http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2062880 ROSEN: These matchups are worth every penny Charley Rosen Games to the right of us. Games to the left. Which games should we watch? If I had my druthers, these are the matchups I never would miss: Lakers vs. Rockets The most appealing confrontation in the NBA is the battle of the Goliaths, Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming. Shaq rarely is motivated in the regular season, but facing Yao always gets the Big Load psyched. Shaq settles for flat jumpers against most of his opponents, but he's determined to attack Yao with marginal charges, ferocious wheelings and powerhouse dunks. At the other end of the court, Shaq easily can muscle Yao off his favorite low-post spots. Plus, Yao's release is a tad slow. Shaq is big and quick enough to challenge Yao's turnaround jumpers, so Yao tends to rush his shots against the Lakers. But there are weapons in Yao's arsenal that can be highly effective against Shaq: Yao spins slowly but tightly to either baseline or to the middle and can attack both sides of the basket. He has an array of "cute" flips, one-dribble reverses and even a few duck-under moves. Count on Yao to finesse Shaq three or four times per game. Yet Yao's biggest advantage against Shaq is his ability to catch and shoot at the high post. With his feet set, Yao has range up to 20 feet. Because Shaq still is 30 to 40 pounds overweight, he doesn't have the lateral quickness to challenge Yao beyond the shadow of the basket. There's another intriguing subplot: The barely disguised loathing with which the opposing coaches regard each other. To Jeff Van Gundy, Phil Jackson is an arrogant, cold-hearted, pseudo-mystic who owes his celebrated genius to players such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaq and Kobe Bryant. To P.J., V.G. is Pat Riley's pip-squeak, illegitimate and ring-less heir. This is a match up I want to see -- in the Western Conference Finals!
hyuk hyuk hyuk. yao just needs to put his heel down on shaq's big toe. hard. while he's backing him down. that's it.
Holy smokes! That's my brithday! I never realized that the Rox play the Lakers on my birthday! Sure would like to see us win that one! And, honestly, the way Yao has been playing lately, I wouldn't mind seeing Yao win one of the Yao-Shaq battles. -- droxford
Awesome! I've got great seats to the Laker game on Feb. 11! Hopefully that lazy-ass Shaq will get off his mid-season rest and play. Laker fans have been getting a little restless with his absence, many think he's just faking to rest up.
The first game against the lakers this season, Yao held is ground and ended up having the upper hand because rockets got the win. THis time around shaq is coming off an injury, and Yao is coming off an explosive rampage. It should be interesting...
...and one not to miss. Hear that, Shaq? Shaq's commercial about how he is just like 'me', always working hard? What a reach. Shaq is so dominant, but so seemingly uncommitted to any month not named May or June.
Oh, there has been for a long time. As Riley's protégée, JVG was jealous of the success of PJ's team, just like his mentor. He has never missed an opportunity to take a shot at PJ, even when he was working as a TNT crew. On the other hand, PJ has never taken JVG seriously at all. He chose to look over him every time the Bulls played the Knicks after Riley left. This really pissed of JVG, drove him crazy. As a Bulls fan in the old days, I’ve never liked Riley but had the ultimate respect for him as a coach. For JVG, I chose to look over him just like Phil did in those days. Damn, I’ve to grow to like the guy now since he is coaching my team. --daoshi
The "Big Load" has got to be one of the stupidest nicknames I've heard in a while. It also sets up some unfortunate headlines in case Yao accidentally injures Shaq by stomping on his toes (e.g., "Yao drops Big Load.").
