[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 A friend & I were having a discussion about which Rocket we would rather take. They are both offensive juggernauts & both excel in the iso game. Who would you guys rather take?

[ThunderHog35Participant]

I would lean towards the one that was at least marginally interested in defense.  Advantage: T-Mac

[ThunderHog35Participant]

I would lean towards the one that was at least marginally interested in defense.  Advantage: T-Mac

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Harden is the better 3pt shooter, obviously gets to the foul line a ton, and probably has a slightly better isolation handle. Tracy was just better all-around however…more under control, made tough shots, better rebounder, more versatile defender who was more engaged, and better playmaker imo (if they would’ve put him with athletic teammates and spacing like Harden has instead of ground bound catch & shoot guys I think he would’ve put up numbers to rival his Orlando years)

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Harden is the better 3pt shooter, obviously gets to the foul line a ton, and probably has a slightly better isolation handle. Tracy was just better all-around however…more under control, made tough shots, better rebounder, more versatile defender who was more engaged, and better playmaker imo (if they would’ve put him with athletic teammates and spacing like Harden has instead of ground bound catch & shoot guys I think he would’ve put up numbers to rival his Orlando years)

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 People forget that once upon a time the discussion was T Mac or Kobe.

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 True that. T Mac Kobe and AI. 

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 True that. T Mac Kobe and AI. 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 People forget that once upon a time the discussion was T Mac or Kobe.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’d go with T-Mac, especially if we’re comparing their 6th seasons in the NBA. T-Mac’s 6th season was his best in the NBA. 

It’s close offensively, but I give T-Mac the edge because he could play in the low/mid post. He was damn near a complete offensive player (It was a toss up between him and Kobe at this time). IF you doubled him in the post, he’d pick teams apart with his passing. With Harden, it’s mostly isolation/clearouts in a spread offense with shooters. Even though Harden’s assist numbers are higher, I feel T-Mac was a better/more willing passer. 

I also just think T-Mac was more exciting to watch… Almost 6’9", long arms, jump out of the gym… Great off of the dribble… Crazy first step… Mid-range… Posterizing 6’11" – 7’0" guys off of two feet and chest to chest. 

 

 

 

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’d go with T-Mac, especially if we’re comparing their 6th seasons in the NBA. T-Mac’s 6th season was his best in the NBA. 

It’s close offensively, but I give T-Mac the edge because he could play in the low/mid post. He was damn near a complete offensive player (It was a toss up between him and Kobe at this time). IF you doubled him in the post, he’d pick teams apart with his passing. With Harden, it’s mostly isolation/clearouts in a spread offense with shooters. Even though Harden’s assist numbers are higher, I feel T-Mac was a better/more willing passer. 

I also just think T-Mac was more exciting to watch… Almost 6’9", long arms, jump out of the gym… Great off of the dribble… Crazy first step… Mid-range… Posterizing 6’11" – 7’0" guys off of two feet and chest to chest. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 McGrady.. everyone forgets how good of a defender T-Mac was before injuries.. 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 McGrady.. everyone forgets how good of a defender T-Mac was before injuries.. 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

T-Mac was the most naturally gifted basketball player I have ever seen. He was more gifted than Jordan. Of course Jordan worked harder and didn’t have any major injuries like T-mac did. I would take a healthy T-Mac anyday of the week over Harden. Defensively, it’s not comparable with T-Mac being light years ahead of Harden. Athletically T-Mac is miles ahead of Harden. Harden might be a better shooter than T-Mac was. In McGrady’s prime, it was just scary how good he was. He never looked like he was trying. He just glided everywhere on the court so effortlessly and of course had that droopy look on his face all the time. In terms of your question, T-Mac over Harden any day of the week.

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 LoL that Droopy, Relaxed face! The same one that scorched the spurs 13 pts in 35 seconds? I remember more clearer now. James Harden is offensively gifted but TMAC can literally get any shot he wanted,how ever he wanted, Whenever he wanted. Only a few scorers like that only Kobe,MJ, and Durant come to mind.

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 LoL that Droopy, Relaxed face! The same one that scorched the spurs 13 pts in 35 seconds? I remember more clearer now. James Harden is offensively gifted but TMAC can literally get any shot he wanted,how ever he wanted, Whenever he wanted. Only a few scorers like that only Kobe,MJ, and Durant come to mind.

[omphalosParticipant]

Funnily enough, I think Vince Carter might be the most naturally gifted basketball player I’ve ever seen, but again, didn’t work hard enough or have the mental game to reach his potential.

But I agree, T-Mac is way better than Harden.

The better question is T-Mac vs Durant in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

Funnily enough, I think Vince Carter might be the most naturally gifted basketball player I’ve ever seen, but again, didn’t work hard enough or have the mental game to reach his potential.

But I agree, T-Mac is way better than Harden.

The better question is T-Mac vs Durant in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

T-Mac was the most naturally gifted basketball player I have ever seen. He was more gifted than Jordan. Of course Jordan worked harder and didn’t have any major injuries like T-mac did. I would take a healthy T-Mac anyday of the week over Harden. Defensively, it’s not comparable with T-Mac being light years ahead of Harden. Athletically T-Mac is miles ahead of Harden. Harden might be a better shooter than T-Mac was. In McGrady’s prime, it was just scary how good he was. He never looked like he was trying. He just glided everywhere on the court so effortlessly and of course had that droopy look on his face all the time. In terms of your question, T-Mac over Harden any day of the week.

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 T-Mac with out a doubt. He was 6-9 and had all the skills and athletiscm. He could hang with anybody even Kobe. Unfourtanetly his knees held him back, along with his nagging shoulder injuries.

[rich.homie.mitchParticipant]

 T-Mac with out a doubt. He was 6-9 and had all the skills and athletiscm. He could hang with anybody even Kobe. Unfourtanetly his knees held him back, along with his nagging shoulder injuries.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 (When healthy), he was the perfect swingman. Great size and length, great athleticism, solid defense, could handle and pass, was a streaky jumpshooter but had pretty much every weapon offensively, and he was clutch. Would’ve loved to have seen him and Yao healthy throughout their  careers smh.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 (When healthy), he was the perfect swingman. Great size and length, great athleticism, solid defense, could handle and pass, was a streaky jumpshooter but had pretty much every weapon offensively, and he was clutch. Would’ve loved to have seen him and Yao healthy throughout their  careers smh.

[CynthiaParticipant]

TMac for sure. His injuries really were a tragedy, he could have been a top 10-20 player of all time if he could have stayed healthy.

It’s crazy to think that the ‘best’ shooting guards these days are guys like James Harden & Klay Thompson, those guys don’t hold a candle to the likes of Kobe, McGrady, Iverson, Wade & Ray Allen (in their primes), heck I would even venture to say a prime Ginobili and Vince Carter are better than Harden & Thompson. Then of course the generation of shooting guards before the above mentioned which included the likes or Jordan, Miller, Drexler, Gervin, Richmond, just to name a few.

After thinking about it, it seems the shooting guard position in today’s game is the weakest it’s been in 20-30 years. Obviously I’m not knocking on Harden, Thompson, Beal, DeRozan, etc. but when you really look at it those guys just simply don’t even come close.

[CynthiaParticipant]

TMac for sure. His injuries really were a tragedy, he could have been a top 10-20 player of all time if he could have stayed healthy.

It’s crazy to think that the ‘best’ shooting guards these days are guys like James Harden & Klay Thompson, those guys don’t hold a candle to the likes of Kobe, McGrady, Iverson, Wade & Ray Allen (in their primes), heck I would even venture to say a prime Ginobili and Vince Carter are better than Harden & Thompson. Then of course the generation of shooting guards before the above mentioned which included the likes or Jordan, Miller, Drexler, Gervin, Richmond, just to name a few.

After thinking about it, it seems the shooting guard position in today’s game is the weakest it’s been in 20-30 years. Obviously I’m not knocking on Harden, Thompson, Beal, DeRozan, etc. but when you really look at it those guys just simply don’t even come close.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I agree with you to an extent. The late 90s-early 2000s was kind of a golden age for the SG position. 

However most of the players that you mentioned were high volume, heavy isolation guys. As coaches today have become more concerned with creating efficient shots, the value of those types of players has been somewhat diminished. Because the game has become so dominated by the pick and roll, this era has become kind of the golden age for point guards. Even someone like harden, while technically listed at SG, functions more as a point guard for Houston.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I agree with you to an extent. The late 90s-early 2000s was kind of a golden age for the SG position. 

However most of the players that you mentioned were high volume, heavy isolation guys. As coaches today have become more concerned with creating efficient shots, the value of those types of players has been somewhat diminished. Because the game has become so dominated by the pick and roll, this era has become kind of the golden age for point guards. Even someone like harden, while technically listed at SG, functions more as a point guard for Houston.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 It depends if you are talking about t-mac from his Orlando days or t-mac in Houston. The t-mac from Orlando was neck and neck with a young Kobe for the best all-around wing in the game. Once he got traded to Houston, he was already starting to decline physically and was never really quite at that same level again, although he was still one of the best in the league at times.

I’m gonna say harden now is better than Houston era t-mac but definitely not Orlando era t-mac.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 It depends if you are talking about t-mac from his Orlando days or t-mac in Houston. The t-mac from Orlando was neck and neck with a young Kobe for the best all-around wing in the game. Once he got traded to Houston, he was already starting to decline physically and was never really quite at that same level again, although he was still one of the best in the league at times.

I’m gonna say harden now is better than Houston era t-mac but definitely not Orlando era t-mac.

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 The other night during the Clippers/Rockets game the aunouncer said something in regards to Blake Griffen that went something like "You know you’ve reached superstar status when the game becomes easy for you." I feel like this encompuses TMac to a T, because there has never been a player as smooth, or made the game look as easy as T-Mac did. From his off the backboard jams, to his cross and fades, TMac just had that natural feel for the game that made it look like he wasn’t trying, but still would drop 30 on you. 

The problem with Tmac and a lot of the players from his era, is that they got sucked into the horrible eastern conference isocentric one man teams. Players like Paul Pierce, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tmac, Jason Kidd to an extent, Ray Allen, and so on and so on, were all superstars in their own rights, but were surrounded by garbage each and every year. The guys mentioned above literally had to carry their teams on their back each and every night, and I respect that. That’s why the "never past the first round" crowd can go somewhere else in my opinion. When the second best players on those teams were Ricky Davis, Kenyon Martin, Theo Ratliff, Juawn howard, Antonio Davis, and other role players, you have to give credit to the guys who brought those teams to the playoffs.

I like Harden as a player, and think he’s going to have a wonderful career, but he’s no TMac.  

[mgreener_34Participant]

 The other night during the Clippers/Rockets game the aunouncer said something in regards to Blake Griffen that went something like "You know you’ve reached superstar status when the game becomes easy for you." I feel like this encompuses TMac to a T, because there has never been a player as smooth, or made the game look as easy as T-Mac did. From his off the backboard jams, to his cross and fades, TMac just had that natural feel for the game that made it look like he wasn’t trying, but still would drop 30 on you. 

The problem with Tmac and a lot of the players from his era, is that they got sucked into the horrible eastern conference isocentric one man teams. Players like Paul Pierce, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tmac, Jason Kidd to an extent, Ray Allen, and so on and so on, were all superstars in their own rights, but were surrounded by garbage each and every year. The guys mentioned above literally had to carry their teams on their back each and every night, and I respect that. That’s why the "never past the first round" crowd can go somewhere else in my opinion. When the second best players on those teams were Ricky Davis, Kenyon Martin, Theo Ratliff, Juawn howard, Antonio Davis, and other role players, you have to give credit to the guys who brought those teams to the playoffs.

I like Harden as a player, and think he’s going to have a wonderful career, but he’s no TMac.  

[HitsterParticipant]

I’m a big Harden fan, he was my marginal MVP choice but I’d take a peak T-Mac over current Harden even if there is more upside to come from him anyday.

+1 for the guy mentioning the 13 points in 35 seconds vs the Spurs. Still amazing to watch and even more so it was against one of the best teams in the League.

[HitsterParticipant]

I’m a big Harden fan, he was my marginal MVP choice but I’d take a peak T-Mac over current Harden even if there is more upside to come from him anyday.

+1 for the guy mentioning the 13 points in 35 seconds vs the Spurs. Still amazing to watch and even more so it was against one of the best teams in the League.

[Author]

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