Atlanta Hawks: Tracy McGrady fumes over playing time
Portland–Hawks forward Tracy McGrady’s private frustrations over his playing time finally boiled over after he played just 4:39 during the 97-77 loss to the Blazers late Saturday.
“I’m tired of this [bleep],” McGrady said. “You can put that in the paper, I don’t give a [bleep].”
McGrady didn’t play after halftime against the Blazers. He didn’t dress for Atlanta’s 101-99 victory at Phoenix Wednesday but said it was his decision to rest for the second game of a back-to-back. Against the Blazers, McGrady never returned after Marvin Williams replaced him with 7:21 left in the first half.
McGrady has played in 26 of 32 games this season for an average of 18 minutes before Saturday’s game. Last season with Detroit McGrady averaged 23 minutes in 72 games.
McGrady said Hawks coach Larry Drew hasn’t offered him an explanation when he doesn’t play him many minutes.
“If you don’t feel I can help, come tell me that,” McGrady said. “He ain’t told me nothing. I just want to help these guys win, man, which I know I can. But, damn, four minutes?”
McGrady made his comments after Drew’s postgame news conference. Earlier this week Drew, speaking generally about the limited amount of minutes available for his many veteran players, said he thinks it’s important to offer them an explanation when they don’t play much.
McGrady said he’s previously approached Drew about the topic but doesn’t plan on doing so again.
“I have before but I’m only going to do that one time,” McGrady said.
Drew has said he’s mindful of saving McGrady’s body from wear and tear. McGrady was a two-time scoring champion before a series of injuries that includes a herniated disk in his back. He suffered back spasms on Jan. 11 and sat out three games.
McGrady said that when he suits up, that means he’s ready to play.
“My body feels great,” McGrady said. “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t play.”
Under CBA rules, McGrady would be eligible for a trade on March 1. He didn’t go so far as to say he wants out of Atlanta but said he wants to play a bigger role for the Hawks.
“Hopefully, I’m here,” he said. “I like it here. I like the guys. That’s what I love most about it. I like the guys in this locker room. But at the same time, I still can play. No doubt in my mind.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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171 comments Add your comment
W.R. Terrell
February 20th, 2012
12:53 pm
I disagree with anyone who says Josh Smith has carried the HAWKS. Again and for the last time his best years were his first 4 and he still has not learned or gotten any better. At this stage of his career he should be a forward who averages at least 12 rebounds and 20 points a game, his free throw shooting should be at 80% at the least. He should know by now to give the ball to the point guard and he should understand his strengths and weaknesses but what we have is a whiner about fouls and a “premodonna complex”. I do agree with breaking this team up and get something for Josh while it can. Marvin is definitely an amnesty player. Resign Jeff Teague, keep Al an Zaza. Ivan may have a future, the jury is still out, TMAC can still be effective and let Kirk go for a draft pick. The HAWKS need to rebuild and Joes contract is there to stay, I call that free money to a decent player, not a great one.
Gwinnett Fred
February 20th, 2012
12:58 pm
Crappy ownership
Mediocre GM (at best)
Top player WAY overpaid, so team is cash strapped
Drew won’t play people for some unknown reason (last year it was Teague)
But hey – no Ticketmaster fees for those wanting to see this combination of frustrating “professionals”.
Over 40 years in the ATL and not a single trip to even the Conference Finals. The franchise is a joke.
Gwinnett Fred
February 20th, 2012
1:25 pm
Piggybacking on W.R Terrell said about Josh, here is another something you don’t see in the box score.
In the Lakers game, Hawks trail by 8 with 7 minutes to play, definately still in the game.
The Lakers score and Josh broods that an offensive foul isn’t called. Since there is over 2 minutes left in the period, the game clock runs after the basket. The ball rolls out a few feet and Josh just stares down the ref to make the ref retrieve the ball and give it to Josh to inboud. Long story short, about 12 seconds went off the clock unnecessarily at a point in the game that every second was needed. Just another suttle example of Josh’s immaturity (same with complaining he gets fouled and being last up the court on defense) hurting the team.
Not all factors leading to being an all star show up in the box scores folks. He did NOT deserve to be named to the team by the coaches as a backup because they see this and appreciate those “non box score contributions”.
Jcard120
February 20th, 2012
2:12 pm
T-Mac should play as many minutes as his body allows. Like others have said he sees the floor better than pretty much anyone else we have. He scores in the post with ease due to his size, and he can rebound. Free T_MAC
2/20 Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Game Day Preview - Soaring Down South
February 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
[...] Drew joke, get it?) McGrady’s minutes will certainly be on watch tonight. He has recently complained publicly about his playing time, so how Larry Drew will handle that is certainly something to [...]
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
2:50 pm
I find it funny when folks comment on Tracy being old…The dude is 32 yrs old…He’s a yr younger than Kobe..3-4 yrs younger than Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce…
Prior to last yr he has pretty much being rehabbing for the previous 2yrs…So you can say that we haven’t seen ” T-Mac ” the player in about 4yrs when he was 28/29…..
He was the first to have that knee plasma therapy that Kobe underwent…I say give him 25 – 30 minutes and see what shakes….As long as he’s not playing 35 + minutes per night..He should hold up…
30 games are in the history books with another 36 left…Its after the Allstar Break that teams start to kick things into high gear and every win/loss will be scrutinized …
45 games is when you’re going to start to see teams really shortening up their rotations to 8 players….
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
2:55 pm
T-Mac should start over Marvin Williams. Enough said..W.R Terrell and Gwinnett Fred, so you guys thrashing on Josh and there is a guy that makes $7.5 million a year and might avg 7 points a game. Yet, you thrash on a guy because sometimes he makes bonehead decisions? He’s not going to the lane getting his sh*t swatted every single game. I refuse to even put this guy’s name on my blogs anymore. He doesn’t even deserve negative notoriety. I’ll call him ZERO from now on. Amnesty ZERO? How about cut ZERO? And I have said it many times, be careful what you wish for. Trade Josh, and teams will be laying up and hanging on out rims all day with no shot blocking presence in the paint. So be careful what you wish for. GET RID OF ZERO!!
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
2:58 pm
There is a leak on the web that Larry Drew is starting Willie Green in place of Marvin Williams ?
So does that mean that Joe Johnson is sliding to the SF position ? Willie Green can’t check SF’s and he doesn’t have the strength to guard SGs…
I don’t understand his thinking….you have a 6′1 PG…and 6′4 shooting guard who will be cross matched with Ronnie Brewer/Luol Deng…
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
3:01 pm
Start McGrady over ZERO….
bama52
February 20th, 2012
3:26 pm
T Mac is right he and the bench should get more playing time. Our situation is simple Josh, Joe and Marvin are not going to give us what we need continuously from their position. Play Green,T Mac, Stackhouse and Rad Mand more
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
3:31 pm
bama 52, its ZERO at the 3 position. See if we had someone decent at the 3 position, I think it would make Joe and Josh better because it would take more pressure off of them. We are probably the ONLY team in the NBA with a dud starting at the 3 position.
Thje Hawks are weak...
February 20th, 2012
4:00 pm
They are weak because they have no leadership. The general manager is average at best, Joe Johnson only cares about his scoring and if he will make the all-star team, and the coach is an idiot. You have to play your frigging bench. I don’t give a flip how average they are, you have to show confidence in them, play them, and hope that they get better as the team starts to jell! With all these back-to-back-to-back games you can not rely so heavily on your five starters! Drew has no clue how to substitutes. He will run the starting five to death because they are selfish and will not come out of the game or he just flat out does not trust his bench. You have what you have Drew. Play the damn players and trust them. It’s starting to look like the okie doke once again! The Hawks jumped on teams that were not in shape early on. Now we get to see what we really have…another heartless, selfish, bunch of me first players!!! And you wonder why everyone always loses faith in the sorry a$$ Hawks. Play the damn bench Drew and see what happens. The starters are dang sure not blowing anyone away. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE THEY HAD TO SHOW US THAT THEY ARE LEGIT. Year after year it is the same crap! I for one think that this is a team of solid players…just let them play for frigging sakes or bench the starters and let the bench show what they have. How in the heck will you no for sure what you have and who you need to let go!!
Gwinnett Fred
February 20th, 2012
4:27 pm
@yoursport:
Your unnamed player (I’ll honor your request not to name him) sucks, but it’s because he’s not a good NBA player.
As for Smith, he has the most talent on the team and is probably top 10 thruout the NBA – but he’s the basketball equivalent to Nuke LaLoosh – Million $ arm and 10 cent head!
Janey B.Smith
February 20th, 2012
5:09 pm
The reason he’s not showing his skills again is because LD is not giving him a chance. Marvin Williams is good, but tmac should defenitely start instead of him and williams can come of the bench. The only way he can prove the league that he is a worthy player is if they give him more minutes. McGrady has a good reason to be mad. Either give him more minutes or he can take his skills to another team that deserves it YO!
Tracy McGrady Upset Over Playing Time | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline
February 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
[...] I doubt this is going to get him more minutes, but it is a pretty good quote. More likely McGrady get cuts before he becomes an impact player again. [...]
Mellow1
February 20th, 2012
6:18 pm
T-MAC should be pissed. It would be one thing if the team was playing so well they couldn’t find minutes for him but they are playing like crap. Aside from J Smooth all the other guys are expendable if you ask me & that starts with my former fav player Joe Johnson. I’ve never seen a guy with soo much talent so inconsistent. It might be time to offload Joe. I don’t think I can take another garbage effort in the playoffs again from him.
Disgusted
February 20th, 2012
7:50 pm
Its not like they are going anywhere with Tracy so why not move him elsewhere or cut him.
Hey, what role did he think he was going to have anyway?
The nice start was fools gold, they were not as good as we dreamed they were. Big deal, its the Hawks, what else is new?
Who cares, its only Atlanta sports anyway and we are bound to lose. That is what our teams are about, so why get an ulcer over it.
Disgusted
February 20th, 2012
7:53 pm
“ITS RICK SUND WHO IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WE NEED A GM THATS IS ABOUT WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.”
cdog—relpacing him is the easy part, who is out there who can do better who would want to work for the Octoclustermess ownership we have?
Not a big Sund fan, but what can really be expected?
I stopped being upset—I choose apathy, better for the blood pressure and state of mind
Disgusted
February 20th, 2012
8:34 pm
What has ever been so special about Marvin Williams?
Its not that he was that great in College, he was a complimentary piece on an NCAA championship team, would he have been a better player with another yr in College?
He is an okay player as an NBAer, and we know of some of the other players picked behind him.
Billy Knight goofed.
JROLL1
February 21st, 2012
1:23 pm
TMAC SHOULD BE GETTING MARVIN’S MINUTES!!!!
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[...] multiple All-Star who has carved out a niche as a savvy, athletically-limited reserve — expressed his displeasure about his playing time in an interview with the Journal-Constitution’s Michael [...]