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Monday, May 11, 2009

The Tao of Tracy

Having the title of ‘superstar’ carries with it certain, sometimes lofty, expectations, and playoff success is one such expectation. Once an NBA player enters that level of superstardom, they are automatically expected to propel their team to the playoff promised land. A role player can muddle in mediocrity for a decade, and no one will think twice about it, but a couple subpar seasons from a superstar’s team and his overall worth and talent is immediately questioned, often rightfully so. After all, if a team shells out upwards of a hundred million dollars for a player, then he should at least be able to push them past the first round. If a player is unable to do this, it often signifies the fact that they may not be the caliber player often associated with superstar status. However, what if such a player is clearly one of the best players in the league, racking in scoring titles and all-star selections, but can never carry a team come playoff time.


Enter: Tracy McGrady, one of the most exciting and explosive players to grace the NBA in the past decade, but unable (to this point) to thrust any of his three teams past the playoff’s first round (a feat that all three teams have accomplished after his departure, or in the case of the Rockets, while he was injury-ridden). These facts alone would cause an outsider to believe that McGrady is a talented player, motivated by personal success and largely unable to be greatly productive on the larger scale, which in the NBA is playoff success. Such an analysis, if correct, would cause most columnists and coaches alike to write such a player off, and label him unworthy of the green he has been granted. But, in McGrady’s case such a label is not so easy to apply. Personal accomplishments aside, McGrady is not the common cancer, or leader who lacks the effort. He is continuously heralded as a tolerable, if not a terrific teammate, and I have never heard as much as a whisper of laziness or lack of effort in practice or games. He has simply not been able to succeed in the second season. Call it fate, luck, destiny, or simply inability. Whatever you choose to label it, it’s there. Personally, taking into account all that I know and have seen of Tracy, I coin it luck.


To me, Tracy represents the Ken Griffey Jr. of basketball -- an outstanding player with exorbitant amounts of talent and potential, who has achieved major success, but was never able to develop fully, due largely to injuries. Another fitting example would be a new-generation Grant Hill, who was touted as the next Jordan before injuries began overtaking his career. I feel that Tracy has never had the opportunity to get into a complete rhythm with his team and body in the same season, and this has greatly hampered him throughout his career. And every time it seems like he and his team is finally gelling, I see the phrase “McGrady out for remainder of season,” scrolling across my ESPN bottom line. The Rockets playoff success this season with Tracy sidelined further adds insult to injury (literally) as many are suggesting that the Rockets are better off without him, and should consider moving him since they were able to go farther without him than he could ever carry them himself. But in fairness to Tracy, the Rockets were going to win their first round matchup with the Blazers regardless of his presence on the court, and in reality, they pobably would have won with more ease if the sure-handed shooting guard was playing. I’m sure a poll of the Rockets’ locker room would illustrate that the players wish they had Tracy suited up for their current matchup with the Lakers and their own all-star. But, due to yet another season-ending injury, Tracy's season was cut short, and once again, we are deprived of seeing what Tracy is truly capable of, as the Rockets are forced to make way through the unfamiliar playoff terrain without hin. Although Tracy’s future is uncertain, his ability and desire should not be questioned.

4 comments:

  1. There's an old saying, something about the spirit being willing but the body being unable. Maybe this is applicable to McGrady, and numerous others, whose injuries keep them from attaining what everyone thought they would achieve. I guess the question is why these injuries? A player can't be great if he can't play.

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