[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 The recent thread comparing Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler me to think of some other comparisons of players from similar eras. This was an interesting one I came up with.

Both these guys were amazing talents whose careers will probably viewed as disappointments by some, although both still had tremendous careers. T-Mac was recently inducted into the HOF and Hill will likely be inducted shortly as well. They were actually teammates for 4 seasons in Orlando but rarely actually played together due to Hill’s ankle problems. Although they both put up incredible individual stats, neither was ever able to lead their team’s out of the first round of the playoffs in their primes.

Grant Hill (1994-2013) 16.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.6 bpg, 48.3 FG%, 31.4 3PT%, 76.9 FT %, 19.0 PER 99.9 WS

7X All-Star

1995 Co-ROY

All-NBA 1^st Team 1997, Second Team 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000

Tracy McGrady (1997-2013) 19.6 ppg 5.6 rpg 4.4 apg 1.2 spg 0.9 bpg 43.5 FG% 33.8 3PT%, 74.6 FT% 22.1 PER 97.3 WS

7X All-Star

All NBA 1^st Team (2002, 2003) 2^nd Team (2001, 2004, 2007) 3^rd Team (2005, 2008)

2X scoring champion (2002, 2003)

Both were perennial All-NBA performers and easily among the best players in the game during their primes. McGrady was more of a pure scorer and Hill was probably the better facilitator of the two, although Hill could certainly score as well and McGrady was a far better facilitator and all-around player than most give him credit for. Both were superb defenders as well when locked in, although Hill probably gave more consistent effort on that end. It really would have been amazing to see how they would compliment each other as teammates, but sadly that just never really happened.

To me, this is a very close call but I’d probably give McGrady the slight edge, although I have a feeling some will disagree. Hill gets points for longevity. The fact that he was able to come back and still be a very effective role player despite basically missing 4 full seasons in the prime of his career is pretty remarkable. McGrady really struggled and experienced a pretty steep decline once his body began to break down. However, McGrady’s prime lasted longer than Hill and I think he was just slightly more dominant during that prime. He was a guy that basically had no weaknesses offensively when he was at his best. He could score at all 3 levels effectively (at the rim, mid-range and 3PT) and had the size, skills and athletic ability to manufacture a shot whenever he wanted. Hill was just not as versatile of a scorer and had more overall weaknesses in his offensive game (particularly the lack of a reliable 3 point shot)

So who would you say had the better overall career and why?

 

[high floorParticipant]

But I gotta go with Tmac here. The guy was a breathtaking isolation scorer, and on numerous occasions Kobe Bryant credited Tracy McGrady as his toughest rival. To think G Hill and McGrady were both on the same team and could have played together during their primes!!!! Just so unfortunate the Grant Hill had the chronic ankle issues. Orlando would have been a 55+ win team every year if Hill were healthy during McGrady’s run in Orlando.

Love Hill, but again gotta go with McGrady in this post. His versatility on offense was that of all-time greats, and as a local Central Floridian he was just a joy to root for. Great topic!

  

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

There’s no one I’d rather watch more in the NBA than prime T-Mac. He is the fedinition of a "treat to watch". In comparison to Hill, I’d say maybe Hill has the edge on defense and a little edge in slashing (more relentless).

T-Mac though had all the moves. He reacts to defenses so effortlesly given that he has all the tools in the book for an offensive player. He has that Kyrie-like layup-making ability. He has the post-moves of Kobe. He got that Michael-Jordan esque sudden pullup J. He has one of the sweetest handles I’ve seen for a 6’8 guy even better than Hill. And not to mention, he was a freak athlete. T-Mac man, he was special.

 

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 T-Mac 13pts in 33secs in a Comeback victory over the Spurs.  Nuff said

[cohenbc1Participant]

Something people forget to mention about that … Bruce Bowen was guarding him – and right up in his face — for most of those 33 seconds!

[HitsterParticipant]

I was a huge fan of both, T-Mac was of the greatest pure scorers at his peak, Grant Hill the superb point forward who had one of the greatest basketball IQ’s of all time.

Ironically after his injuries Grant reinvented himself as an intangibles player and played with success until about 40, T-Mac sadly didn’t seem to have a B Game and was effectively finished in the NBA by the age of 32.

At their peak if I wanted someone to be the focal point on the team it would be T-Mac but if I was looking for someone to play alongside another star then I’d go for Grant.

Grant was always one of my favourite ever players so I may be biased towards him and he could have been a 10-12 time All Star put for injuries but if you say who was best at their peak then I’ll have to go T-Mac.

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

He was Durant with the elite athleticism and body that can absorb contact. He’s Kobe and Durant combinedI’n not saying he’s better but he’s a combined playstyle of both. Whil Ghill was more of a point forward like James wihout the Body elite athletecism and 3pt shot james has

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