Everyone knows it’s a fact that Tracy McGrady is a player who has yet to make it out of the firstround of the playoffs.  Why is this negative against McGrady? Is it honestly fair to blame one player for an entire teams inability to advance to the second round or further in the playoffs. No it’s not. We’ve attacked him on occasion here in Houston saying he’s not an all star player in the league anymore. Many have demoted him to just a good above average player in the league. But when you watch the games, and listen to the other coaches in the league, they seem to sing another song.  Teams concentrate on T_Mac, defensively, they double team the guy night in and out. This isn’t a complaint though; this is just validation that this guy is more than an average player.

Starting his career in Toronto, McGrady at the time was the youngest player in the NBA and was a rookie on a newly formed franchise in the Toronto Raptors. He played 18.4min ppg with an average of 7 points per game again, just clearly indicates that he was no where near a part of the offense of the team at the time. With the addition of Vince Carter who was the rookie of the year, the teams shift and concentration was on their new player in Vince Carter, with TMac being a role player.  McGrady spent 3 years in Toronto, but in all fairness his position on the team at the time ,just wasn’t enough to say that he was the player on the team that would either carry the Raptors to the next level,  or carry them to an early exit.

Seeking the desire to become more of an offensive focus, TMac went on to play with the Orlando Magic for 4 seasons.  Tracy was to be a part of a move that would have the Magic starting two All-Star players in Grant Hill and McGrady with an excellent supporting cast. The belief of course, was that the team could not only advance but go deep in the playoffs to repeat an opportunity to reach the NBA Finals as they did with Shaq and Penny Hardaway in 94. Needless to say we all no the injuries that plagued Grant Hill quickly turned this optimism into years of just trying to finish above .500 and some respect. There were just no moves made that would’ve allowed TMAC an opportunity to carry this team deep in the playoffs.

Tracy McGrady comes to Houston, after a trade for, Rockets franchise player at the time, Steve Francis. Personally I wasn’t very crazy about this trade, because I liked Francis. But nevertheless McGrady comes to Houston, and fits in well with this team, as the second option to Yao Ming.  Unfortunately TMAC runs into the same issue here in Houston with himself being injured for multiple games as well as #1 pick Yao Ming seemingly being plagued with injuries. Once again this year, TMAC will be judged based on how far Houston goes this year in the post season. I don’t think it’s fair, but at the same time, it’s also the responsibility that is given to a superstar like Tracy McGrady. I think the team will do well this year, but if we do suffer the fate of a first round exit, than I believe this puts McGrady’s tenure here in Houston, is serious jeopardy. Either way it goes, McGrady has my respect.