http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1169880940288280.xml&coll=7 Blazers can't keep up Tracy McGrady scores 17 of his 28 points in a decisive third quarter as the Rockets turn a close game into a rout Saturday, January 27, 2007 JASON QUICK HOUSTON -- He has smothered Shawn Marion. Frustrated Lamar Odom. Contained LeBron James. And limited Dwyane Wade. So before Friday's game in Houston, Trail Blazers forward Ime Udoka spoke with pride about his emerging role as the team's defensive specialist, particularly with another big test less than an hour away: Houston All-Star Tracy McGrady. So understand then, why Udoka emerged from the showers Friday with a sheepish grin, saying: "I spoke too soon." Despite having Udoka in his face for most of the night, McGrady went berserk against the Blazers, scoring 17 of his 28 points in a runaway third quarter that helped the Rockets bury the Blazers 99-69 at the Toyota Center. "He beat us in the third by himself," Udoka said. The Blazers (18-26) never recovered from McGrady's outburst, as they set season lows for points and field goal percentage (36.1) while suffering their largest margin of defeat this season. The shame in all of it for the Blazers was they were involved in a tooth-and-nail battle with the Rockets until McGrady showed why he is a seven-time All-Star. It was 42-42 early in the third quarter when McGrady got hot, scoring nine consecutive points to propel the Rockets on a 26-6 run to end the quarter. McGrady, who also added two assists during the burst, accounted for 19 of the 26 points in the run. "He hit some tough shots, and guys like that who are All-Stars and great players are capable of doing that," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "About three of those shots, Ime couldn't play any better defense than that." By the end of the quarter, the Rockets had turned a two-point halftime edge into a 68-48 lead, and there was no need for McGrady to play again. "I just felt like the game was a little bit close in the first half, and I wanted to come out in the third quarter and lead by example," McGrady said. "I had it rolling. There was nothing they could do about that once I get it rolling like that. Just keep on getting me the ball and good things are going to happen." Conversely, all the good things the Blazers have been building on lately -- the strong play of Zach Randolph, the recent improvement of Martell Webster, the encouraging development of their three rookies -- took a decided downturn. Randolph had one of his quieter games of the season, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds. He shot 5 of 15, which included missing eight of his last 10 shots. And Webster, who had been displaying more aggressive offensive moves lately, stumbled through a 2 for 9 shooting night. And the Blazers' three talented rookies all had off nights. Brandon Roy, complaining of back spasms for the second consecutive game, made 3 of 10 shots and finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist. LaMarcus Aldridge, returning to his home state, fouled out in 20 minutes after compiling four points and two rebounds. And Sergio Rodriguez had five quiet assists amid a scoreless night. "There's going to be nights when we over-achieve and there are going to be nights when we under-achieve," Roy said. "We are just young. . . . We are just up and down, and we have to continue to try and be more consistent." The loss was the sixth in a row for the Blazers in Houston, and was the eighth loss in 13 games in January, meaning the Blazers have to win all three of their remaining games this month against Memphis, New Orleans/Oklahoma City and Denver to prevent their 14th consecutive losing month. So while the talk of progress was halted for a night, it still was an opportunity for this young team to learn. Assistant coach Dean Demopoulos reminded youngsters Roy, Jarrett Jack and Webster in the locker room that a game in Memphis was waiting today, presenting the biggest contrast between college and the NBA: the opportunity to immediately put a rout behind them. "Hopefully tomorrow will be an up day for us," Roy said. "We can't get to where we have bad games stack up on us." Notes: Former Blazers guard Bonzi Wells carried the Rockets early, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the first half. . . . Raef LaFrentz, who made 112 three-pointers last season for Boston, made his first in 10 attempts with the Blazers, with a straight-on bank shot in the fourth quarter. . . . The Blazers' 69 points were tied for the 10th lowest output in franchise history and was the fewest points they have ever scored against Houston. . . . The Blazers were outrebounded 47-32, prompting McMillan to say: "We got pounded." . . . Randolph was the only Blazers player to score in double figures. . . . Webster tied his career-high with eight rebounds.
Also, in Finnish language "Udoka" means HARD So Ime Udoka means...... never mind On a serious note, I really respect guys like Udoka and Parker of Toronto who had to literally scratch and claw to make it into this league and who play really hard every minute of every game. THere are far more talented players than Udoka who are not playing in the NBA and that's a testament to his character and professionalism.
Udoka definitely played good defense on McGrady. I was impressed that such a young player was actually using some of Battier's techniques (not trying to go for the ball on jumpshots - just going for the face, for example) it is just that McGrady could not be denied. Has anyone noticed that McGrady's shooting percentage right now is the highest it has been as a Rocket? If he keeps up this pace for the whole season it will be his best shooting season since 02-03 in Orlando. Additionally, since he came back from injury he is shooting about 45%. The crazy think about it is that all of those previous years he drove and dunked more. Now he rarely dunks, drives a decent amount but not crazy, and shoots a huge amount of long twos and threes. Pretty impressive so far.
Oops...I knew I should have checked that because I felt I could be wrong. Uhhh...I meant he was younger in NBA years. Yeah...exactly.
from Rockets.com http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/McGrady_sparks_rout_of_Blazers-207279-34.html McGrady sparks rout of Blazers with second half surge Houston 99, Portland 69 Tracy McGrady scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter to carry the Rockets. Damien Pierce Rockets.com Staff Writer HOUSTON -- Portland forward Ime Udoka might be gaining a reputation for his hard-nosed perimeter defense in the Midwest, but he learned a valuable lesson Friday night in Houston. Don't make Tracy McGrady mad. The All-Star guard put on a dazzling shooting display in third quarter after being annoyed by Udoka's defense and ignited the Rockets to a 99-69 rout over the Trail Blazers at Toyota Center. The Rockets (27-16) opened a five-game home stand by dealing the Blazers their worst loss of the season and limited Portland to a season-low 36.1 percent shooting. McGrady scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter, turning what had been a tight contest at the break into a blowout. What could Udoka have done to start such an on-slaught? McGrady apparently wasn't thrilled with Udoka's defensive tactics. "I didn't like the way the guy was playing me," McGrady said. "I saw the refs weren't going to do anything about it, so they left it up to me." McGrady didn't have any trouble handling the matter on his own. With Udoka hanging on him and staying with him through every screen, McGrady elevated over the second-year forward to bury jumper after jumper. He buried four straight fadeaways on the offensive end and then capped off the spurt by throwing down an alley-oop pass from Rafer Alston. The Rockets star made 7 of his 10 shots in the third quarter and got so hot that Houston didn't require his services in the fourth quarter. After holding a slight 36-34 advantage at the break, the Rockets opened the fourth quarter with a 20-point advantage thanks to McGrady's shooting display. McGrady made his point. "Usually after the second or third (consecutive shot made), he gets that strut and you know that he's really feeling it," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "We're going to keep going to him and keep going to him until it wears off. He really gives us a boost, especially when we're struggling offensively like tonight." The win improved the Rockets to 14-5 at home, matching their best start in Toyota Center since the 2003-04 season. Besides McGrady's third-quarter shooting clinic, the Rockets did it by suffocating Portland on the defensive end. Zach Randolph scored 13 points to finish as the lone Blazers player in double figures. Houston's rebounding edge didn't hurt either. The Rockets collected 15 offensive rebounds, ultimately controlling the glass by a 47-32 margin. "We knew it was going to be a dog fight because of the way they pushed us around the last time we played against them," said Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, who had seven points and 11 rebounds. "We jumped on them. I don't know if they quit, but they kind of gave up a little bit. We were able to take the momentum and take the game away from them." No one did that better than McGrady -- and he didn't have any trouble letting Udoka know about it. After knocking down of his trio of three-pointers midway through the third quarter, McGrady walked past Udoka during a timeout and shouted something in the Portland forward's direction. He didn't disclose the throught after the game. "I said something, but I can't say what it was," McGrady said. His performance spoke louder anyway. _________________________ he said: "you can't ****ing stop me!"
McGrady was just keeping his word <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gcLEaabQiI0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gcLEaabQiI0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
am I the only one feeling this?? OMG!! my wish finally came true, Tmac abandoned his stupid weak attitude and is back to his old self! who would've thought we would here stuff like the above from Mac after hearing this:
Haha, Tmac trash talking again, the confidence and swagger is back! Yao would be proud , I would guess it's in the similar line as "Just try and phacking stop me !"
Yeah man. i remember a magic v Pistons playoffs game where Rip said something along the lines of tracy you overrated hack and the next possesion trcy dunked it over wallace, sheed and prince.
I don't know the exact timeline but once upon a time a dude named T-Mac met a dude named John Patterson from Waco and it's like he read Norman Vincet Peale it before he figures out it's all bularky. if thats how it is, i'll say this, keep on duping him, then 4 O'brien trophyies later, say 'you know what T-Mac, it was a mind trick and you aint gettin you money back and give me one of those damn rings...and oh yeah you're welcome Houston"
aw dude, i forgot about this t-mac commercial...soo good, "ill be takin' them to school e v e r y night. niiiice
Glad to know our boy is back!! hope he stays like this even when Yao comes back!!! and I hope Bonzi keeps improving (which I don't doubt) then we'll be getting publicity like never before since 1996!!!!
