrender even if most of the 16,170 fans at the Toyota Center had given up hope. McGrady knocked down four difficult threes, including the marginal basket with 1.7 ticks to go. He wound up with 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals to outshine the Spurs Tim Duncan who scored 26 points and grabbed 18 boards.
Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said, "Sometimes when you work, you get miracles."
McGrady said the experience was the closest in his mind to relating to adidas tagline "impossible is nothing."
Its a dictum that McGrady has adopted in foreseeing a bright future for the Rockets.
"Were in a tough division with teams like San Antonio and Dallas," said McGrady. "We need a lot of depth to win against those teams consistently. But youll never know how things go. With Yao (Ming) and me healthy, who knows how far well go? If we can get a lift from our bench and we do what were supposed to do, we might just surprise people."
McGrady said the offseason acquisition of Shane Battier for Stromile Swift and the rights to draft pick Rudy Gay is a big boost for the Rockets. He pointed to Battiers ability to play hard-nosed defense as a major asset.
"Shane will help us a lot on the defensive end," said McGrady. "Plus, if Yao or I get doubled or tripled, he gives us an option to kick out for the three."
And with Battier in the mix, McGrady said hell probably slide back to shooting guard.
"When were in there together, Shane will play three and Ill play two which I love," said McGrady. "I started out in the NBA as a shooting guard then I moved to small forward. But I would love playing two again with Shane in there with me."
A passion for the game is what drives McGrady to excellence. And its the same passion that Filipinos have for basketball, he said. McGrady saw the passion in the Holy Child of Davao high school team at the adidas Asian Streetball Finals in Guangzhou last Sunday and when the shortest squad in the tournament was robbed of the championship in the title game, his heart went out to the kids. McGrady consoled the Filipino kids by promising to fly them to Houston this coming season at his expense to watch a Rockets game and dine at Yaos restaurant.
McGrady said in his first visit to Manila in 2000, he had such an enjoyable trip that he looked forward to coming back.
While in town, McGrady launched the limited edition of his adidas signature shoe T-Mac 1. He said the shoe is special because it was the first of the T-Mac series, now in its fifth run, and only 1,650 pairs were made. In the Philippines, only 150 were sold.
McGrady said patience is a virtue he has learned to embrace since turning pro because it comes with the territory. Discipline and hard work, too.
"When I decided to make basketball my career, I knew what lay ahead of me," said McGrady. "Ive had to work harder in the gym now than ever before because its tougher staying on top, keeping in shape and playing your best. Then, doing tours and meeting the press, you get asked the same questions over and over again but I really dont mind. Ive learned to accept what comes with the life of an NBA player."
McGrady said in his NBA career, he has matured a lot because of Van Gundy. "Hes demanding on defense and hes a great motivator," said T-Mac. "He knows his Xs and Os for sure but he also knows how to handle his players. As for my previous NBA coaches like Butch Carter, Doc Rivers and Johnny Davis, they were first-timers so we were more like learning from each other."
Regarding Asian fans, McGrady said he cant thank them enough. "Comparing the reception Ive gotten in Asia to what I get in the US, its like night and day," he continued. "Asian fans are a lot warmer."
McGrady said playing for the US team in the 2003 Tournament of the Americas was a memorable experience but at the moment, his priorities are to stay healthy and put the Rockets on the winning track. Playing for the US team in the Olympics or the World Championship is not an immediate goal.
On the influx of international players in the NBA, McGrady said its a welcome development. "I think its great that more and more foreigners are playing in the NBA and proving they belong in the league," said McGrady. "I welcome them. Theres a lot of talent out there and in the Olympics, teams arent threatened by the US anymore."
McGrady hesitated for a few minutes before answering what facet of his game hed like to improve on.
"Thats a tough question," he said. "I guess if theres one thing Id like to work on for next season, its my free throw shooting which Ill try to bring up to 80 percent." Last season, T-Mac shot .747 from the line.
On his second visit to Manila in six years, McGrady cited as an example the last National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game where he was headed for MVP honors until the East came back from 21 points down to shock the West, 122-120.
"Man, that was a weird game," recounted McGrady in an exclusive one-on-one interview. "The MVP trophy was taken away from me. It was really funny. Our team (West) was in control much of the game then in the fourth period, we couldnt do anything right. We turned the ball over, we didnt make our shots and the East started to get going. But thats basketball. Youll never know what can happen on the court. Thats what makes it so exciting."
McGrady finished the All-Star Game with 36 points but the MVP award went to the Easts LeBron James.
But McGrady wouldnt be denied a win after he scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds to lift the Rockets to an 81-80 decision over the San Antonio Spurs in a regular season game in 2004.
Houston trailed by 10 with just a little over a minute left but McGrady refused to surrender even if most of the 16,170 fans at the Toyota Center had given up hope. McGrady knocked down four difficult threes, including the marginal basket with 1.7 ticks to go. He wound up with 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals to outshine the Spurs Tim Duncan who scored 26 points and grabbed 18 boards.
Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said, "Sometimes when you work, you get miracles."
McGrady said the experience was the closest in his mind to relating to adidas tagline "impossible is nothing."
Its a dictum that McGrady has adopted in foreseeing a bright future for the Rockets.
"Were in a tough division with teams like San Antonio and Dallas," said McGrady. "We need a lot of depth to win against those teams consistently. But youll never know how things go. With Yao (Ming) and me healthy, who knows how far well go? If we can get a lift from our bench and we do what were supposed to do, we might just surprise people."
McGrady said the offseason acquisition of Shane Battier for Stromile Swift and the rights to draft pick Rudy Gay is a big boost for the Rockets. He pointed to Battiers ability to play hard-nosed defense as a major asset.
"Shane will help us a lot on the defensive end," said McGrady. "Plus, if Yao or I get doubled or tripled, he gives us an option to kick out for the three."
And with Battier in the mix, McGrady said hell probably slide back to shooting guard.
"When were in there together, Shane will play three and Ill play two which I love," said McGrady. "I started out in the NBA as a shooting guard then I moved to small forward. But I would love playing two again with Shane in there with me."
A passion for the game is what drives McGrady to excellence. And its the same passion that Filipinos have for basketball, he said. McGrady saw the passion in the Holy Child of Davao high school team at the adidas Asian Streetball Finals in Guangzhou last Sunday and when the shortest squad in the tournament was robbed of the championship in the title game, his heart went out to the kids. McGrady consoled the Filipino kids by promising to fly them to Houston this coming season at his expense to watch a Rockets game and dine at Yaos restaurant.
McGrady said in his first visit to Manila in 2000, he had such an enjoyable trip that he looked forward to coming back.
While in town, McGrady launched the limited edition of his adidas signature shoe T-Mac 1. He said the shoe is special because it was the first of the T-Mac series, now in its fifth run, and only 1,650 pairs were made. In the Philippines, only 150 were sold.
McGrady said patience is a virtue he has learned to embrace since turning pro because it comes with the territory. Discipline and hard work, too.
"When I decided to make basketball my career, I knew what lay ahead of me," said McGrady. "Ive had to work harder in the gym now than ever before because its tougher staying on top, keeping in shape and playing your best. Then, doing tours and meeting the press, you get asked the same questions over and over again but I really dont mind. Ive learned to accept what comes with the life of an NBA player."
McGrady said in his NBA career, he has matured a lot because of Van Gundy. "Hes demanding on defense and hes a great motivator," said T-Mac. "He knows his Xs and Os for sure but he also knows how to handle his players. As for my previous NBA coaches like Butch Carter, Doc Rivers and Johnny Davis, they were first-timers so we were more like learning from each other."
Regarding Asian fans, McGrady said he cant thank them enough. "Comparing the reception Ive gotten in Asia to what I get in the US, its like night and day," he continued. "Asian fans are a lot warmer."
McGrady said playing for the US team in the 2003 Tournament of the Americas was a memorable experience but at the moment, his priorities are to stay healthy and put the Rockets on the winning track. Playing for the US team in the Olympics or the World Championship is not an immediate goal.
On the influx of international players in the NBA, McGrady said its a welcome development. "I think its great that more and more foreigners are playing in the NBA and proving they belong in the league," said McGrady. "I welcome them. Theres a lot of talent out there and in the Olympics, teams arent threatened by the US anymore."
McGrady hesitated for a few minutes before answering what facet of his game hed like to improve on.
"Thats a tough question," he said. "I guess if theres one thing Id like to work on for next season, its my free throw shooting which Ill try to bring up to 80 percent." Last season, T-Mac shot .747 from the line.
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