I'm sorry if this makes me sound mean, but does anyone else think Shaq looks absolutely terrible? I've never been a fan of his game because I prefer watching players with skill and finesse over players that are good mostly because of their size and power (for example, I enjoy watching Kobe more than I enjoy watching Lebron--though they're both superstars). I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I read that Shaq had been traded to Cleveland and my heart STOPPED. I remember thinking that they had basically just guaranteed themselves the championship. Then the shock wore down after a few days, and then I began catching glimpses of Shaq. He's never really been chiseled, but man is his physique horrendous. How can a professional athlete keep such poor maintenance of their body? Doesn't he know he's the starting center for an NBA team? Is it laziness? Is it complacency? Whatever it is, it will only hurt his game on the court. He lumbers around the court like a geriatric and makes Z look like Tony Parker in terms of speed and agility.

Look at Ben Wallace. He's the prototype for how in-shape a center can be. He takes time to frequent the gym and it shows in his freakishly ripped build. He's stronger, has endurance, and exudes so much effort and energy into his game. Shaq could learn a lesson from him.

I went from thinking that Shaq and the Cavs were going to win it all to thinking that Shaq will definitely bring the team down and lower their total number of wins this season. And for the people that always make the excuse that they got rid of so little to bring Shaq in, I feel it was a bad move because you didn't get rid of so little to make the team BETTER, you got rid of so little to make the team WORSE.

I also thought Shaq looked extremely heavy, time will tell whether he shapes up or not. I thought he was really pleased with what the Suns' trainers did with him and figured he'd keep it up - obviously he hasn't.

Really? He seemed really focused on this season w/ the reality show and hosting faux sporting events.

Next to the Big Show, Shaq looked chiseled as he11. It's perspective. Most NBA players are really thin, even when they're muscular. Shaq has never been one to worry about being ripped. He's been out of shape and overweight early on in the season in years he won titles at LA. I wouldn't put too much stock into what you see in preseason. Shaq uses the regular season to get in shape.

Can we all agree Shaq will be 500 pounds once he retires?

Personally, I think Shaq is going to slowly destroy this team. They will still win 55+ games but I think Shaq will kill the team chemistry. I never trust players that get traded for nothing. Plus, I don't think Shaq can gaurd D. Howard which is why I think they made this trade in the first place.

Shaq can't guard Howard as effectively as Perkins or Sheed, btu he can at least keep him out of the post and keep him out of spots where he feels most comfortable on offense.

I thought he looked very good in the pre-season, but even the biggest Cavs homer has to admit that this trade was a very risky one.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Evil:
I never trust players that get traded for nothing.

LOL, remember what the Pistons traded for Rasheed?

I'm just saying...

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Jam:

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Evil:
I never trust players that get traded for nothing.

LOL, remember what the Pistons traded for Rasheed?

I'm just saying...

I hear what you are saying and I even thought about that before I typed it. I guess I put Sheed in a whole different catagory because his rep so so damaged when he got traded. Shaq, not so much. Yet, the Heat and the Suns both basically traded him for nothing. Hell, even the Lakers let him go for a much lesser value.

You don't think Shaq's rep as a team cancer and an overweight, lazy conditioner played a factor in teams wanting to get rid of him on the cheap?

I think that's pretty similar to Rasheed's rep as a bad seed, just not exactly the same thing.

I don't think Sheed had a rep of being a bad seed. Not in the locker room anyway. He has always been great with the community too. I think with the weed issues, t's, chasing refs out of buildings and needing a police escort out of Oakland after a Warriors game caused a lot of that.

Shaq on the other hand appears to be a back stabber to me.

When I said "bad seed," I didn't necessarily mean as a teammate. It's true that most, almost all, of Rasheed's former teammates liked the guy. But, his temper on the court, him going after officials on and off the court, his combative nature with the media (in Portland, he didn't speak to the media almost at all) are also things that made him a "bad seed," particularly in the eyes of many NBA GMs. You even just mentioned a few of those things. Being a "bad seed" encompasses more than being a good guy in the community or being well liked by your teammates and coaches.

Like I said, they were NOT exactly the same type of things, but there were negative things both on and off the court with both Shaq and Rasheed that factored into why they were traded on the cheap.

I see what you are saying. I was talking more about how players act in the locker room with their team. Shaq plays the political game. One where he sees himself as the king of the world.

quote:

Originally posted by No Offense:
Shaq can't guard Howard as effectively as Perkins or Sheed, btu he can at least keep him out of the post and keep him out of spots where he feels most comfortable on offense.

I thought he looked very good in the pre-season, but even the biggest Cavs homer has to admit that this trade was a very risky one.

Agreed, BUT I think Shaq plays really motivated vs Howard, since most ppl consider Howard the 'next' great big man, he tries to prove that he's not washed up yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Evil:
Personally, I think Shaq is going to slowly destroy this team. They will still win 55+ games but I think Shaq will kill the team chemistry. I never trust players that get traded for nothing. Plus, I don't think Shaq can gaurd D. Howard which is why I think they made this trade in the first place.

It remains to be seen what will happen this season but,

Head-to-head in 7 meetings:

Shaq 19 pts, 8 rbds, 1.6 blks, .62 fg%
Howard 15 pts, 10.4 rbds, .7 blks, .56 fg%

Shaq has forced Howard to play defense and because Howard doesn't have a face-up game or play far away from the basket it has made it possible for Shaq to guard him effectively one-on-one.

Playoffs vs Cleveland '09
Howard 25 pts, 13 rbds, 1 blk, .63 fg%

quote:

Originally posted by trade101:

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Evil:
Personally, I think Shaq is going to slowly destroy this team. They will still win 55+ games but I think Shaq will kill the team chemistry. I never trust players that get traded for nothing. Plus, I don't think Shaq can gaurd D. Howard which is why I think they made this trade in the first place.

It remains to be seen what will happen this season but,

Head-to-head in 7 meetings:

Shaq 19 pts, 8 rbds, 1.6 blks, .62 fg%
Howard 15 pts, 10.4 rbds, .7 blks, .56 fg%

Shaq has forced Howard to play defense and because Howard doesn't have a face-up game or play far away from the basket it has made it possible for Shaq to guard him effectively one-on-one.

Playoffs vs Cleveland '09
Howard 25 pts, 13 rbds, 1 blk, .63 fg%

Your stats are compelling. We will see what this season brings.

Not to state the obvious, but boy Cleveland didn't look good in their first two games. Stagnant offense (Lebron vs. 5) and pretty crappy defense. Great news for us, but for Cleveland fans it must be unsettling the way they've started off so far.

I watched the game versus the Celtics starting at halftime. Shaq looked good on defense. Looked medeocre on offense. Offense, particularly Mo, was stagnent. I liked the Z-Shaq combo.

haha does anyone see why i said cleveland has a huge problem now? an i know it's early but i only see the celtics as a threat, not to say we can't take the rest lightly, yet if were locked in the celtics are the only team who can give us a problem, an there seriously goin for the bulls win record, so you know they mean business, we just have to match that, we may not win as many as them, yet our intensity has to be there, to give ourselves a chance

I was watching ESPN the other day, I know they have great credibility, and they brought up the Mo issue and his offense. I thought it was a good point. They were saying that with Shaq now, it makes Mo drop a spot or two in the preference for offensive scoring, which is ultimately going to **** him off. Shaq also already complained about minutes. To me, it kind of seems like a not as bad version of the Pistons last year. A once superstar comes to the team, complains about minutes, and former scorers get kind of pushed to the side. Also, Cavs, in my opinion, like the Pistons did, have an incompetent coach. Only difference is the Cavs have an athletic freak, superstar on their team.