http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/s****ts/3000795
"It will definitely be a playoff atmosphere in there. No question about
it,"
McGrady said. "Even the game I didn't play in the preseason, with all the
booing - it will be real interesting to see what it's like when I'm on the
court.
"They're fair-weather fans. It's real simple. Some people understand, and
some people just don't get it. And all the things that the GM said about
me - some people bought into that (stuff)."
McGrady made those things easier to believe when he said in a S****ts
Illustrated article: "Some nights I did slack off - and I knew that was a
terrible thing to do - and I still was slacking off.
"At least he was honest, right?" Hill said. "I said last year (that) for
him
and his development as he goes forward, that was going to be a growing
experience for him, and I think it was.
McGrady has since said his reaction to the losing season and his
frustration
was natural and unavoidable. Beyond that, he blamed the Orlando media for
misrepresenting his comments and his play last season.
"It's not about playing hard or not; it's playing with that same passion,"
McGrady said. "When you are in a difficult season like that, it's tough.
That would be tough on anybody. Anybody in that situation would kind of
slack off at times. It's frustrating. If you really care about the game,
you
have to be frustrated, and sometimes the frustration takes over.
"It's quite funny to me. A guy doesn't play hard, and he still averages 28
(points per game) for the season? That's impossible. No. It's not about
playing hard. It's about playing with that same passion like I am now,
just
having fun, enjoying it. And I wasn't feeling that last year. Last year, I
went into games like even the game when I had 62 (points) - I wasn't
happy.
That's what I was speaking on.
"It just wasn't the same. We only won 21 games. It was a frustrating year.
We lost 19 games straight, and everything was on my shoulders. People
don't
see that. They say it's not an individual s****t, yet they point me out and
say I'm supposed to elevate this team to its highest level. It's not an
individual s****t, but I was the only guy they were pointing out and
ba****ng."
"They're not going to get in my head, regardless of what the reception
will
be," he said. "I'm just going to go down there and play like I know I can
play and get my team back on track.
"It is different. I played four years there. That's where my career took
off. All the things going on in the offseason, it's spiced up a little
bit.
I'm excited about going back. I always look forward to going back home."
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