Shaq Downplays Sequel With Yao By Tim Brown, Times Staff Writer ATLANTA -- Yao Ming awaits. Shaquille O'Neal shrugs. "Just another game for me," he said. Maybe. O'Neal did not appreciate the publicity generated by Shaq-Yao I, Jan. 17 in Houston, when the national media descended to muse on the possibility that the rookie Yao, at 22, had arrived to be the league's next great center. O'Neal, the current great center, was still in the room. The Lakers and Rockets will play tonight in Houston, Yao playing better again after leveling off in the middle of the season, O'Neal the strongest he has been since preseason surgery. "I'm the M.D.," O'Neal said during a pass through the visitors' locker room here. "I'll be the M.D. for 10 years." Most Dominant. "One game can't take me off my throne," he said. O'Neal doesn't dismiss Yao. In fact, he called him "G.C.," then disappeared into the trainer's room. G.C.? The door opened a crack. "Good center," he said. TONIGHT Lakers at Houston, 6 PST ESPN, Channel 9 Site -- Compaq Center. Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330), KIRN (670). Records -- Lakers 40-30, Rockets 37-33. Record vs. Rockets -- 1-2.
F$$K SHAQ!!!! I cant wait until Yao knocks him off of his "throne", hits him with it, and then buries him under it......
I hate Kazaam, but he can be pretty damn funny / absurd. He's a big overgrown clown. Which is all okay because the guy is a great basketball player.
No prob... Yao will have a monster game and Stevie will school Fisher and CAT will have a great game D'ing Kobe...
Here is another article I found. Shaq ready for Yao The Lakers center still considers himself the most dominant, despite the result of their initial meeting. By KEVIN DING The Orange County Register ATLANTA – Shaquille O'Neal is big on acronyms. And on the eve of his second meeting with Houston Rockets rookie phenom Yao Ming, O'Neal put things in his terms with one of his favorites: "M.D.," meaning "Most Dominant." "I am 'M.D.' I've been M.D. for 10 years," O'Neal said. "One game can't take me off my throne." O'Neal then offered an new acronym, saying Yao is a "G.C." What is a "G.C."? "Good center," O'Neal said. Not as cool as M.D., for sure. But the Chinese center, 22, proved with a spectacular start against O'Neal on Jan. 17 that he is a little more than a good center or even just some "Youngster Against O'Neal." After supposedly hitting the rookie wall, Yao has dug deeper. In 12 games this month, he has improved his numbers by averaging 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. Lakers coach Phil Jackson was wary of predicting a knockout victory for O'Neal this time - even though O'Neal is clearly in better physical shape than before - because "Yao's playing better, too." "His improvement has come defensively ... a lot," Jackson said. O'Neal acknowledged the game tonight is "going to be a pumped-up event." However, he maintained facing Yao wasn't a big deal to him. "My thing is, if you have to tell me it's a rivalry, then obviously it's not a rivalry," O'Neal said. "For me, it's just another game." TOUGH FIRST ROUND The Lakers look like they won't have home-court advantage this postseason, which makes the NBA's first-round switch from a best-of-5 to a best-of-7 series notable. Jackson said that makes it harder for the Lakers, theoretically. "It's easier to win a best-of-5 when you're on the road, because you're in and out of the series quickly," Jackson said. "It's just that one trip up there (if you win one of the first two games and win at home). But to win a best-of-7 ... you're going to have get embroiled into a playoff that's going to be a huge thing." Jackson also predicted the change will alter the entire postseason because of the added early strain on players. "It's going to cost somebody some bodies," he said. "Somebody's going to get hurt, and it's going to cost somebody some playoff opportunity, I think, by extending those playoffs to seven games." KOBE STILL STANDING Jackson approached guard Kobe Bryant with the possibility of getting him some rest before the playoffs to protect his sore right knee. Jackson is at least hoping to scale back some action or effort for Bryant, who is on track to play in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career. In response, Bryant lifted up a pant leg to show Jackson how much less swelling there is in his knee now, which Jackson acknowledged. Jackson remains leery, although he kept Bryant in the rout of Atlanta on Tuesday night for a couple of meaningless minutes before finally sitting him with 2:40 left. Bryant said he would have considered a rest if asked a few games ago. "But now, the past three games, my knee has been feeling great," he said. "I haven't had any pain." Jackson took a poke at Bryant in the team's film session Thursday, saying, "Kobe's having a difficult time even getting in a defensive stance because of his knee." Jackson wants more solid defense from Bryant: "Seventy games into the season, sometimes the bad habits kind of come out." NOTES Lakers guard Derek Fisher had 12 points, six assists, no turnovers and five steals against Atlanta guard Jason Terry, whom the Lakers expressed interest in before the trade deadline. Terry set a career high with 16 assists, but shot 3 for 13 with six turnovers. ... Among those teamed with Bryant in a dominant Lakers fourth quarter were Slava Medvedenko and Jannero Pargo, the last men on the bench. ... By going 11 for 21 from the field, Bryant shot better than 50 percent for the first time in more than a month (Feb. 19 at Utah). http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/o...PORTS&subsection=PRO&year=2003&month=3&day=26
I think Shaq just isn't taking the Rockets seriously yet. That's why he doesn't see Yao as a rivalry. He is taking the Kings seriously. Look how he talk trash at them.
shaq might be MD, but he can't for get he is also the WA / WR / WC ever. (worst actor, worst rapper and worst comedian) MD for ten years? yeah right.
MD between Hakeems retirement and the time when Yao's team finally makes him a #1 option instead of #4... Even thought the media tries to build something up, Shaq and Yao actually like eachother on and off the court.
This is just some trash talk from Shaq. Does anyone seriously think he's not looking forward to tonight's game? And I'm sure Yao is too. This is merely a case of Shaq protecting his aura of invincibility, which has taken a serious hit due to all the big toe trouble. All in all, I think he respects Yao and I'm sure that as a competitor he'll do his best to dominate. As will Yao. Also, I think the Rockets and Lakers are going to be there as well.
Thank you. It's amazing how all the Laker haters here hang on to EVERY little word that Shaq says, when he is being sarcastic or just talking trash 99% of the time. You would think that with the Rockets having Barkley for 4 seasons, people would understand how little words mean...
shaq is a decent person when hes not trying to run his mouth creating controversy for games. just the other night i was watching fox sports and during the david robinson thing he was david a really nice message that was so unlike shaq, and didnt say one stupid thing. will be a huge match either way, if he wants to say it or not.
that's weird. i remember shaq used to talk a lot of trash about robinson basically saying that the guy was a phony and nothing like the image he portrays to the media.
kidrock8, The Lakers are the second most hated team (behind Utah) among Rockets fans. Accept it. Don't try to defend them on this board. jamalccc takes it with grace.
As much as I dislike Shaq, he's been playing a lot better since his first matchup with Yao. Back then, he still wasn't in good shape from his toe surgery. Quite frankly, I think Yao fans might have to entertain the possibility that it could be a long and ugly night for Yao.
Here is an interesting article on the contributions of Shaq and Yao to their respective teams. http://www.nba.com/features/yao_shaq_030326.html
It is clear that Shaq shows no respect to both yao and rox. We gotta win this game to shut him up. If Laker lost, they might see their playoff ticket fade away..... Go Rox! Go Suns! ya, it's just another game, another game that shaq got blocked 3 or 4 times in a row. ha ha .
