The Top 50

#11 - Tracy McGrady

...somebody had to bubble the Top 10. Despite his remarkable play in leading Houston to a historic run of victories last season, T-Mac, like Yao before him, finds himself in a position that under-appreciates his talent because of his inability to stay on the court. There's no he's question he's among the league's best pure players and greatest athletes, but his eternal quest for playoff mediocrity, while his aching back slowly buckles under the increasing pressure, has been painful to watch, let alone play through.

McGrady's a truly awesome physical specimen. A long 6'8", he swoops through the air with a smoothness reminiscent of the Iceman. He's too quick for bigger players, too big for quicker players; able to get his rocks off on any defender. His league-leading scoring(32/game in '03) has subsided, along with some of his explosiveness, but Mac's become more of a playmaker on a team that until Rafer's emancipation last year, didn't really have one. He handles the ball more than any 3 in the League besides Lebron, and still does better than 2:1 assists/turnovers as, after Yao's injury, the only legit scoring threat the Rockets boasted. His length also helps him on defense, as he gets over a steal and a block/game and if tough for smaller players to beat off the dribble.

But while equipped with some of the finest tools, McGrady's never accomplished anything outstanding with them. He's been an outstanding playoff performer; his numbers speak for themselves, but despite them he's yet to move beyond the first round after seven futile attempts. It would be too stern to say it's all his fault; he's been on some questionable teams and played hurt more than most, but his legacy mirrors that of Kevin Garnett's early career, only it's highly doubtful that McGrady's competitive fire rages nearly as hard as KG's. Tracy's been one to defer blame and front like a 3-1 series lead's untouchable, while his desire to be in the spotlight and out Vince's shadow broke up a promising young tandem, one that could've accomplished things he's only been grasping at ever since.

Things appear to be falling into place in Houston: after Mcgrady (playing some of the best ball of his career) led them to a surprise playoff appearance without Yao last season, the Rockets acquired Ron Artest for 10 cents on the dollar and now bost one of the most fearsome three-headed monsters league-wide. Having a this scoring presence will make it that much harder for defenses to cue in on the Big Mac and allow him to exert himself less when his back's bothering him. Hopefully it'll lead to him staying healthy and finally snapping that playoff curse; he's good enough to re-write his legacy and finally looks to have the right team to do it with.