Shaq is in shape

[Benedict_Boozer]

^Yup. Shaq doesn't have to do much to improve upon what Ben Wallace and Pavlovic gave us the last few years...

[jaypo]

I also argued with another guy about this. Do you realize why Shaq paced himself? He did so because he wanted to have enough in the tank in the playoffs. It was never a problem in the title years. Shaq is a 7ft 300lb plus man. That size causes hell on the knees. Now, he's 37 years old. In Miami, he had 2 bad knees and a bad lower back. Just because he wasn't running full speed every trip down the court doesn't mean he was mailing it in. How would you have felt if he played balls to the wall for 82 games, then burned out by the playoffs and cost the Heat the title? Would you give him a pass then?

Bottom line- Shaq knows his limits. He knows what he can and can't do. And every year he paces himself to be fresh for the playoffs. (Except in 03 with the toe surgery) Hell, Tim Duncan does this EVERY YEAR, but you won't hear anyone whining about it.

[tsherkin]

I'm a Heat fan. I'm not bitter towards Shaq or any of that, but from what I saw of Shaq, I can tell ya he does take games off and it negatively affects team chemistry because of it. Players hustle their butt off, see Shaq isn't, and eventually get upset about it, it's natural. Coaches and/or players though, then try to talk with Shaq about it and his attitude is to tell you to F off. Shaq drove Stan Van Gundy out of Miami because of that reason and Pat Riley and Phil Jackson could barely handle him.

Phil actually never had trouble "handling" him, and made it abundantly clear in his books that Kobe was much more difficult to handle than Shaq, who would frequently bitch but always do what he was told in the end (opposite of Kobe, who'd agree, and then do something else).

Like jaypo said, Shaq's a big guy with troubled knees, who's had back and lower body muscle injuries. You cannot expect him to sprint down the floor on every play. Even Kareem couldn't do that crap the same way he had when he was younger at a comparable age.

Shaq injured himself diving for a loose ball and was never the same... and then Miami started to suck in epic fashion because of all the injuries and Riley's screw-ups that ruined depth and spacing (especially when he let Kapono leave, even though it would have been expensive to retain him). It's hard to continually foster good attitude among the players on a team that is as bad as Miami was during those years.

[Icness]

Shaq isn't fat, he's thick. Trust us long-term Cavs fans, we saw Shawn Kemp balloon and Dinner Bell Mel Turpin, we know our fat big men!

[SevereMagic]

Ok so many shaquilla fans it's making me sick lol. I have to admit he did look a little light on his feet in some highlights I saw from preseason.. good for him, but that's preseason. I can see him playing a near full season plus... But at what level?

[eyejayem]

Honestly I dont mind if he takes games off(maybe 50) but as long as he comes to play against Boston, Orlando, Lakers, Denver, and San Antonio and all the playoffs I'll be good. That is really all we got him for. Winning record over elite teams and a great shot at the title.

[theFRANCHISE]

Shaq isn't fat, he's thick. Trust us long-term Cavs fans, we saw Shawn Kemp balloon and Dinner Bell Mel Turpin, we know our fat big men!

Robert Tractor Traylor

[realfung]

good news or bad news?

[Iputsomepantson]

Phil actually never had trouble "handling" him, and made it abundantly clear in his books that Kobe was much more difficult to handle than Shaq, who would frequently bitch but always do what he was told in the end (opposite of Kobe, who'd agree, and then do something else).

It's not a matter of doing what you're told in the end, it's a matter of the bitching. That's exactly what I'm talking about with "handling" the guy.

The reason he left Miami on such bad terms wasn't necessarily because of his refusal to play hurt, instead it was because he was a team cancer. Many players became fed up with Shaq's lack of hustle and Wade became irritated by it too and called him out. After that, Shaq called D-wade "wonderboy" in a mocking fashion and everything just went south.

It's hard to continually foster good attitude among the players on a team that is as bad as Miami was during those years.

You're right, nobody has a good attitude on a losing franchise, but Shaq didn't have a good attitude even when the Heat were winning. I'll be the first to admit that the fact the Heat won the championship in 06 is a miracle. They almost were exposed in the first round that year by Chicago, and they were completely destroyed by them the following season. This was largely because there just isn't such a thing as the ability for a team to "turn it on" come post-season. Shaq ran Van Gundy out of town because Van Gundy stressed the importance of playing hard all the time, but it does take a toll on a team when the players see someone out there not giving their all. Granted, the Lakers of Shaq and Kobe were good enough to work around that, but what other championship team can claim the same thing? Even the championship Heat team didn't "turn it on", though they sure thought they could the following season.

All I'm trying to say is don't make excuses for the guy Cavs fans. If you see him make a bad foul, boo him. 5 fouls in 19 mins is unacceptable. I know you want to support him, but support your franchise, not one guy that is only on your franchise for a year. I'm not saying boo him for refusing to dive for a loose ball, but boo him if he isn't playing smart. Shaq has not won a playoff series since 2006, the guy can't "turn it on", if he ever could, anymore. For you guys to win a championship Shaq needs to have 100% of his mind in the game, especially since his body can't be. This may be your final shot to win a championship for a while, don't tolerate excuses. Get it done.

[8pLEBRON]

wade was the reason why the heat lost to the bulls, he was nowhere near his regular level, and obviously that heat team relied on wade more than anyone else as he won them the championship with jordan stats v detroit and dallas, and in phoenix obviously shaq was great but the suns were the ultimate fastbreak team so they lost their strength when they went to shaq, so i dont blame shaq for not winning a series since 2006

[Iputsomepantson]

Excuses....

You'll learn young one.

[Russ369]

Mission: Fail.

[Bekim]

Hey Cavs-fans

I have a question:"Is Shaq a real improvement for your Team?"

[jaypo]

Well, seeing how he accomplished the mission that the Cavs had in mind- limit Howard- I'd say yes. Seeing how he can still demand the double team and get to the line AND put the other team in early foul trouble- I'd say yes. And since the other starting center can't hit sand if he fell off of a camel- I'd say YES!!!!

[CzBoobie]

Hey Cavs-fans

I have a question:"Is Shaq a real improvement for your Team?"

Right now, anyone would be an improvement over 7-3 center who is shooting incredible 4/31 over his last 5 games.

[tsherkin]

It's not a matter of doing what you're told in the end, it's a matter of the bitching. That's exactly what I'm talking about with "handling" the guy.

Whoo, it's been a while, I didn't even see this reply. Forgot about the post.

Yeah, Shaq moaned a little in L.A. from time to time. Most players do, maybe Shaq did a little more than some others. But in the end, he was a thunderously dominant player and frequently, what he moaned about was Kobe freelancing too much and ruining the offense to go 1-on-5. And he was right, every time he made that comment. Shaq's a guy who can and likes to pass, so in a slower offense, throwing the ball to him for a 60% FG option or the kick-out that's either an assist or a hockey assist is RARELY a bad idea. He's almost entirely unguardable one on one and he sees the double team very well after nearly two decades of professional basketball played primarily in the low post.

The reason he left Miami on such bad terms wasn't necessarily because of his refusal to play hurt, instead it was because he was a team cancer. Many players became fed up with Shaq's lack of hustle and Wade became irritated by it too and called him out. After that, Shaq called D-wade "wonderboy" in a mocking fashion and everything just went south.

Guy, Shaq injured his hip DIVING FOR A LOOSE BALL. He didn't have a lack of hustle, he had a lack of mobility due to injury. And also a godawful waste of a team that was unbalanced because Riley failed to retain Kapono when his deal expired, and they had no perimeter shooters. That team was as thin as fresh ice in 06-07, and when Wade went down, it showed. He left Miami on bad terms not just because of himself but because of the way everything was handled. That was not mostly his fault, though he's admittedly a prideful fellow who does not respond well to certain criticisms.

Shaq ran Van Gundy out of town because Van Gundy stressed the importance of playing hard all the time, but it does take a toll on a team when the players see someone out there not giving their all.

And you think RILEY was a lot better about that? This is a BS argument. Shaq preferred Riles because he had the pedigree, no doubt, but he certainly didn't push SVG out because he wanted to shut it down on a regular basis. Riley played guys into the ground. He eased up a bit as he got older, but not a great deal.

In any case, Shaq's a role player now and he knows it. He's known it for a while, and he's come to grips with it. He did a fabulous job in Phoenix last year despite terrible coaching before Gentry took over, and a weak team after Gentry took over. I don't think he's going to be the issue this year.