AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In perhaps the harshest critique yet of Miami’s Dream Team, Tracy McGrady said yesterday the chemistry between LeBron James and Dwayne Wade is “terrible” and James should have gone to Chicago.
Always outspoken McGrady, the ex-Knick who faced his old team yesterday and scored 13 first-half points, wonders if the 9-8 Heat are going to be big winners. McGrady’s Pistons face the Heat Wednesday.
“[LeBron] and D-Wade don’t complement each other,” McGrady said before the Knicks’ 125-116 double-overtime victory. “Him and D-Wade and [Chris] Bosh don’t complement each other. They’re so much the same type of players, LeBron and D-Wade. That’s why they’re having trouble in the half-court. They can’t get a rhythm because one of them is dominating the ball. ”
“When they’re on the court together, they’re terrible.”
After his three-month stint in New York last season, McGrady never considered returning and the feeling was mutual. “I knew I wasn’t going back after the [exit] meeting [with Knicks president Donnie Walsh],” McGrady said.
“Is that what they told you?” McGrady was asked.
“No, it’s what I said to them,” said McGrady, who was not a big fan of Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and likely expressed it.
McGrady nearly signed with the Bulls before ending up in Detroit, where he was averaging 3.8 points in 16 minutes before yesterday’s 13-point bust-out in which he started the second half. McGrady feels James should be a Bull now.
“I feel like LeBron should’ve went to Chicago if he was going to leave,” McGrady said. “I’m not mad he left. [Chicago was] a better decision and place and fit as far as chemistry-wise. You can’t just go somewhere and get that kind of chemistry he had in Cleveland. If he was to be with a team where he fit and chemistry would’ve been right, it would’ve been Chicago.”
McGrady proved to be a prophet, predicting last spring James was not coming to New York. “I told you guys it wasn’t going to happen,” T-Mac said. “Just look at their team. They didn’t have the pieces I felt was attractive for those guys coming here.”
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The Knicks moved to 7-4 on the road. They’re 2-5 at the Garden, where they host the Nets tomorrow. . . . Shawne Williams
made his Knicks debut, playing 6:48, including key minutes early in the fourth quarter. Williams was 1 of 2, scoring on a putback. . . . Anthony Randolph
also was dusted off for a five-minute stint. . . . Center Timofey Mozgov
had three turnovers in 8:22, but D’Antoni said he feels Eddy Curry
still is not in game shape to play.