Brutality

It's to the point now where it is painful to watch another impending first-round loss for Tracy McGrady.

It's cruel, the way the basketball gods have treated him.

Why does he put up a line like this, 23 pts, 13 reb, 9ast, 3stl, 2blk, and still have to lose? At home?

A tough offensive foul on Scola away from the ball (correct call, it happened in front of the ref) and then the miracle throw-in by Korver with 1 second on the shot clock did them in. And so it will be written that McGrady can't do it. Because despite everything he does, it doesn't end up in a win.

Another year will go by with McGrady not getting out of round 1. They have to win at least 2 in Utah, and Utah doesn't lose much at home. Then again, Utah didn't win much on the road, and they now won two in the playoffs.

Another year will go by with McGrady being called less-than-great, because his greatness does not seem to translate into postseason glory.

Another year of failure, of collapsing in a heap of ash after burning out too quickly.

It's getting to be tragic. Hard to watch, like an old man who just fell off of a bench in the park and is lying in the dirt, surrounded by pigeons and shame.

Now watching Deron Williams in the playoffs, on the other hand. That's a whole other enjoyable story.