Tracy McGrady Says Rockets' Real Problem is Mike D'Antoni
By Will Fowler
Earlier this week, I wrote about how it seems the Rockets brass is trying to push Mike D'Antoni out of Houston.
Well, it seems that influence is coming from outside the organization, too.
On Wednesday, in lieu of some pretty aggressive trade rumors surrounding (quite literally) everyone on the Houston Rockets, Tracy McGrady went on ESPN's The Jump and claimed the problem isn't the players -- it's the coaching.
The Rockets are open to trading everyone, according to @wojespn, but Tracy McGrady says what they actually need to do is make a change from Coach Mike D’Antoni - “we don’t see him hold James Harden accountable” https://t.co/dknNk5LjOf
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 30, 2019
"I think you're looking at the wrong moves that should be made. There should be a coaching change... for [the Rockets] to go to that next level with this style of play... it's just not going to happen," said McGrady.
T-Mac hit it spot on. The Rockets are a team built for the regular season, not the playoffs - handing the ball to James Harden and letting him shoot 35 to 40 times a game is a strategy that, as we've seen before with this Houston team, simply doesn't work when the lights are brightest. This is especially true if Harden bizarrely chooses to defer when postseason opportunity presents itself.
"The offense (the Rockets) are running is not one that involves anybody sharing" @bomani_jones on Harden and CP3 reportedly having a heated argument after GM 6 vs the Warriors pic.twitter.com/vo1QaTlH14
— HIGH NOON (@HIGHNOONonESPN) May 23, 2019
It will be interesting to see if GM Daryl Morey hears McGrady's plea, with unrest in the front office already unfolding. It'll be even more interesting if they actually ship off Harden, like rumors are speculating.