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H-Town Rock
Rock Talk, Vol. IX
Since joining TNT as an NBA studio analyst, former Houston Rockets star Charles Barkley has been quite the Negative Nancy when discussing the playoff chances of his old team. Year after year Barkley sits on his throne beside Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith and waxes poetically about his displeasure over the play of Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, and the rest of the Clutch City cast. Most particularly, Barkley constantly expresses his displeasure at the play of McGrady, who entered the league with Jordanesque appeal, but has yet to carry a team passed the first round of the playoffs.
Last night proved to be no exception. From his pre-game remarks to his halftime analysis, Barkley incessantly asserted that Houston's nationally televised match up with the Dallas Mavericks in a battle for Western Conference playoff jockeying would bring an end to the Rockets 16-game winning streak. With All Star center Yao Ming out for the season due to a foot injury, Barkley continued to stress his discontentment with McGrady’s play throughout his career and his inability to lead a team despite being labeled as one of the NBA’s best and brightest. Most poignantly, Barkley flat out said that McGrady "doesn't make his teammates better" and "is a ball stopper." Barkley continued his ranting by claiming that McGrady "doesn't get easy baskets and just shoots tough fadeaways."
Despite Sir Charles’ lack of confidence, the Rockets routed the Mavericks on the road to the tune of 113-98. McGrady led all scorers with 31 points and chipped in nine assists while playing 41 minutes and directing Houston's offense from start to finish. The Rockets have won 17 consecutive games and currently hold the NBA’s fifth longest winning streak in history. In addition, Houston is 5-0 without Yao and has taken to playing a more up-tempo brand of basketball, led by McGrady, to make up for the absence of the 7’6” big man in the middle of the lane commanding double teams every time he touches the ball.
After the game, TNT’s Reggie Miller interviewed a sweat-soaked McGrady, who had this gem of a quote to say about the Round Mound of Rebound and his prognostication skills.
We’d venture to say that Barkley hasn’t been humiliated this publicly since the 1993 NBA Finals!
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"I really don't listen to Charles when it comes to basketball. Only time I listen to Charles is when he's talking about calories and a cupcake or something."
Um...that's a burn.
As much as I hate to say it, Charles is justified in his criticism of T-Mac. Last year's choke job in Game 7 to the Jazz in Houston was the second time that a Tracy McGrady-led Rockets team lost after taking a 2-0 lead in playoffs.
I love me some T-Mac, and am really enjoying this winning streak, but this team has got to get past the second round of the playoffs, Yao's absense notwithstanding, if he wants to ever truly shut the mouths of his critics.
...a side of fries, smothered in gravy, topped with cheese and bacon bits.