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Tuesday October 23, 2007 5:31 PM


McGrady thinking big after last season's tough ending


Houston at Memphis, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.


Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- Since entering the NBA as a highly-touted prep star, Tracy McGrady has never won a playoff series.

He certainly wouldn't mind altering that frustrating piece of history this season. But frankly, he's got bigger aspirations.

"I'm not even trying to get past the first round," McGrady said. "I'm not setting my goals just to advance past the first round. My vision is going all the way. I feel we have good pieces to our puzzle and I feel that we have a great nucleus of talent. If we can click on all cylinders like we're doing right now, we control our own destiny."

McGrady and the Rockets are less than a week away from beginning their run.

On Wednesday night, the Rockets will visit the Memphis Grizzlies in one of their final two preseason games. The exhibition will serve as one of the team's last opportunities to find rotations and evaluate talent before making last-minute cuts.

But given what McGrady has seen over the past three weeks, the star is convinced that his team is poised for a big year.

Despite his own playoff disappointments, the Rockets' seven-time All-Star points to a retooled roster and revamped system under new coach Rick Adelman as reasons why his team can be a serious title contender.

"We're a very versatile team," McGrady said. "We can go small or we can go big. We can match up with anybody in the league and that's what is going to make us one of the most dangerous teams in the league."

The challenge is meshing all of that talent into to Adelman's new offensive system. McGrady, for one, knows that he'll be asked to do different things.

During last season's 52-win campaign, the Rockets star shouldered much of the offensive burden with center Yao Ming and was responsible for generating shots for his teammates as a passer.

While he'll still have those responsibilities at times, Adelman is hoping to make things much easier on his stars in Houston's high-motion offense. McGrady will be on the receiving end of more plays, getting open looks off screens and cuts to the basket.

"The system relieves a lot of pressure on him and me," Yao said. "Everybody touches the ball and shares the ball very well. Hey, that's what we want."

McGrady showed what sort of looks he could get in Saturday's preseason win over Seattle.

Rather than attacking the basket after bringing the ball up the floor, McGrady popped open for several looks after coming off a screen. He also ran the floor, getting a couple of easy layups off fast breaks.

Adelman still expects to lean on McGrady. But he's hoping the revised role will make things easier on his star.

"We have to have him as a high-volume shooter," Adelman said. "Both (Yao and Tracy) have to get their touches and their opportunities. But I'd like to see them get (those opportunities) when they are not surrounded by (defenders)."

McGrady, expecting to get up-and-down the court more than last season, arrived to training camp slimmer than last season.

He's tipping the scales at 220 pounds this season, about 10 pounds lighter than last year.

"As far as my ability and my talent, what I do best is get up and down the court," McGrady said. "I can play off the ball. I had to be a playmaker the last couple of seasons because we didn't have guys that could create shots and break defenses down. I think we have plenty of guys that can do that this year. So it puts me in a position to play off the ball and get easy buckets."

The Rockets star hopes the altered offense and improved supporting cast around him will lend a deeper postseason run.

Still, he isn't putting any added pressure on himself heading into the season. He certainly has high expectations, but he doesn't think this is a make-or-break season for the Rockets.

"I still feel the window (of opportunity) is wide open," McGrady said. "I don't feel like the window is closing. Despite being in the league for 11 years, I'm still young."

McGrady, who turned 28 in May, certainly envisions that he has plenty of basketball ahead. But with all the changes that the Rockets made in the offseason, he also doesn't see why the Rockets can't win now.

He's looking to do more than just win a playoff series for the first time after six tries.

"I can't put my finger on (any weaknesses)," McGrady said. "This is the best I've ever felt about the overall aspect of my team. Everything looks good. We got a great amount of talent. The most important thing is that guys got to be willing to sacrifice for the season. It comes to the point in their career where it's all about winning. Be the last team standing."