Here's some interesting comments taken from one of the articles from a tired, beaten Shaq Wednesday night after the game: O'Neal, who finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, fouled out with 3:20 to play. Bryant came off the injured list and scored 14 points for the Lakers. "We played as a team and everybody played together with great chemistry and they couldn't get hold of what we were trying to do," Yao said. O'Neal didn't concede too much to Yao. "He made the shots, but he got the whistle, too," O'Neal said. "He's a big guy and has a soft touch. I don't think he'll ever be able to play me one-on-one, ever, ever, ever. We let this one slip away. They played with a lot of effort. We just made mistakes." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Keep it up Yao. Just keep coming to work with that lunchpail and hand Shaq his lunch. I counted at least 2 fouls that Shaq made that didn't get called before the refs finally had to give him #6 last night. The play where he just backed over MOT and it wasn't called, and then the next trip down he went right over Mo's back for the rebound and that wasn't called. Why in the world is he talking about Yao getting the calls when it is blatently obvious that he gets so many calls and non calls go his way? It is because he is reduced to making excuses and his refusal to acknowledge Yao's game. Shaq got at least 8 fouls tonight. Yao got called whenever he had any contact with Shaq. HEHEHEHEHEHE Da Big Aristotle better look at some film and do some studying because the Dynasty is unfolding. Yao has messed with Shaq's mind, not because Yao is playing mind games, but because his game has frustrated Shaq. I can't quit laughing about the play me one on one ever, ever, ever quote. Scoreboard Shaq! Time to retire. Shaq is on the downhill and Yao is pedaling uphill. After tonight's game, I am convinced that Yao is gonna dominate this league. He's a sophomore and he's already giving the best in the league all they want and more. You can talk about him being a bad leaper, being slow, blah, blah, blah. But the man is a balla. I wouldn't trade him for Shaq right now. The only players that I would even consider trading Yao for would be KG or TD and then I would have to give some thought to it. Yao had better get ready. Because he has gotten into Shaq's dome, I would be willing to bet that the next time they meet, Shaq will really throw some of the rough stuff at Yao. Shaq was on the verge of losing it all tonight. The big foul on Francis was simply frustration at not being able to dominate the game. His last foul on Yao was also frustration. He wanted out of the game. He didn't want to lose to Yao and be on the floor with no excuse. So he pulls out the big hack job and takes a seat on the bench and then blows that bologna after the game. Shaq is losing his supremacy. Plain and simple.
shaq is like amare, when under the basket, they get chicken... shaq didn't want to get dunked on, so he stepped aside and hit yao upside the head, waht a finish by yao
I'm ecstatic that Yao made Shaq ride the pine with 3:20 left in the game. I guess every "legend" has his sunset on the horizon at some point. It's kinda cool how Shaq got his first real schoolin' and competition from a Houston center, and his latest real schoolin' and competition from a Houston center. History does repeat.
No kidding! That reminds me after the championship game vs the Orlando Magic were Shaq found Taco Bell to sponsor the one-on-one game vs Hakeem which eventually, Hakeem figured out that he does'nt need to proved a thing to the weak young Diesel. The Diesel man think that his prime is right on the tail of it! Yao the new "Conquetadores", The new dominant ruler!!
No kidding! That reminds me after the championship game vs the Orlando Magic were Shaq found Taco Bell to sponsor the one-on-one game vs Hakeem which eventually, Hakeem figured out that he does'nt need to proved a thing to the young untalented Diesel. The Diesel man probably thinking that his prime is right on the tail of it! Yao the new "Conquestadores", The new dominant ruler!!
Why is Dream still laughing? What's he saying? "One day you too will be a ridin' in da back seat, Shaq!"
I'm sorry I'm sorry. Please be merciful gentle dominating giant. I had no right to think I could play with you. And I'm sorry for saying all those bad things, I never meant it, really really! Please, my soul is at your mercy, I'm begging you! Hey, you got a spot on your shoe, can I shine it for you!
Yeah, but here are some of the things Shaq said about Yao, according to the Chronicle: Said O'Neal, "He's a good guy. He's fun to watch. He's a different player, 7-5, 7-6 and he can play. It's not like the other 7-6 guy (Shawn Bradley). This guy is 7-6 and can play. He's a force to be reckoned with." and: O'Neal said he does not resent Yao's popularity, even his starting spot in the All-Star Game on O'Neal's home court. "It happens," O'Neal said. "It happened to Mr. Ewing when I came in the league. Now I'm in the league 11 years, you got a new young kid that's playing pretty good, it happens. It's called life." Coming from Shaq, that's some mighty high praise. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2399232
Not to take anything away from Yao, but Shaq is right that Yao can't play him 1 on 1. Lakers always went with single coverage, Shaq on Yao. Rocks almost always double or triple teamed, and sometimes let the 4 take him, like Cato or even MoTay in the 4th to keep Yao out of foul trouble. (Cato went for a nasty block every time he doubled Shaq, I love when he plays angry.) Our defensive strategy was effective against Shaq, hell it was effective against everybody, and for that I'm terribly happy. But if we went single coverage the whole game, Yao vs Shaq, Diesel would have gone off for at least 35, maybe 45, and Yao would have fouled out much earlier. By far the most significant aspect of last night's matchup is that Yao can score consistently on Shaq, which certailnly no other center since Hakeem can say. He can't score at will, but he can do it- the jump hook, the fadeway, the spin fake, the long jumpers. It's too early to say that Yao has surpassed Shaq, but this game has to be great for his confidence... for 37 minutes he went straight at him on offense and had a huge 4th quarter.
did anyone else think that shaq should've been called for a flagrant on the foul on yao ming instead of the foul on francis? i always thought flagrants were more on intention rather than how hard it was.
I think it's more that Shaq is starting to show his age, and Yao is just younger and is able to keep up with him. I doubt Shaq is psyched out -- he still knows he is the biggest, baddest dude in the NBA for now.
I think Cat kind of got into Shaq's head too. Did you notice Shaq and Cat got in an argument after Shaq right before Shaq fouled out. It was when He was fouled on a shot. My take on it, from what I could see body language wise, Shaq was saying the ref's were giving Yao special treatment, and Cat was telling Shaq he was full of beans and that Shaq was getting away with fouling Yao at the other end. Next time down the court Shaq mouthed 3-0 (number of championships?) or something to Mobley. Then, Yao got good position and Shaq fouled him to foul out. Anybody else have an opinon on what happened there?
That was an awesome display by Yao last night. Especially those two moves he made in the fourth quarter, just beautiful. I really think this team's got something special, if they can just harness it more often. A really quality win over an opponent starting 3 hall of famers.
Anybody notice how inert Yao made Tim Duncan and Shaq. They definately became passive against him. They still got their points, but they were not the same players. Very Strange.
