Jermaine O'Neal on pace for worst playoff series ever

[blzrfan]

I asked earlier about who's worse, R. Wallace or O'neal. I think people were sleeping on how bad O'neal has been for the Heat.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

I asked earlier about who's worse, R. Wallace or O'neal. I think people were sleeping on how bad O'neal has been for the Heat.

It started after he hyperextended his knee a few weeks ago. As someone else pointed, he was solid for the most part in the regular season, and was averaging around 15 a game on 55% shooting over the last couple months or so.

Then he had that injury, came back and looked horrible for a couple of games, sat out the rest of the regular season assuming he'd be well rested for the playoffs, and well, it didn't work out so well.

[Diggity Dave]

Jermaine O'Neal was actually on a pretty nice roll until his recent pre-playoff injury. After that, the guy has simply gone south. Add to the fact that Perkins seems to defend him extraordinarily well, and you have this mess.

Anyone criticizing his salary at this point is overlooking the fact that he earned that contract back in the day for being a top notch power forward in this league. Obviously he's not the same player, and obviously he won't earn anywhere close to that next summer, despite all the good work he's put in this year for Miami, aside from this series. Centers are overpaid to begin with, but he's played himself out of what may have been somewhere close to a MLE-type contract.

[Blame Rasho]

He was never a top notch power forward... The best year of his career where he was a 2nd teamer he shot 43%... the only reason he was a 2nd teamer was because he was on a loaded 61 win Pacers team.

[number 11]

this is really a reflection of how much jermaine is struggling versus perkins rather than simply playing poorly

perk blocked his first couple shots of the series. a turn around and a spot up jumper. on consecutive positions i think.

the guy just doesn't know how to get a shot off, and for good reason.

[Flash3]

this is really a reflection of how much jermaine is struggling versus perkins rather than simply playing poorly

perk blocked his first couple shots of the series. a turn around and a spot up jumper. on consecutive positions i think.

the guy just doesn't know how to get a shot off, and for good reason.

he's also missing wide open jumpers -- wide open i say again

[InFlames]

this is really a reflection of how much jermaine is struggling versus perkins rather than simply playing poorly

perk blocked his first couple shots of the series. a turn around and a spot up jumper. on consecutive positions i think.

the guy just doesn't know how to get a shot off, and for good reason.

He has had many good looks at the basket, and some wide open shots.

[Puertorique]

How does a center suck that bad. I'm watching the games and the guy literally can't do anything right on offense. Fumbling passes, can't hit a jumper, making post moves that don't lead anywhere, isn't offensive rebounding, turning the ball over..i mean damn, the Heat might have won another game in this series if he had a good 15/8 in any of the earlier games.

He's played himself out of an MLE contract next year imo

Which may be a steal for a team next season if they can keep him healthy down the stretch.

[Winsome Gerbil]

He was never a top notch power forward... The best year of his career where he was a 2nd teamer he shot 43%... the only reason he was a 2nd teamer was because he was on a loaded 61 win Pacers team.

His rep at the time wasn't really about the offensive side of the ball. And after 6 straight All Star appearances as a 20-10 guy with top flight defense, a Second Team All NBA and 2 3rd Team All NBA appearances, if he wasn't a top notch PF you are holding that bar just a tad high. He wasn't Duncan or KG. He was a perennial All Star/borderline franchise player. That's not chopped liver.

[Rendezvous]

Dude just needs to retire.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

I hate to give any thing to a Boston player, But Perk is a about as good as it gets in the low post. There is nothing J.O. can do against him at this point in his career, he has no quicks or hops and Perk wont fall for the Veteran plays.

[CB4MiamiHeat]

Yes Perkins deserves 2nd team All-NBA defense .. but JO has missed some easy jumpers of set ups too .

[DusterBuster]

Wow..... Put a fork in him. O'Neal is DONE!

I bet he doesn't get anything beyond the vet min this summer, if he even tries to keep playing....... Which he shouldn't.

[rocketsballin]

i feel effin terrible for the guy, im notta big fan but i like the guy. i want wade to have a legit starting center and oneal was that guy...in the regular season . o well, he'll make for one helluva backup center, dats fo sho!

[Blame Rasho]

He was never a top notch power forward... The best year of his career where he was a 2nd teamer he shot 43%... the only reason he was a 2nd teamer was because he was on a loaded 61 win Pacers team.

His rep at the time wasn't really about the offensive side of the ball. And after 6 straight All Star appearances as a 20-10 guy with top flight defense, a Second Team All NBA and 2 3rd Team All NBA appearances, if he wasn't a top notch PF you are holding that bar just a tad high. He wasn't Duncan or KG. He was a perennial All Star/borderline franchise player. That's not chopped liver.

Shooting 43% as a legit 6'11 250 big is just unacceptable...

[boogydown]

Jermaine O'Neal is the classic example of the flaws in the NBA contract system.

4 years maximum should be on every contract so these things do not happen.