RealGM

So this is not a big deal, but just a small excerpt from a Lebron article on the wiretap:

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/61007/20090806/lebron_comments_on_shaq_hyped_dunk/

LeBron James commented publicly on the Shaquille O'Neal signing for the first time on Thursday.

"Wow," said James about center Shaquille O'Neal. "Anytime you can get a guy like that. I was asked by [management], 'Would you like him to be a part of this team?' and I said, 'Of course.' I've never had a low-post presence since I've been in the league. I love it."

This si the first time he's even made a comment on Shaq since the trade? How long has it been a month? Where has he been? Has he even talked to Shaq? Seems a bit different to me than Celtics where all the Big 3 take time off their offseason to come out and support the Sheed signing.

How humble of his majesty to take sometime to make such a generous comment.

Even if media loves seeing Shaq in Cleveland I don´t think it's a good move for them.
Shaq needs to play down low. He is not Z by any means. And since Lebron's go to moves are basically power drives, he will have less space to operate than last year.
Shaq, Varejao, Darnell, Hickson are not famous for their J. It's gonna be a crowded lane!!!

Give Lebron a break he is very busy getting dunked on, by slightly above average college players. LOL

and I said, 'Of course.' I've never had a low-post presence since I've been in the league. I love it."

I'll bet Z is thrilled to hear this

CeltsfaninDC wrote:

and I said, 'Of course.' I've never had a low-post presence since I've been in the league. I love it."

I'll bet Z is thrilled to hear this

Z has never been a low post player. Even Z knows this.

I cant wait to hack a shaq in the last two minutes!

Tricky Ricky wrote:I cant wait to hack a shaq in the last two minutes!

So that's why Shelden Williams was added ...

Tricky Ricky wrote:I cant wait to hack a shaq in the last two minutes!

Although slow and dangerous behind the three-point arc, Brian Scalabrine can still serve a purpose.

Although I cannot say I know exactly wha'ts going on, I just think it's interesting. The NBA seems to put its stars on the highest of pedestals. From what I hear Lebron is a cool, funny guy. But He just doens't have the leadership in my opinion. He may be as good as Kobe, but there is an arrogance about him that I think is holding him back.

On another note I think he isn't the white knight that the NBA is trying to make him seem like - same goes for Kobe. After this Rashard Lewis thing has come out, it leads me to believe that it was just a warning to the rest of the league. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Lebron was on PEDs. Stern doesn't want to bust him because that would severely tarnish the image of the league. It would all be lumped in with baseball. Because the NBA doesn't have the following and reputation the MLB does (or once did) it would severely hinder the NBAs image even further. Now I'm not accusing him or anything, I just think if he did Stern would be covering it up. Maybe Stern knows and is using this as a warning for guys like Lebron or Howard who may be using PEDs.

Ghost of the Garden wrote:

Tricky Ricky wrote:I cant wait to hack a shaq in the last two minutes!

Although slow and dangerous behind the three-point arc, Brian Scalabrine can still serve a purpose.

Just a great, great reference here.

DorfonCeltics wrote:

Ghost of the Garden wrote:

Tricky Ricky wrote:I cant wait to hack a shaq in the last two minutes!

Although slow and dangerous behind the three-point arc, Brian Scalabrine can still serve a purpose.

Just a great, great reference here.

Don't you go floppin' on me!

Bruiser wrote:Even if media loves seeing Shaq in Cleveland I don´t think it's a good move for them.
Shaq needs to play down low. He is not Z by any means. And since Lebron's go to moves are basically power drives, he will have less space to operate than last year.
Shaq, Varejao, Darnell, Hickson are not famous for their J. It's gonna be a crowded lane!!!

This is such a common misconception and can't be more wrong. Shaq's presence does nothing but help Lebron in his drives. Without a legit inside presence, when Lebron drives to the hoop, the entire team can just collapse on him, but with Shaq in there, they have to at least keep a body on Shaq. If they leave Shaq alone inside to collapse on Lebron, then Lebron can just drop it off to a wide open Shaq for an easy score.

This is how Wade was able to win the Finals MVP with Shaq. Because the bigs couldn't leave Shaq to collapse on Wade, Wade had a pretty clear lane to the basket once he beat his guy off the dribble.