Am I the only one who finds himself LIKING Shaq now?
- Thread starter Geoff
- Start date
Gargamel
Starter
When he was a Laker, I found him hard to like at times, especially when he'd give lockerroom material to anyone and everyone. I also didn't like his complete unwillingness to share the spotlight with Kobe (which somehow was blamed entirely on Kobe by the media). I also really hated his pathetic work ethic, pouting, and malingering. Now, I detest that he has the nerve to talk smack after he was traded for not producing at a level that would justify the dollars he was asking for.KA_2 said:
Damn! I hate Shaq! Why'd you get me started, KA_2?
Gargamel
Starter
Just because you didn't hear it doesn't mean it wasn't like that. Shaq was the original scapegoat when they were losing to the Jazz and Spurs every year.albeitrue said:
After the trade, Shaq's actions pushed many fans who still supported him over the brink.
It was the right thing. If you choose Shaq over Kobe, then Kobe's out the door. Now, in order to retain Shaq, you have to max him out (he won't take a paycut no matter what he says). Maxing Shaq out under his grandfathered Laker contract would've eventually put the team near or over the cap with his contract alone. He's 33 in March. Bad idea.
Finger foul?
KA_2
Bench
Sorry to tell you, but most Laker fans hated Shaq in one way or another (many deeply hated Shaq) well before he was booted to the Heat. It's understandable you wouldn't know, I'm sure you don't hang around Laker boards or Laker fans much. Trust me when I say that the Shaq hate among Laker fans was undeniable well before his trade. Or don't trust me, you can do your own research.
The only thing it exposed was how ignorant the mass media is. For some reason, non-Laker fans and the mass media ignore the fact that 1) Shaq demanded his trade, 2) Shaq was asking for the entire salary cap until 2010, 3) Shaq believed he was in shape and could play at a high level until 2010, and 4) Shaq was never going to give Kobe any leeway and would have been happy to drive Kobe out of the organization if he could get his money.
In other words, yes, many Laker fans liked the Shaq trade because it actually gave their team a future. Shaq gives the Lakers no future, because you can't successfully build around someone that commands nearly the entire salary cap, because you can't attract good FAs (no cap room) and you can't sign enough good players for just the MLE or LLE every other year. Of course, that says nothing of the fact that Shaq will cease being a dominant force within a couple years anyway, making his contract demands all the more ludicrous.
EDIT: Had Shaq accepted Buss' original contract extension ($25 million a year until 2010, better than KG), I have no doubt Shaq would still be a Laker. Would Kobe have still been a Laker? I don't know.
Last edited:
Gargamel
Starter
In Miami's first 3 games, Shaq has averaged 26.6 mpg, 12 FGA, and 15.3 ppg. Wade has averaged 40.0 mpg, 16.7 FGA, and 28.3 ppg.
While I realize Shaq may (or may not...never can tell) have a hamstring strain, I guarantee you those trends above will continue for much of the season considering that Wade is on the rise and Shaq is on the decline. If Shaq pretends for the whole season that it's not bothering him, he's a bleepin hypocrite and it proves that all his whining about Kobe "playing wrong" was masking his hatred and/or jealousy of Kobe.
While I realize Shaq may (or may not...never can tell) have a hamstring strain, I guarantee you those trends above will continue for much of the season considering that Wade is on the rise and Shaq is on the decline. If Shaq pretends for the whole season that it's not bothering him, he's a bleepin hypocrite and it proves that all his whining about Kobe "playing wrong" was masking his hatred and/or jealousy of Kobe.
Evenstar
Starter
i wouldn't say i like shaq now, but i don't dislike him as much as a used to. but trust me, theres no love for shaq, well at least not until christmas, where i'll be rooting for him to SIT on kobe ( and much much more, maybe he could try to go after kobe like he did miller when brad was still a bull ) ( ps i am SO joking )
and VF21 still has the best description EVER on shaq.
) ( ps i am SO joking ) and VF21 still has the best description EVER on shaq.
TheSerbianQueen
Bench
I am not too sure about LIKING him more this year, but I sure am looking forward to the first game between Heat and Lakers
Double-K
Starter
well.......finally one thing that we can argee on..........Gargamel said:When he was a Laker, I found him hard to like at times, especially when he'd give lockerroom material to anyone and everyone. I also didn't like his complete unwillingness to share the spotlight with Kobe (which somehow was blamed entirely on Kobe by the media). I also really hated his pathetic work ethic, pouting, and malingering. Now, I detest that he has the nerve to talk smack after he was traded for not producing at a level that would justify the dollars he was asking for.
Damn! I hate Shaq! Why'd you get me started, KA_2?
Gargamel said:When he was a Laker, I found him hard to like at times, especially when he'd give lockerroom material to anyone and everyone. I also didn't like his complete unwillingness to share the spotlight with Kobe (which somehow was blamed entirely on Kobe by the media). I also really hated his pathetic work ethic, pouting, and malingering. Now, I detest that he has the nerve to talk smack after he was traded for not producing at a level that would justify the dollars he was asking for.
Damn! I hate Shaq! Why'd you get me started, KA_2?
Gargy, the Lakers won those championships because of Shaq. Back in those days no one came even remotely close to being a threat to him. Why should he share the spotlight with a young, spoiled malcontent AKA Kobe Bryant?
Gargamel
Starter
Gina!gina said:
How could you say such a thing to Gargy?!?! There were 2 years that the Lakers wouldn't have gotten out of the West if not for the Kobster. There is literally no way they would've beaten Porty in 2000, Sac in 2002, probably SA in 2002, and -maybe- SA in 2001 without the Kobster. Most of those teams were effective against Shaq because they had big bodies (that goes for Utah in the late 90s too). I include Sac in that list because he and Shaq did a 50/50 job on the Kings and barely survived. The Kob did a lot of heavy lifting that he never has received due credit for outside of his fans.
albeitrue
Bench
I think most NBA fans understood that Shaq "demanded" his trade; he knew Lakers would not give him max cap until 2010, ultimately forcing Kobe to get his $$$ elsewhere.KA_2 said:
Kobe had to be the obvious choice, Shaq & Kobe simply couldn't co-exist anymore either. You're right, Shaq's age is a definite factor, but it's that "Current Most Dominant Player" thing I can't seem to shake, but you're right. 4 years from now, probably not.
While no one will ever really know for sure, you can't say it was a welcome thing to give up Shaq for what appears to be a whim of Kobe's to dominate. There's no logical, mature reason why both of them could not play together, yet the team was torn apart seemingly by Kobe's hand and manipulated Dr. Buss. If you are a true NBA fan, it hurts to see that happen, even if it is to your rival!
albeitrue
Bench
My hunch? Shaq is gonna welcome the playing ability of Wade. It appears (per NBA Insider) that Wade knows his place next to the gentle giant and this is the thing Shaq is looking for, pure and simple respect.Gargamel said:
You watch, if I'm wrong I'll eat my Keon Clark Bobblehead.
Gargamel
Starter
Ooh, I like the way you put that. As of this moment, Mihm is putting up very comparable numbers to Shaq. You have to wonder how much longer Shaq is going to cruise while Wade continues getting the bulk of the credit.Kingsgurl said:Did you say 'per NBA Insider'? I thought so. That proves it, unrest is really simmering just below the surface for the 'gentle giant' as you phrased it.
albeitrue
Bench
You could be right, but by then Wade will have already bamboozled Shaq into believing his "I respect ya, man!" story and all will play happily ever after.Kingsgurl said:Did you say 'per NBA Insider'? I thought so. That proves it, unrest is really simmering just below the surface for the 'gentle giant' as you phrased it.
Here is a quote of Wades:
Shaq is the most dominate player "in the world" and my guess is he needs his teammates to be aware of that. Shaq is gonna be like a little kid with a new bike at Christmas over that, trust me. Everyone on the Heat is gonna ball over Shaq, and how can you blame them? Kobe, on the other hand, is gonna have a time keeping his guys on his side, imo.
Kingsgurl
Starter
At this point, shaq isn't even the 'most dominant' player on his own team. His team-mates can blow all the smoke up his wazoo they want, shaq will only be bedazzled by that for a while. He may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it's bound to sink in eventually, like when they write about it in all the papers
albeitrue
Bench
Does Shaq read papers?
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer may be an understatement, so being adored and revered is not beneath him in any way and is actually encouraged wherever he may choose to roam. But I think some may underestimate his ability to shed his childish demeanor in favor of one for winning WHILE he is being adored. Wade's comments (they are quotes, which makes the print credible) prove that he is sincerely a fan of Shaq's. Shaq can't have too many fans, especially when they are gonna make him the first option and APPRECIATE his knack for pulling defenders off the perimeter.
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer may be an understatement, so being adored and revered is not beneath him in any way and is actually encouraged wherever he may choose to roam. But I think some may underestimate his ability to shed his childish demeanor in favor of one for winning WHILE he is being adored. Wade's comments (they are quotes, which makes the print credible) prove that he is sincerely a fan of Shaq's. Shaq can't have too many fans, especially when they are gonna make him the first option and APPRECIATE his knack for pulling defenders off the perimeter.
