January 3, 2022 • 28 mins
Hosted by Sarah Kustok, NBA Flashback is the podcast that takes you back to the best moments in NBA history through exclusive archival audio from the NBA vault, along with new interviews with the players and coaches who were in the building. On this episode of NBA Flashback we go back to December 9th, 2004 and relive the night Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 33 seconds to lift the Rockets over the Spurs with his teammate, friend, and fellow Hall of Famer, Dikembe Mutombo. Dikembe takes us through a game that was a defensive struggle until the last minute when something happened that no one had seen before or since. He gives us behind the scenes stories about what he and his teammates were thinking while fans left the arena just as T-Mac started to catch fire. We also discuss how Tracy would score in today's NBA, and what the legacy of this game means to McGrady.
NBA Flashback is available on the iHeart app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. NBA Flashback is a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart Radio in
the n b A I'm sarahcuse Stack, NBA analyst for
the S Network, a broadcaster for Fox Sports, and as
a basketball junkie. I am excited to be the host
of this new podcast called NBA Flashback. The show takes
(00:23):
you back to the greatest moments in NBA history, using
archival audio from the NBA as well as new interviews
with the players and coaches who were in the building.
We will dive deep into some of the most legendary
games and performances of all time and talk with the
best minds in the game. In this episode, we flash
(00:44):
back to December nine, two thousand four. Ken Jennings had
finally lost on Jeopardy after winning seventy four straight shows
and Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg and
Farrell with the number one song in America. The Spurs
were in Houston to play the Rockets, and if you
like defense, this game was right up your alley for
forty seven minutes and five seconds and then things got crazy.
(01:07):
Today we're talking with eight time All Star, four time
Defensive Player of the Year, and Hall of Famer to
kem b Mtumbo about a game where his teammate and
friend Tracy McGrady dropped some serious heat on the Spurs
and scored thirteen points in thirty three seconds to shock
Tim Duncan, the Spurs and even himself. Now, when this
game was going on, I was still playing at DePaul In.
(01:29):
One of my teammates is from Houston, so a huge
Rockets fan, huge Tracy McGrady fan, And somehow we were
watching the end and able to witness the absolute insanity
of the finish, and more than anything of just being
wowed by the flawlessness of Tracy McGrady and how he
was putting a bucket after bucket in such a cool,
(01:51):
calm way. I think it was reminded for all of
us and especially for Hooper's until the game is over,
you never know what could happen. Man one was fun.
Marv Albert and Steve Kerr were on the call for
t NT Santatonio Spurs swept with the Rockets last all
four games and save Santatonio has won the last seven
(02:12):
against Uston's very difficult matchup for Houston Spurs or twenty
three and four versus the Rockets since Tim Duncan arrived
for the six season and it's no coincidence. I mean,
he's dominated a lot of people, but this is a
team he's really had a lot of success against. Kem.
It is great to have you on and we're talking
about the legendary game Tracy McGrady dropped thirteen points in
(02:36):
thirty three seconds to beat the Spurs. And you knew
Team AC pretty well, didn't you. Can you tell us
about your relationship, Maggie's Uh, he's a brother to me.
He's like my brother. I love him, so my job,
both of our families remained very close until today as
we're walking away from the game. I knew from the
(02:58):
day one when I went to Euston, and it was
especial for me to just you have a chance and
the ability to play next to the feature all the
famine because offensively, I knew that t mac was still
in his prime. It was one of the most dominate
offensive players that we haven't seen. How about your more
than thirty point to night. So I knew that my
(03:21):
night was going to be easy. All I have to
do is just and get a Ribard said to pick
and ron for him. You'reight may have been easy. Um
I I don't believe that, but it certainly wasn't for
t Mac. He has Bruce Bowen. Yes, what what was
that like watching those two go at it and just
(03:42):
the one on one battle that you saw between those
two players. It was tough because you look at Bruce
Brown being one of the toughest defensive players to play
in this position. He have got so many best playing
the league. You have stumped so many of them from
reaching the potential against san Antonio. So Mac just best
(04:08):
do that. What an advantage san Antonio has to be
able to put Bruce Bowen on the opposition's best score
and not have to worry about double teaming. He reminds
me a lot of people use a football analogy. Dion
Sanders would just close off one side of the field
and a shutdown guy. That's what Bruce Bowen does for
the Spurs, which allows everybody else to defend their own
Guy's mean that that Bruce stop his best and it
(04:35):
took over again. Do you feel like it got personal
between them? Oh? I tell Bruce. Even if te Mac
hasn't said anything, I'm sure he doesn't like it either.
Most people don't like Bruce bowl and he just gets
into people and bothers. Something toughest one on one defender
in the NBA on the permitive. These was as who
(04:57):
have the will to win. I think the energy it
was much high for their use to brock after the start,
all right, I have to ask you because it obviously
got physical. There was a greediness. It was so much
fun watching watching those two. However, he wasn't the one
that broke the max nose. Can you can you tell
(05:19):
us the story? Can you tell us the story about
about breaking your brother's nose. Always regret a lot that
they were happened. It was such an incident. The intensity
that it was coming in to play with it was
so high. At the giving nine the ball was loose
(05:39):
our diving for loose ball, T magt diving for blues ball.
As I didn't play attention that there it was team
behind me. When I did play in the NBA, I
was so much aggressive when it comes from luise ball.
I used to go get the ball with a very
high intensity. I really didn't think so much about that
(06:02):
who was beyond me or what It was just a
fault that the team might end up to get him.
One of those matron It was very bad. They were
very bad. I think the words getting talk by your
own teammate there that can be. It's the guys in
the Red Jerseys. I don't. I think it was certain
(06:23):
a team. I never even saw him drat him from behind.
Hopefully he'll be okay. You can see me after the game, man,
we went to the lock home as I didn't know
what to say to my teammates. Everybody was picking up
on me, choking on me for I was for a
(06:43):
couple of weeks. Dick, I can you do that to
your own brother. There's a guy that you hang up
with after the game, you go to dinner away from
the road. Where can you do that? Dreams holding up
you talk about through all of this year, it still
has the distinction of having the sharpest elbows in the
(07:03):
league side. But I'm drugging a team match that forgive
me with that thing said at this point with the Rockets, uh,
you're a different role. I mean you talk about all
the different iterations of the extraordinary player you were, But
in this circumstance and playing with the Rockets and in
(07:24):
this game in general, how did how did you see
your role and how did you continue to embrace the
role you were in throughout the course of your career.
I was on my thirteen years, you know, even though
that my brain was telling me that I was still
in my pride. I've come from a major covering from
my broken heads when to Euston, got a great converstation
(07:48):
with Jeff before I got that, ever, did you have
a great conversation with Patrick you Ling that system coach there,
And they told me that I think we were don't
want to hear um. We wanted to come and mentor
young men and they have been the leader and the
lack of room and the mentor I'm scoring out. There's
(08:12):
talk about read out. We have so many young players here.
Having someone like you bringing your leadership, will you have
such an impact in this basketball team? And I took
that in a consideration, and I think that would can
help me going to Houston, being stable, not being fast
(08:36):
rate with how much time or many minutes to get
an eavigating everyginning night. The coach you have told me
that there would be an opportunity where y'all will be
out because of its food source read and and that
you can't be playing a role sometimes and I did
it very well from my last five years while I
(08:57):
was there. I mean, you're mentoring now you're practicing against
him every day. From your perspective, can you describe the
type of impact and weapon Yao Ming was during his prime? Yeah,
I was one of the most dominant big man I
haven't seen offensively. He was big, he was skilled gifting.
(09:21):
It was very tough to stop him. Yap at the
time out and Tim Duncan not happy not getting the
call at the other end, but beautiful food were in
the five hour flour past Big watch Andre there penetrating
into the lane and then pimding the wide open the
(09:43):
album with a slam. Some days were Jeff Condy will
stop practicing, asking everybody to leave, and then yeah, me
and go against yaw or men carding y'all defense league
for another thirty minutes ready for the game, and then yeah,
(10:05):
may really kind of preciate that. I appreciate that for
the fact that are pushing very hard to quit and
improve himself through maintain his game to the next level.
You bring up coach BEng Gundhi. We hear him all
the time on broadcast, but how would you characterize him
as a coach back then and what it was like
(10:26):
playing for him, there was there was only one way
you can describe him. And we're just call him the general.
We're calling the Jenneral. This man was. It's very special.
There was nothing easy for Jeff telling the trough. His
(10:47):
practice was intense. His game preparation was intense. Shoot, I
was intense. You cannot even talk on the bus when
Jeff is on the Buh. The boss was quiet. No,
he was a general man. It was like he didn't player, Jefty,
(11:14):
you really well, it meant business is business coming up?
It's halftime, and no, you didn't miss anything. It's a
defensive struggle. Rockets a four team AC with twelve points
at the break, and he talked with Craig Sager before
heading to the locker room. Well, Tracy, it's a two
time defending scoring champion. What's your assessment of this game?
(11:36):
That's thirty intermission? Is definitely a great defensive game. These
team is working for every shot and uh, you know,
we're just trying to make it hard on them. You
know that. The one thing I think people misunderstanding about
San Antonio, it is Tim Duncan, but it's those guys
do a great job of driving and kick and I
think they get a team. A lot of teams get
(11:57):
caught up into uh trying to do with seeing sim
duncan th other guys are making plays, driving, drawing everybody
in and kicking out and knocking down sides. Does Bruce
Bowen get under your skin when he classic just up closely?
He's a past man. He's one of the great defensive
players in this league. And uh, he makes you work
for everything. And yes, a Choudice spurs thirteen of forty
(12:26):
from the field, Rockets just fourteen of forty San Antonio,
though it helped with four from down Child and see
the Rockets with the edge off the board six plots.
We're san Antonio. Howment's you go? Craig talk with first
head coach Bret Popova. Statistically, these are the two best
defensive teams in the league. But with no fast break
(12:47):
points and only eight points in the paint, what do
you have to do to get more out of your offense?
I think that, Uh, Jeff and I are both wondering
that pretty good defensive teams, but I can't throw it
in the ocean. Have time of this game, the score
was three eight thirty four. Could you have a concept
or idea that low score in the game, uh, defensive battle,
(13:12):
what Jeff would be like in the halftime locker room?
It would be bleaching everything that in this way you
will be knocking everything out and screaming all his piece
of paper next to his chest and looking as mean
as it can and and sometimes don't say nothing for
a few minutes and just looking at everybody. And he
(13:36):
will tell you, guys after that, who's going to play?
Who's an play? I was just just where were those
guys who want to go out that Diana code for
him and those who didn't have that day? He will
live here on the bench. And he used to tell
(13:57):
me that I used to be like Dick, I know
you whatever you call yourself, best difference basketball player back.
If you can don't stop nobody going to the you're
gonna sit on the bench. And uh, that was Jeff.
And then he mentioned that you will prepare mentally physically
(14:18):
now that it was good. He was prescial. Man, I
love him. We're talking a lot about Yeo Ming in
his prime, but that was also pique. Tim Duncan, just
what do you remember and what stands out most when
you think about playing against Tim Duncan at this point
of his career, the team was one of the funnest
(14:38):
offensive players that I haven't seen it. Look at a
professial served up at yellow man, You're not sure what
kind of movie is going to make. Every time a
coast the ball. I did a good job against it.
(14:59):
It me to work. He gave me some work about that.
I already take my head off for him and to
myself the way I complete against him. He gave us
a loud of trouble through his career and he was
just the best. It was the league MVP wanted. He
(15:20):
proved on on the basketball court. He was just great
up there. He can rebud it can he can box up.
He can put the ball on the floris and shoot
from every corner. The a few times we could challenge
him so out on the block, he was going to
the top of the key, open up the offensive game
(15:41):
and challenge you to god him from the outside. He
put me to allow work and I have so much
respect on him for the way he came in complete
for all this year. He was great basketball player. It's
one of the best big man I've been played in
this game. He can't be the end of the game.
You guys go a little cold shooting and Devin Brown,
(16:03):
Tim Duncan. They combined for twenty points in the fourth
quarter alone. And so there's about a minute left and
most of the crowd had had left the arena. Rockets
are for the crowd, easn Rockets on the water dropic
(16:26):
for eight minutes ago, down by ten? What are you
thinking right now? Do you remember did you personally think like, okay,
this tough one there when knew the game was over.
You can see they were the crowd worth living was
picked up there in the interview team Mac walked us
(17:04):
through the end of the game this night. I just refused.
Something just came over me and I refused to lose
much busy three much seconds for gold. I look the
full come down and I hit a three. We file tea.
Mac hit a three with thirty five seconds left to
(17:25):
cut the Spurs lead to five. But after two Spurs
file shots, the Rockets are now down seven. With less
than thirty seconds left. McGrady gets the ball and things
were about to get nuts. We In bounced the ball again.
I hit a four point play on Timmy. I pumped
(17:46):
Fay get him in the air and hit the three
and one. Grady Filers picked up. What a shot by McGrady.
You'll see the screen by yell men with horses dunking
(18:08):
the health and it just draws the contact and somehow
pitts it to grow. Incredible shot by to you back.
If you look at the clips, you can see their
face of the coach pup. You have frozen. Just don't
believe the court. What happened? How was he so hot?
(18:29):
You just since he was feeling it? How was he
so hot? I don't know. Guys get hot. I don't
know why they get hot. They get hot. I have
no idea. He's a great player. I'm a great player.
Tracy makes the free throw and cuts the lead to three.
The Spurs then make two more foul shots. The Rockets
are now down five with sixteen seconds left and trying
(18:49):
to get the ball inbounds. So I got Tony Parker
hanging on me, I got Bruce Bullen hanging on me,
and I'm like, you know, throw it, just throw it up.
I'll jump into I get the ball and uh to
go up for the three and I make it. Eric
can't try anybody they're no time about gratty. Finally gets
you into the grating. I'm grating over. Yes, yes, come
(19:13):
to two point and try it out. Check it by
my shot that was crushed to another potential for a
point like Pard was all over graty, tie it out,
shot up to Did t Mac look different to you
during that stretch? You look at his eyes, You look
at his mannerisms when he starts knocking down shots. You
(19:35):
can look at his eyes with look at differences emotions
that face. Emotions were different. It's energy, lampro what sir
like the same basketball he got through to sun Anton
your skin. He got through in through the skin. And
then all of them was worrying about tea making it was.
(19:56):
It was late by the time they were trying to
fix the issue. Spurs use their last time out to
advance the ball. Rockets are now down just two with
eleven seconds left. Spurs in bounding now. Usually in this situation,
you know teams think you're gonna foul because it's under
twenty four seconds day in bounce ball to Devin Brown.
(20:19):
He gets it, turns around, starts to take a dribble,
and he fumbles the ball and the ball rose to me.
So at this moment, I'm like, this is meant for
us to win this game, right, I've hit three threes.
This guy slips and and loses the ball and it
comes to me. So I get the ball and I'm
driving up the court. I'm looking for my spot. Long behold,
(20:42):
Brent Berry is sitting right there in front of me,
and I just went out for the three and bangs
breath Bowery, get you there, pot s to go, signing
(21:03):
Tory Are Here's Parker shot games for the scoring Tracy
for Grady with an incredible qua stout stre including a
four point play Tracy Mr Grady were Thurty three points
(21:24):
shot out sign of Tony All had one shoving straight
against Houston and it's all my Grady scoring the last
thirteen for my Rockets, thirteen points in thirty three seconds.
He never had a doubt that he was gonna pull
up from three and go for the win. And why not.
(21:46):
Unbelievable All those people who left for they're driving holding
their cars right there wondering what were you thinking? What
was the scene like back in the locker room, Because
we saw you, we saw you jumping on Te Mac
with the team after the game. What was that? What
was the scene like in the lack of everybody? Was
(22:08):
everybody who when you have two of the the hands
on the head. You can see as as we was leaving,
there were not going through the turn off. Guys was
celebrating and guys were shocked. At the same time. Everybody
was like, I did we do it? And then the
only way you can express that you were just holding
your head by yourself. Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh,
(22:32):
we did it. And then that was kind of the
expression that each running I stay out how they do it?
Post game? Team Mack didn't know either. I got him
off because Bruce born As I passed on the you
know my whales and sulk over and it was knocking
down South Corner down by double digits in the final minute.
(22:53):
Was it the four point player that you made with
dunc apology on the three that made you feel, hey,
we can actually win this thing, you know what, That's
what gave me confidence. But I knocked down that four
point place. It gave me Tom Messes, let's do it again.
Any time I got the ball of my hand in
any room that I got to get up a shot,
I was gonna let it go. We met, We went
out to so many people in the restaurant that evening.
(23:13):
This is all we're wrong and lead you guys want
how did you win? Because the game was over you
guys was my tent. I said, we won because Team
Matt many people was very shocked. The only thing we
as a players sometimes you go through the face where
you say our care we try our best. It didn't
(23:35):
go our way. Sannatonia will win the game. But we
were all surprised by the energy, by the effort I've
been deployed by Tim Duncan. I haven't seen that. I
never seen anything like that to my career, I played
eighteen years. I only you all felt that way. But
(23:58):
what do you think this game means to Tracy? It's
just kind of elevated him to know the elevel, elevate
him to the level of the greatness. No Traces, not
in the history. Traces been in the history. Has one
of the greatnests, one of the greatest finisher, one of
the greatest prigs, scoring machine in NBA history. Yes, they
(24:22):
have so many credible basketball game, a crushing game. Man.
He was the best of that. He was the best.
No force enough, the god slip ball came right to me,
and uh, the only thing I was thinking about. I
didn't want to side the game, so I was thinking
about getting up with three. Got it up? Okay. I've
(24:43):
never been a part of anything like this, so he
got Excuse me. I would like, I hope you getting
can get a look at the replay. But that's why
you're the NBA scorting champ. I appreciate it. Good. Yeah,
accomplished a lot. Many people don't know about Team Mac.
One thing you we need to know. He Mac went
Thris career with the back issue that he suffered for
(25:06):
so many years, but he came every giving night. No
worthy much, how much paid that you having his back?
But he went in to play basketball and they cried
for his spain later after the game. I saw him
holding on with his pend crying and after the game.
(25:28):
But when they came come up like Dick, I don't
have no choice. I have to go to the battle,
which you guys, I need to be there. And that
was teammate. That was he was special and of course, uh,
as we're looking at this team, Max so special in
this one special throughout his career. But it was interesting
because recently um he mentioned that how many points he's
(25:51):
sort scored so many more points in today's NBA because
of how much spacing there is. And do you agree
with that and see that because you think about this game,
I mean you have four seven footer start in the game,
you're coming off the bat. I mean there's so much
size in the pain. How do you see te max
game translating to today's game. I think it would have
been difficult for so many gods to god Temac. They
(26:14):
way they space open right now, and the team Mac
will have scored more three points shot outside begging me
a shot because there's not many help before the movement,
and that the court is way way more open, and
maybe it could have been breaking. So many people answer
by dunking on them because we the space the way
(26:36):
these that TEAMAK will be traveling on. So many played that.
I always say that our time, man, the game was
workmuch tougher. We didn't see no one, no many other
point games. Temac will have scored a lot. It would
have been finishing about forty fifty having night. What's your
lasting memory in the legacy that you feel like this
(27:00):
game pass, I would say dot do. I was pot
up for a special group of the guy who made
their history in the NBA. Of course, I don't know
if there was another team or another group of talented
basketball player and then and then the history of the
(27:23):
game of basketball of the NBA, who was about to
do what we did with It's beautiful. That's clearly true
to Kenby because it's nearly two decades later and we're
still talking to you about it, We're still asking questions
to you about it, and I can't thank you enough.
I can't thank you enough for your time and for
sharing all these amazing memories with us. Thank you so
(27:44):
for sure. NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart
Radio and the NBA. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio,
visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcast
NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart Radio in
the n b A I'm sarahcuse Stack, NBA analyst for
the S Network, a broadcaster for Fox Sports, and as
a basketball junkie. I am excited to be the host
of this new podcast called NBA Flashback. The show takes
(00:23):
you back to the greatest moments in NBA history, using
archival audio from the NBA as well as new interviews
with the players and coaches who were in the building.
We will dive deep into some of the most legendary
games and performances of all time and talk with the
best minds in the game. In this episode, we flash
(00:44):
back to December nine, two thousand four. Ken Jennings had
finally lost on Jeopardy after winning seventy four straight shows
and Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg and
Farrell with the number one song in America. The Spurs
were in Houston to play the Rockets, and if you
like defense, this game was right up your alley for
forty seven minutes and five seconds and then things got crazy.
(01:07):
Today we're talking with eight time All Star, four time
Defensive Player of the Year, and Hall of Famer to
kem b Mtumbo about a game where his teammate and
friend Tracy McGrady dropped some serious heat on the Spurs
and scored thirteen points in thirty three seconds to shock
Tim Duncan, the Spurs and even himself. Now, when this
game was going on, I was still playing at DePaul In.
(01:29):
One of my teammates is from Houston, so a huge
Rockets fan, huge Tracy McGrady fan, And somehow we were
watching the end and able to witness the absolute insanity
of the finish, and more than anything of just being
wowed by the flawlessness of Tracy McGrady and how he
was putting a bucket after bucket in such a cool,
(01:51):
calm way. I think it was reminded for all of
us and especially for Hooper's until the game is over,
you never know what could happen. Man one was fun.
Marv Albert and Steve Kerr were on the call for
t NT Santatonio Spurs swept with the Rockets last all
four games and save Santatonio has won the last seven
(02:12):
against Uston's very difficult matchup for Houston Spurs or twenty
three and four versus the Rockets since Tim Duncan arrived
for the six season and it's no coincidence. I mean,
he's dominated a lot of people, but this is a
team he's really had a lot of success against. Kem.
It is great to have you on and we're talking
about the legendary game Tracy McGrady dropped thirteen points in
(02:36):
thirty three seconds to beat the Spurs. And you knew
Team AC pretty well, didn't you. Can you tell us
about your relationship, Maggie's Uh, he's a brother to me.
He's like my brother. I love him, so my job,
both of our families remained very close until today as
we're walking away from the game. I knew from the
(02:58):
day one when I went to Euston, and it was
especial for me to just you have a chance and
the ability to play next to the feature all the
famine because offensively, I knew that t mac was still
in his prime. It was one of the most dominate
offensive players that we haven't seen. How about your more
than thirty point to night. So I knew that my
(03:21):
night was going to be easy. All I have to
do is just and get a Ribard said to pick
and ron for him. You'reight may have been easy. Um
I I don't believe that, but it certainly wasn't for
t Mac. He has Bruce Bowen. Yes, what what was
that like watching those two go at it and just
(03:42):
the one on one battle that you saw between those
two players. It was tough because you look at Bruce
Brown being one of the toughest defensive players to play
in this position. He have got so many best playing
the league. You have stumped so many of them from
reaching the potential against san Antonio. So Mac just best
(04:08):
do that. What an advantage san Antonio has to be
able to put Bruce Bowen on the opposition's best score
and not have to worry about double teaming. He reminds
me a lot of people use a football analogy. Dion
Sanders would just close off one side of the field
and a shutdown guy. That's what Bruce Bowen does for
the Spurs, which allows everybody else to defend their own
Guy's mean that that Bruce stop his best and it
(04:35):
took over again. Do you feel like it got personal
between them? Oh? I tell Bruce. Even if te Mac
hasn't said anything, I'm sure he doesn't like it either.
Most people don't like Bruce bowl and he just gets
into people and bothers. Something toughest one on one defender
in the NBA on the permitive. These was as who
(04:57):
have the will to win. I think the energy it
was much high for their use to brock after the start,
all right, I have to ask you because it obviously
got physical. There was a greediness. It was so much
fun watching watching those two. However, he wasn't the one
that broke the max nose. Can you can you tell
(05:19):
us the story? Can you tell us the story about
about breaking your brother's nose. Always regret a lot that
they were happened. It was such an incident. The intensity
that it was coming in to play with it was
so high. At the giving nine the ball was loose
(05:39):
our diving for loose ball, T magt diving for blues ball.
As I didn't play attention that there it was team
behind me. When I did play in the NBA, I
was so much aggressive when it comes from luise ball.
I used to go get the ball with a very
high intensity. I really didn't think so much about that
(06:02):
who was beyond me or what It was just a
fault that the team might end up to get him.
One of those matron It was very bad. They were
very bad. I think the words getting talk by your
own teammate there that can be. It's the guys in
the Red Jerseys. I don't. I think it was certain
(06:23):
a team. I never even saw him drat him from behind.
Hopefully he'll be okay. You can see me after the game, man,
we went to the lock home as I didn't know
what to say to my teammates. Everybody was picking up
on me, choking on me for I was for a
(06:43):
couple of weeks. Dick, I can you do that to
your own brother. There's a guy that you hang up
with after the game, you go to dinner away from
the road. Where can you do that? Dreams holding up
you talk about through all of this year, it still
has the distinction of having the sharpest elbows in the
(07:03):
league side. But I'm drugging a team match that forgive
me with that thing said at this point with the Rockets, uh,
you're a different role. I mean you talk about all
the different iterations of the extraordinary player you were, But
in this circumstance and playing with the Rockets and in
(07:24):
this game in general, how did how did you see
your role and how did you continue to embrace the
role you were in throughout the course of your career.
I was on my thirteen years, you know, even though
that my brain was telling me that I was still
in my pride. I've come from a major covering from
my broken heads when to Euston, got a great converstation
(07:48):
with Jeff before I got that, ever, did you have
a great conversation with Patrick you Ling that system coach there,
And they told me that I think we were don't
want to hear um. We wanted to come and mentor
young men and they have been the leader and the
lack of room and the mentor I'm scoring out. There's
(08:12):
talk about read out. We have so many young players here.
Having someone like you bringing your leadership, will you have
such an impact in this basketball team? And I took
that in a consideration, and I think that would can
help me going to Houston, being stable, not being fast
(08:36):
rate with how much time or many minutes to get
an eavigating everyginning night. The coach you have told me
that there would be an opportunity where y'all will be
out because of its food source read and and that
you can't be playing a role sometimes and I did
it very well from my last five years while I
(08:57):
was there. I mean, you're mentoring now you're practicing against
him every day. From your perspective, can you describe the
type of impact and weapon Yao Ming was during his prime? Yeah,
I was one of the most dominant big man I
haven't seen offensively. He was big, he was skilled gifting.
(09:21):
It was very tough to stop him. Yap at the
time out and Tim Duncan not happy not getting the
call at the other end, but beautiful food were in
the five hour flour past Big watch Andre there penetrating
into the lane and then pimding the wide open the
(09:43):
album with a slam. Some days were Jeff Condy will
stop practicing, asking everybody to leave, and then yeah, me
and go against yaw or men carding y'all defense league
for another thirty minutes ready for the game, and then yeah,
(10:05):
may really kind of preciate that. I appreciate that for
the fact that are pushing very hard to quit and
improve himself through maintain his game to the next level.
You bring up coach BEng Gundhi. We hear him all
the time on broadcast, but how would you characterize him
as a coach back then and what it was like
(10:26):
playing for him, there was there was only one way
you can describe him. And we're just call him the general.
We're calling the Jenneral. This man was. It's very special.
There was nothing easy for Jeff telling the trough. His
(10:47):
practice was intense. His game preparation was intense. Shoot, I
was intense. You cannot even talk on the bus when
Jeff is on the Buh. The boss was quiet. No,
he was a general man. It was like he didn't player, Jefty,
(11:14):
you really well, it meant business is business coming up?
It's halftime, and no, you didn't miss anything. It's a
defensive struggle. Rockets a four team AC with twelve points
at the break, and he talked with Craig Sager before
heading to the locker room. Well, Tracy, it's a two
time defending scoring champion. What's your assessment of this game?
(11:36):
That's thirty intermission? Is definitely a great defensive game. These
team is working for every shot and uh, you know,
we're just trying to make it hard on them. You
know that. The one thing I think people misunderstanding about
San Antonio, it is Tim Duncan, but it's those guys
do a great job of driving and kick and I
think they get a team. A lot of teams get
(11:57):
caught up into uh trying to do with seeing sim
duncan th other guys are making plays, driving, drawing everybody
in and kicking out and knocking down sides. Does Bruce
Bowen get under your skin when he classic just up closely?
He's a past man. He's one of the great defensive
players in this league. And uh, he makes you work
for everything. And yes, a Choudice spurs thirteen of forty
(12:26):
from the field, Rockets just fourteen of forty San Antonio,
though it helped with four from down Child and see
the Rockets with the edge off the board six plots.
We're san Antonio. Howment's you go? Craig talk with first
head coach Bret Popova. Statistically, these are the two best
defensive teams in the league. But with no fast break
(12:47):
points and only eight points in the paint, what do
you have to do to get more out of your offense?
I think that, Uh, Jeff and I are both wondering
that pretty good defensive teams, but I can't throw it
in the ocean. Have time of this game, the score
was three eight thirty four. Could you have a concept
or idea that low score in the game, uh, defensive battle,
(13:12):
what Jeff would be like in the halftime locker room?
It would be bleaching everything that in this way you
will be knocking everything out and screaming all his piece
of paper next to his chest and looking as mean
as it can and and sometimes don't say nothing for
a few minutes and just looking at everybody. And he
(13:36):
will tell you, guys after that, who's going to play?
Who's an play? I was just just where were those
guys who want to go out that Diana code for
him and those who didn't have that day? He will
live here on the bench. And he used to tell
(13:57):
me that I used to be like Dick, I know
you whatever you call yourself, best difference basketball player back.
If you can don't stop nobody going to the you're
gonna sit on the bench. And uh, that was Jeff.
And then he mentioned that you will prepare mentally physically
(14:18):
now that it was good. He was prescial. Man, I
love him. We're talking a lot about Yeo Ming in
his prime, but that was also pique. Tim Duncan, just
what do you remember and what stands out most when
you think about playing against Tim Duncan at this point
of his career, the team was one of the funnest
(14:38):
offensive players that I haven't seen it. Look at a
professial served up at yellow man, You're not sure what
kind of movie is going to make. Every time a
coast the ball. I did a good job against it.
(14:59):
It me to work. He gave me some work about that.
I already take my head off for him and to
myself the way I complete against him. He gave us
a loud of trouble through his career and he was
just the best. It was the league MVP wanted. He
(15:20):
proved on on the basketball court. He was just great
up there. He can rebud it can he can box up.
He can put the ball on the floris and shoot
from every corner. The a few times we could challenge
him so out on the block, he was going to
the top of the key, open up the offensive game
(15:41):
and challenge you to god him from the outside. He
put me to allow work and I have so much
respect on him for the way he came in complete
for all this year. He was great basketball player. It's
one of the best big man I've been played in
this game. He can't be the end of the game.
You guys go a little cold shooting and Devin Brown,
(16:03):
Tim Duncan. They combined for twenty points in the fourth
quarter alone. And so there's about a minute left and
most of the crowd had had left the arena. Rockets
are for the crowd, easn Rockets on the water dropic
(16:26):
for eight minutes ago, down by ten? What are you
thinking right now? Do you remember did you personally think like, okay,
this tough one there when knew the game was over.
You can see they were the crowd worth living was
picked up there in the interview team Mac walked us
(17:04):
through the end of the game this night. I just refused.
Something just came over me and I refused to lose
much busy three much seconds for gold. I look the
full come down and I hit a three. We file tea.
Mac hit a three with thirty five seconds left to
(17:25):
cut the Spurs lead to five. But after two Spurs
file shots, the Rockets are now down seven. With less
than thirty seconds left. McGrady gets the ball and things
were about to get nuts. We In bounced the ball again.
I hit a four point play on Timmy. I pumped
(17:46):
Fay get him in the air and hit the three
and one. Grady Filers picked up. What a shot by McGrady.
You'll see the screen by yell men with horses dunking
(18:08):
the health and it just draws the contact and somehow
pitts it to grow. Incredible shot by to you back.
If you look at the clips, you can see their
face of the coach pup. You have frozen. Just don't
believe the court. What happened? How was he so hot?
(18:29):
You just since he was feeling it? How was he
so hot? I don't know. Guys get hot. I don't
know why they get hot. They get hot. I have
no idea. He's a great player. I'm a great player.
Tracy makes the free throw and cuts the lead to three.
The Spurs then make two more foul shots. The Rockets
are now down five with sixteen seconds left and trying
(18:49):
to get the ball inbounds. So I got Tony Parker
hanging on me, I got Bruce Bullen hanging on me,
and I'm like, you know, throw it, just throw it up.
I'll jump into I get the ball and uh to
go up for the three and I make it. Eric
can't try anybody they're no time about gratty. Finally gets
you into the grating. I'm grating over. Yes, yes, come
(19:13):
to two point and try it out. Check it by
my shot that was crushed to another potential for a
point like Pard was all over graty, tie it out,
shot up to Did t Mac look different to you
during that stretch? You look at his eyes, You look
at his mannerisms when he starts knocking down shots. You
(19:35):
can look at his eyes with look at differences emotions
that face. Emotions were different. It's energy, lampro what sir
like the same basketball he got through to sun Anton
your skin. He got through in through the skin. And
then all of them was worrying about tea making it was.
(19:56):
It was late by the time they were trying to
fix the issue. Spurs use their last time out to
advance the ball. Rockets are now down just two with
eleven seconds left. Spurs in bounding now. Usually in this situation,
you know teams think you're gonna foul because it's under
twenty four seconds day in bounce ball to Devin Brown.
(20:19):
He gets it, turns around, starts to take a dribble,
and he fumbles the ball and the ball rose to me.
So at this moment, I'm like, this is meant for
us to win this game, right, I've hit three threes.
This guy slips and and loses the ball and it
comes to me. So I get the ball and I'm
driving up the court. I'm looking for my spot. Long behold,
(20:42):
Brent Berry is sitting right there in front of me,
and I just went out for the three and bangs
breath Bowery, get you there, pot s to go, signing
(21:03):
Tory Are Here's Parker shot games for the scoring Tracy
for Grady with an incredible qua stout stre including a
four point play Tracy Mr Grady were Thurty three points
(21:24):
shot out sign of Tony All had one shoving straight
against Houston and it's all my Grady scoring the last
thirteen for my Rockets, thirteen points in thirty three seconds.
He never had a doubt that he was gonna pull
up from three and go for the win. And why not.
(21:46):
Unbelievable All those people who left for they're driving holding
their cars right there wondering what were you thinking? What
was the scene like back in the locker room, Because
we saw you, we saw you jumping on Te Mac
with the team after the game. What was that? What
was the scene like in the lack of everybody? Was
(22:08):
everybody who when you have two of the the hands
on the head. You can see as as we was leaving,
there were not going through the turn off. Guys was
celebrating and guys were shocked. At the same time. Everybody
was like, I did we do it? And then the
only way you can express that you were just holding
your head by yourself. Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh,
(22:32):
we did it. And then that was kind of the
expression that each running I stay out how they do it?
Post game? Team Mack didn't know either. I got him
off because Bruce born As I passed on the you
know my whales and sulk over and it was knocking
down South Corner down by double digits in the final minute.
(22:53):
Was it the four point player that you made with
dunc apology on the three that made you feel, hey,
we can actually win this thing, you know what, That's
what gave me confidence. But I knocked down that four
point place. It gave me Tom Messes, let's do it again.
Any time I got the ball of my hand in
any room that I got to get up a shot,
I was gonna let it go. We met, We went
out to so many people in the restaurant that evening.
(23:13):
This is all we're wrong and lead you guys want
how did you win? Because the game was over you
guys was my tent. I said, we won because Team
Matt many people was very shocked. The only thing we
as a players sometimes you go through the face where
you say our care we try our best. It didn't
(23:35):
go our way. Sannatonia will win the game. But we
were all surprised by the energy, by the effort I've
been deployed by Tim Duncan. I haven't seen that. I
never seen anything like that to my career, I played
eighteen years. I only you all felt that way. But
(23:58):
what do you think this game means to Tracy? It's
just kind of elevated him to know the elevel, elevate
him to the level of the greatness. No Traces, not
in the history. Traces been in the history. Has one
of the greatnests, one of the greatest finisher, one of
the greatest prigs, scoring machine in NBA history. Yes, they
(24:22):
have so many credible basketball game, a crushing game. Man.
He was the best of that. He was the best.
No force enough, the god slip ball came right to me,
and uh, the only thing I was thinking about. I
didn't want to side the game, so I was thinking
about getting up with three. Got it up? Okay. I've
(24:43):
never been a part of anything like this, so he
got Excuse me. I would like, I hope you getting
can get a look at the replay. But that's why
you're the NBA scorting champ. I appreciate it. Good. Yeah,
accomplished a lot. Many people don't know about Team Mac.
One thing you we need to know. He Mac went
Thris career with the back issue that he suffered for
(25:06):
so many years, but he came every giving night. No
worthy much, how much paid that you having his back?
But he went in to play basketball and they cried
for his spain later after the game. I saw him
holding on with his pend crying and after the game.
(25:28):
But when they came come up like Dick, I don't
have no choice. I have to go to the battle,
which you guys, I need to be there. And that
was teammate. That was he was special and of course, uh,
as we're looking at this team, Max so special in
this one special throughout his career. But it was interesting
because recently um he mentioned that how many points he's
(25:51):
sort scored so many more points in today's NBA because
of how much spacing there is. And do you agree
with that and see that because you think about this game,
I mean you have four seven footer start in the game,
you're coming off the bat. I mean there's so much
size in the pain. How do you see te max
game translating to today's game. I think it would have
been difficult for so many gods to god Temac. They
(26:14):
way they space open right now, and the team Mac
will have scored more three points shot outside begging me
a shot because there's not many help before the movement,
and that the court is way way more open, and
maybe it could have been breaking. So many people answer
by dunking on them because we the space the way
(26:36):
these that TEAMAK will be traveling on. So many played that.
I always say that our time, man, the game was
workmuch tougher. We didn't see no one, no many other
point games. Temac will have scored a lot. It would
have been finishing about forty fifty having night. What's your
lasting memory in the legacy that you feel like this
(27:00):
game pass, I would say dot do. I was pot
up for a special group of the guy who made
their history in the NBA. Of course, I don't know
if there was another team or another group of talented
basketball player and then and then the history of the
(27:23):
game of basketball of the NBA, who was about to
do what we did with It's beautiful. That's clearly true
to Kenby because it's nearly two decades later and we're
still talking to you about it, We're still asking questions
to you about it, and I can't thank you enough.
I can't thank you enough for your time and for
sharing all these amazing memories with us. Thank you so
(27:44):
for sure. NBA Flashback is a production of I Heart
Radio and the NBA. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio,
visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
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