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T-Mac, Yao aren't Kobe and Shaq — yet

High-scoring star, 7-6 center haven't brought NBA title to Houston

McGrady, YaoTim Shaffer / Reuters file
Rockets guard Tracy McGrady, left, and center Yao Ming are two of the most talented players in the NBA but have yet to click to bring a title to the team yet.
OPINION
By Michael Ventre
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 9:01 p.m. ET April 19, 2007

Michael Ventre
In the history of mankind, there have been many profoundly important twosomes: Adam and Eve, Cleopatra and Mark Antony, D-Wade and Shaq.

Usually the reigning tandem of the moment gets the most historic love. That would be Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, who helped lead the Miami Heat to the NBA championship last June.

In the annals of hoops, they are certainly not alone. When you think of successful pairs among NBA greats, the names Magic and Kareem spring to mind, along with Michael and Scottie, and Kobe and Shaq, among others, although those last two names probably are known more for their catty divorce than their fruitful tenure together.

So how do T-Mac and Yao rate?

On paper, the Houston Rockets’ stars should belong in the same rarified ballpark. Tracy McGrady is a 10-year veteran with superstar ability on par with Kobe, LeBron James and just about anyone else. He also has a penchant for taking — and making — the clutch shot. Yao Ming is the most gifted center to come along since Shaq. He’s been in the NBA since 2002 and has shaken the “potential bust” label with periods of dominant play.

But so much of life is timing. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came together at the right moment in history, which also included the arrivals of Pat Riley as a head coach and James Worthy as a Hall of Fame forward.  Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen became collaborators while Phil Jackson was developing into a Hall of Fame head coach. Kobe and Shaq came to the Lakers in the summer of ’96, and Jackson joined them three years later.

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In each case, a perfect storm of talent buffeted their respective franchises, resulting in championships.

In Houston, the forecast has promised for a while now that something of tremendous power would eventually hit, but it hasn’t happened.

McGrady has been alternately awesome and disappointing since arriving in Houston for the 2004-05 campaign, but most of his failure to achieve a ring has to do with physical limitations. Last week he left during a game against Golden State after his back stiffened up and then he missed a game two days later against Portland.

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This wouldn’t be so bad except that McGrady’s back has flared up regularly throughout his NBA career, most of the trouble occurring while he has been in a Rockets uniform. He began his career in Toronto, but bristled at the time at having to share the spotlight with his cousin, Vince Carter. McGrady engineered a sign-and-trade with Orlando, but despite establishing himself individually as a scoring demon, he often groused about coaching and the slow development of the franchise.

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When he came to Houston, there were doubts about whether he had the maturity to lead, and whether his priorities were focused on team ball and not the glorification of T-Mac. Last season back spasms forced him to miss extended periods twice. The Rockets were 2-15 in games he missed.

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Meanwhile, Yao has his own physical woes. It is not Yao’s ability but durability that has become an issue. This season he missed 32 games because of a broken tibia. In the 2005-06 season he missed 21 games because of a toe injury.

Yao also missed last Friday’s game at home against Portland with a sore back. Without their super twosome, the Rockets fizzled, 85-78.

CONTINUED : Rockets move beyond disgruntled Bonzi
1 | 2 | Next >

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