Hey, McGrady–looks like your season is done again, and I can’t say that I am the least bit sad to see you eliminated from the playoffs and eating your words for the second year in a row after the fourth game of a first-round series.
If there is one player in the NBA who needs to learn to just play the game instead of making bold proclamations about himself, his team and his opponents, it is Orlando’s Tracy McGrady.
Last year, McGrady talked trash at Glenn Robinson in the first round. T-Mac proclaimed himself a better player than Glenn. The playoffs aren’t about individuals–they’re about teams. Robinson was smart enough not to take the bait and get into a war of words with McGrady. Glenn only needed to say “scoreboard” at the end of the series when the Bucks had downed the Magic three games to one and beaten them 11 of their last 12 games.
This doesn’t seem like a big deal–after all, it was just an NBA player talking trash. However, some of the things that the supposed team-leader Tracy McGrady said during the Magic’s series against the Hornets were downright ridiculous and detrimental to his team.
During a media session between games three and four, McGrady thought it would be a good time use his usual “I’m the best player in the series” routine. McGrady, who was averaging 29.3 points, seven rebounds and 5.3 assists in the three games, explained to reporters that “[Baron Davis] is not the best player [in this series]–I am. No question, no question.”
That’s fine, McGrady–tell yourself whatever you need to in order to make you and your aching back feel better.
There shouldn’t really be much question regarding who the better player in this series was. Hands down, it was Baron Davis. Davis rose to the occasion while playing with a sore back and missing his top teammate Jamal Mashburn. Davis averaged an amazing 25 points, 9.2 assists and nine rebounds during the series. Stats like those are pretty much the definition of the phrase “best player in the series.”
While T-Mac’s comments about being better than Baron Davis were questionable, the way he backed them up with what he considered a logical argument certainly is something he shouldn’t have said.
When asked why he was better, McGrady used the justification that Davis had better teammates.
“If you look at Baron’s team and you look at my team, then you’ll understand he has a lot of help,” commented McGrady.
Oops–did we hear that right, T-Mac? That sounds like an offhanded way of telling your teammates they aren’t any good. Weren’t you planning on playing a game with those very teammates just the next day? A game that you even boldly guaranteed the public your team would win?
Davis, who is apparently the smarter player as well the better one, didn’t bother to respond to T-Mac’s comments. He merely played it off as though the remarks didn’t bother him.
“I’m just trying to lead my team without [ill forward Jamal Mashburn],” Davis said. “I want to get my teammates involved. I have to step up and concentrate on leading this team to victory.”
No, it was clear that McGrady’s words certainly didn’t hurt Davis’ play. They may have helped it, though, as Davis put up two triple-doubles in four games against his Orlando counterparts.
Orlando has not won a playoff series since the 1995-96 season, when Shaq and Penny were still in the mix, so perhaps McGrady would do well to shut up. Advice for McGrady–grow up a little bit, and the next time you are in a playoff series, don’t insult your teammates and try to show up the other team’s best players. It clearly hasn’t worked for you the last two years, and it is doubtful that it will start working anytime soon.
Yet I won’t be sad if he continues his antics in next year’s first-round series–because if he does, it means we will all get to sit back and watch him put his foot in his mouth for the third consecutive season.
