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Yao’s Out, Now Or Never For Tracy McGrady



February 27 08

My Very Quick AM Take: Now or never. Put up or shut up. These clichés apply to Houston’s Tracy McGrady who must carry the Rockets without All-Star Yao Ming.

Yesterday, Yao was diagnosed with a broken ankle and is out until next season. The burden of securing a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference now rests on T-Mac’s slender shoulders.

In the past, McGrady has struggled being The Guy. He left Toronto because of Vince Carter’s shadow. His Florida homecoming ended with Orlando’s front office believing he was soft. And Houston has been a mixed bag of regular season successes and first round flameouts.

Fair or not, Yao’s injury provides McGrady another opportunity to prove his greatness. And after Tuesday’s practice, Yao even pulled him aside and said “now is your time."

Last night, the Rockets continued to roll. They blew-out a banged-up Wizards squad to push their winning streak to thirteen games.

If McGrady gets Houston in the playoffs, the cheesy clichés will no longer apply. Instead, he’ll have answered the star or superstar question that has dogged his career.

How will the Rockets do without Yao? Get at us in the comment box below. The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe.com. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee.



18 Comments: Yao’s Out, Now Or Never For Tracy McGrady

Posted by
La’Stacia
on 03.5.2008		 T-MAC CAN GET THE JOB DONE AS LONG AS HE DON’T GET INJURED. THE ROCKETS ARE A GOOD ALL AROUND TEAM EVEN WITHOUT YAO .
Posted by

on 03.4.2008		 t-mac has had his day! .
Posted by

on 03.3.2008		 yeh wade isnt a good player... if he was that good of a player he would have his team over 500. .
Posted by

on 03.2.2008		 t-mac is finishd... its yaos team now.,.. and yao ming is shit... thats how s---tmax is gettin! .
Posted by
BiAbi
on 03.2.2008		 hum , if tmac is not a great player wade is not either !! tmac is huge when wants to be hugewade is not nothing compared to tmac !! tmac is the kinda player that can be better , wade hes just overrated !! == response to "tmac" comment .
Posted by
slick
on 02.29.2008		 yes.. tracy will bring the team into the playoffs and he will also take them out!.. .
Posted by

on 02.29.2008		 tracy will bring the team to the playoff . .
Posted by

on 02.28.2008		 who over this bobby guy is... he is right! houston are as much over as the heat are! .
Posted by

on 02.28.2008		 I saw this same article on hoopshype.com....every article is someone elses posted on heree .
Posted by

on 02.28.2008		 oly sucks major, take writing classes .
Posted by
steven [stunna]
on 02.28.2008		 to the stupid guy who posted the 2nd comment, stfu! kobe is gunna bust this year. the only reason shaq was able to get far the 1st year he was in miami is because he had wade, kapono, gary payton, antoine walker, jason williams, and james posey helpin em out, in the EAST! .
Posted by
France
on 02.28.2008		 The Houston Rockets... wernt going to go far in the playoffs even if they did have yao! yao ming is a good Center dnt get me wrong but he is sofT... With a Capital T! i really think there is no point of houston being in the playoffs this yr! they are just goin 2 lose in the first round! this is the west we are talking about! if the rockets where in the east then! they would get far in the playoffs even with out yao ming! .Pls. check on your basketball knowledge! Know what youre talking about!!! .
Posted by
Bobby
on 02.27.2008		 The Houston Rockets... wernt going to go far in the playoffs even if they did have yao! yao ming is a good Center dnt get me wrong but he is sofT... With a Capital T! i really think there is no point of houston being in the playoffs this yr! they are just goin 2 lose in the first round! this is the west we are talking about! if the rockets where in the east then! they would get far in the playoffs even with out yao ming! .
Posted by
tmac
on 02.27.2008		 t mac is a great player, no one will ever doubt that, but since such huge expectations for him have been built up, whether it was from the media or from fan,players,coaches is unimportant... the fact is that tmac, as great a player as he is, will never be considered on the same level as kobe, michael, or wade by the general public as a "great" player because of the way hes been portrayed, but all true to the game know hes got the heart n soul of a champion... its just the media putting out another story... .
Posted by
Woo-hah
on 02.27.2008		 To the second poster ... The best players in the NBA get out of the first round of the playoffs .
Posted by

on 02.27.2008		 T-MAC has been waitin 4 this. He’s definitely ready. Always has been... .
Posted by

on 02.27.2008		 Cut him a little slack.Kobe couldn’t do it without Shaq, and Kobe is the best player in the league.Put up or shut up? Not quite. .
Posted by

on 02.27.2008		 Get it Done T-Mac! .
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Oly Sandor

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Oly Sandor

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Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More  






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© 2008 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NBA Blog : Yao’s Out, Now Or Never For Tracy McGrady - Updated on 02.27.2008