Blue_Bandana
November 28th, 2003, 10:49:01 AM
Nov. 28, 2003. 01:00 AM
What if cousins Carter and McGrady had stayed together? Talented, but they're on mediocre teams, says Doug Smith
ORLANDO, Fla.—For every choice we make, no matter how well thought out it may be, no matter how logical it seems, there will be consequences to bear. Results that sometimes cannot be foretold, results that make that original decision seem wrong in retrospect.
And that makes you wonder if, when Tracy McGrady meets Vince Carter at midcourt here tonight, when they tap fists and hug and share a few words, the NBA superstars won't be experiencing just a twinge of regret.
For when the cousins square off tonight, in the 12th meeting between McGrady's Orlando Magic and Carter's Toronto Raptors since the Dynamic Duo was broken up, they represent two great young players entering the prime of their careers.
But they will also represent the best players on mediocre teams and neither ever wanted that.
For as good as they are — and the debate can rage for hours over who is better but anyone who knows anything about basketball has to agree both are great — neither has really accomplished anything.
Carter has been on a team that's won precisely one playoff series; McGrady has won an NBA scoring title and was the league's most improved player one year but he's never got past the first round of the playoffs. They are great players with less-than-great team resumés.
And that may be the reason for the regret.
Had they stayed together, had McGrady not hated the Toronto winters, hated the Carter shadow in which he operated and longed for the life back in his hometown, there is no telling what they could have accomplished. There is every reason to think they may have played for at least one NBA championship, certainly they would have been serious contenders in the weak Eastern Conference.
And they would certainly not be what they are today, a couple of great players whose teams will be life and death just to make the playoffs.
And, perhaps, they wouldn't have suffered the slings and arrows and injuries and injustices that have dogged each at different times.
The two stars, Carter 26 years old and in his fifth NBA season, McGrady a tender 24 but in his seventh season, have been through more turmoil and strife than certainly they thought possible way back when they used to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the Raptor locker room, a pair of franchise cornerstones who were going to take Toronto to untold heights.
Their career paths have been divergent, yet the same in many ways.
McGrady finds himself today right where his cousin was just a couple of years ago.
There are niggling injuries (his back pain is chronic) and he is being criticized like never before.
People wonder if he had a hand in the firing of coach Doc Rivers earlier this month (a charge McGrady vehemently denies) and people wonder why he's all of a sudden worried about being the focal point of the franchise when that's what he apparently wanted all along.
He's complained about zone defences stifling his creativity and blasted teammates for not doing their share and he pines for the injured Grant Hill. He's threatened to quit, to go play baseball if you can believe that, because the game is not fun. He has not conducted himself in the calm, cool, T-Mac manner fans are accustomed to seeing and he's hearing more critics than ever before.
His team is horrible, riding a 14-game losing streak into tonight and no longer is he being touted as a Most Valuable Player candidate. His star has fallen, dramatically.
And in Toronto, you can imagine Carter chuckling to himself, if he were at all vindictive.
Carter has been there, done that and has the scars to prove it.
The guy who carried the United States to an Olympic gold medal, who thrilled fans enough they've made him the most popular player in all-star balloting for each of the last three years is finally getting back to his place in the game.
It's been a long journey — how many of you Raptor fans wanted him traded 18 months ago? — but one that's come full circle. Of course, he's one tweaked knee tendon away from being another injury-prone under-achiever but his ability to stay true to his goal through all the injuries and criticism surely has to speak to an inner strength many of wondered if he had.
He is back, maybe not to the level McGrady has been for the last couple of years. But there is a sense among basketball people that the future is brighter now, for his team and for himself, in Carter's case rather than McGrady's.
Together, they could have been great. Separately, each has known the heights of fame and the lows of infamy. They have somehow wound up in the same place, the best players on questionable teams but you know neither can be fully satisfied. And you expect both are wondering.
What if?
What if cousins Carter and McGrady had stayed together? Talented, but they're on mediocre teams, says Doug Smith
ORLANDO, Fla.—For every choice we make, no matter how well thought out it may be, no matter how logical it seems, there will be consequences to bear. Results that sometimes cannot be foretold, results that make that original decision seem wrong in retrospect.
And that makes you wonder if, when Tracy McGrady meets Vince Carter at midcourt here tonight, when they tap fists and hug and share a few words, the NBA superstars won't be experiencing just a twinge of regret.
For when the cousins square off tonight, in the 12th meeting between McGrady's Orlando Magic and Carter's Toronto Raptors since the Dynamic Duo was broken up, they represent two great young players entering the prime of their careers.
But they will also represent the best players on mediocre teams and neither ever wanted that.
For as good as they are — and the debate can rage for hours over who is better but anyone who knows anything about basketball has to agree both are great — neither has really accomplished anything.
Carter has been on a team that's won precisely one playoff series; McGrady has won an NBA scoring title and was the league's most improved player one year but he's never got past the first round of the playoffs. They are great players with less-than-great team resumés.
And that may be the reason for the regret.
Had they stayed together, had McGrady not hated the Toronto winters, hated the Carter shadow in which he operated and longed for the life back in his hometown, there is no telling what they could have accomplished. There is every reason to think they may have played for at least one NBA championship, certainly they would have been serious contenders in the weak Eastern Conference.
And they would certainly not be what they are today, a couple of great players whose teams will be life and death just to make the playoffs.
And, perhaps, they wouldn't have suffered the slings and arrows and injuries and injustices that have dogged each at different times.
The two stars, Carter 26 years old and in his fifth NBA season, McGrady a tender 24 but in his seventh season, have been through more turmoil and strife than certainly they thought possible way back when they used to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the Raptor locker room, a pair of franchise cornerstones who were going to take Toronto to untold heights.
Their career paths have been divergent, yet the same in many ways.
McGrady finds himself today right where his cousin was just a couple of years ago.
There are niggling injuries (his back pain is chronic) and he is being criticized like never before.
People wonder if he had a hand in the firing of coach Doc Rivers earlier this month (a charge McGrady vehemently denies) and people wonder why he's all of a sudden worried about being the focal point of the franchise when that's what he apparently wanted all along.
He's complained about zone defences stifling his creativity and blasted teammates for not doing their share and he pines for the injured Grant Hill. He's threatened to quit, to go play baseball if you can believe that, because the game is not fun. He has not conducted himself in the calm, cool, T-Mac manner fans are accustomed to seeing and he's hearing more critics than ever before.
His team is horrible, riding a 14-game losing streak into tonight and no longer is he being touted as a Most Valuable Player candidate. His star has fallen, dramatically.
And in Toronto, you can imagine Carter chuckling to himself, if he were at all vindictive.
Carter has been there, done that and has the scars to prove it.
The guy who carried the United States to an Olympic gold medal, who thrilled fans enough they've made him the most popular player in all-star balloting for each of the last three years is finally getting back to his place in the game.
It's been a long journey — how many of you Raptor fans wanted him traded 18 months ago? — but one that's come full circle. Of course, he's one tweaked knee tendon away from being another injury-prone under-achiever but his ability to stay true to his goal through all the injuries and criticism surely has to speak to an inner strength many of wondered if he had.
He is back, maybe not to the level McGrady has been for the last couple of years. But there is a sense among basketball people that the future is brighter now, for his team and for himself, in Carter's case rather than McGrady's.
Together, they could have been great. Separately, each has known the heights of fame and the lows of infamy. They have somehow wound up in the same place, the best players on questionable teams but you know neither can be fully satisfied. And you expect both are wondering.
What if?