Semi-OT: Shaq's motivation level right now

[AAU Teammate]

Others can contribute some examples to help me out with this......



I cant remember any other sport where one of the all time greats looked this visually unmotivated.

I've heard the divorce has him real down, but whatever the cause, it just seems like I havent seen him crack a smile or celebrate anything on the basketball court. He used to be really --big-- in that regard.



EDIT: To make this clear, I'm talking about the ALL TIME greats of all sports.... which other examples are out there?

[Rerisen]

Thanks for the softball.

If he gets any less motivated, he will be at Ben Wallace level.

[suckfish]

Others can contribute some examples to help me out with this......

Well there is certainly no player on our bulls roster who suffers from motivational problems...

[bullzman23]

Here's an example:
http://www.nba.com/bulls/roster/

[AAU Teammate]

Thanks for the softball.

If he gets any less motivated, he will be at Ben Wallace level.

I'm talking about an all-time great, not Ben Wallace. One of the Babe Ruth level guys who had no motivation at career's close.

[AAU Teammate]

OK understood the Bulls are unmotivated. Shocking, film @ 10



I am talking about the all time greats of other sports as well as basketball. Which of those guys had latter-days laziness?

[Rerisen]

Shaq's game always relied on surprisingly a measure of speed and agility despite his size. And also, some commitment from the refs to look the other way while he bullied people under the hoop - for the good of the league.

I noticed they started calling him differently not long after he left L.A, even in the Bulls playoff loss to Miami in 06, he wans't getting favorable calls anymore.

But without his agility as well, he just kind of mopes around in the paint, and is always at risk of having to offensive foul to get his dunks.

I think he was majorly motivated by the sense of Kobe wanting him out of town. And he succeeded in getting that 4th ring, that Kobe might never get. Shaq always had trouble staying in at a ideal playing weight, though it was hard to tell when he was younger, since he was a physical freak and the extra pounds just helped his power game.

But now I just don't think he wants to give what it takes to stay in shape. Not to mention he seems pretty injury prone. With the way the Heat are looking, he needs to hang it up I think.

I actually would contest that Shaq was ever that motivated anyway. The game came too easy to him because of how big and powerful he was. Now it no longer is. Even in earlier years with the Lakers he occasionally talked of early retirement and crazy things like wanting to become a cop.

[AAU Teammate]

Shaq's game always relied on surprisingly a measure of speed and agility despite his size. And also, some commitment from the refs to look the other way while he bullied people under the hoop - for the good of the league.

I noticed they started calling him differently not long after he left L.A, even in the Bulls playoff loss to Miami in 06, he wans't getting favorable calls anymore.

But without his agility as well, he just kind of mopes around in the paint, and is always at risk of having to offensive foul to get his dunks.

I think he was majorly motivated by the sense of Kobe wanting him out of town. And he succeeded in getting that 4th ring, that Kobe might never get. Shaq always had trouble staying in at a ideal playing weight, though it was hard to tell when he was younger, since he was a physical freak and the extra pounds just helped his power game.

But now I just don't think he wants to give what it takes to stay in shape. Not to mention he seems pretty injury prone. With the way the Heat are looking, he needs to hang it up I think.

I actually would contest that Shaq was ever that motivated anyway. The game came too easy to him because of how big and powerful he was. Now it no longer is. Even in earlier years with the Lakers he occasionally talked of early retirement and crazy things like wanting to become a cop.

I think that's a really good analysis. There have always been comments that Shaq doesnt care about getting in shape until playoff time.

Now age is combining with that conditioning issue in one messy paste of badness.

[Mr. Tibbs]

Shaq's game always relied on surprisingly a measure of speed and agility despite his size. And also, some commitment from the refs to look the other way while he bullied people under the hoop - for the good of the league.

I noticed they started calling him differently not long after he left L.A, even in the Bulls playoff loss to Miami in 06, he wans't getting favorable calls anymore.

But without his agility as well, he just kind of mopes around in the paint, and is always at risk of having to offensive foul to get his dunks.

I think he was majorly motivated by the sense of Kobe wanting him out of town. And he succeeded in getting that 4th ring, that Kobe might never get. Shaq always had trouble staying in at a ideal playing weight, though it was hard to tell when he was younger, since he was a physical freak and the extra pounds just helped his power game.

But now I just don't think he wants to give what it takes to stay in shape. Not to mention he seems pretty injury prone. With the way the Heat are looking, he needs to hang it up I think.

I actually would contest that Shaq was ever that motivated anyway. The game came too easy to him because of how big and powerful he was. Now it no longer is. Even in earlier years with the Lakers he occasionally talked of early retirement and crazy things like wanting to become a cop.

the thing about the refs i've noticed as well. Obviously he was a more agile player before and it seemed like he had a much better touch on his hooks and fadeaways..but so many of his power moves i feel were nullified in the past few years. Now when he does a spin they call hooking much more. Now when little guys run into him he always gets called for a foul. Before guys would bounce off him like a brick wall and there wouldn't be calls.

[Three34]

I don't know if Shaq is any more unmotivated than normal. The guy just can't run and jump any more.

[Jo Jo English]

I don't know if Shaq is any more unmotivated than normal. The guy just can't run and jump any more.

I'd agree with Sham. Shaq's never struck me as the highly motivated type even when he was at his most effective. He was just supremely talented. I think what we are seeing on the court now is Shaq having a lot less fun because the game is not as easy for him to play mainly due to his decreasing athleticism.

We age, it happens.

[BrooklynBulls]

I don't know if Shaq is any more unmotivated than normal. The guy just can't run and jump any more.

It took way too long for somebody to say this. He's not slow and fat because he's unmotivated. He's unmotivated b/c he's fat and slow.

I'm sure he'd look much happier, and perhaps more productive, if the Heat had some semblance of a team around him.

[BullSoxChicago'sFinest]

Shaq is racist against white Bulls centers