I apologize if this has been posted. I haven't been around for a couple of days. It was in the lastest issue of SI in an article about Stanley Roberts (great article). I wish someone would hand this out to some of the Rockets to get them fired up for the Jan 17th game. Exerpt from article by S.L. Price: The way O'Neal figures it, the league has gone insultingly soft in the middle during the three years Roberts missed, making him more attractive than he has been in a long time. All the classic centers-Shaq aside-are finished or nearly so, replaced by converted forwards and willowy jump shooters who have no idea how to play in the paint. "That's why I can't wait to get ahold of Yao Ming," O'Neal says of the Houston center who, someone says, just scored a season high 30 points in a game against Dallas. "I look forward to breaking down that mother------'s body". Roberts howls. "Aw," he says, "let me at him first!" O'Neal grins and nods. "Yao Ming can play. He's got some skills, but hasn't experienced the boom-boom yet. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to get the tape, and I'm going to study it. I'm going to know it all, and then I'm going to really take it to him. He hasn't showed if he could take that force or not." "He ain't got no upper-body strenghth," Roberts says. "None." "And my man, he said my name three times," Shaq says, his voice rising. "Two in Chinese and one in American. You don't ever call me out. I'm from LSU."
You think Shaq would worry about actually leading the Lakers to a winning record and making the playoffs. They almost lost to a Vince Carter-less Raptors team. As for Stanley Roberts talking trash, the guy wasn't doing anything before he was suspended.
I hope Yao could listen, "Don't fall in that media trap!" No way in the world Yao can compete with Shaq right now in the defensive end. Physically, most obviously. But Yao could try to get fouls from Shaq. It's about playing smart basketball now. The media just pour fuel on fire.
This is good for the league. Yao Ming obviously has Shaq's attention the way Bird had Magic's, the way Michael had Magic's, the way Robinson had Hakeem's, etc. Shaq's looking over his shoulder and finally has a legitimate center to go at hard and battle with. I expect Yao to get knocked around pretty good in their first meeting but he'll adjust to the physicality of Shaq and then we'll hopefully have another epic rivalry in the making. Shaq would never live it down if Yao Ming dropped 30 on him this season.
i will bet you Shaq fouls out 2 minutes into the 4th quarter....and Yao gets a new career high against him
This was after the Dallas game, when Shaq was still on the injured list. I think this is great for the league and for Shaq. Shaq has been taking it easy during these championship years, there really hasn't been anybody who could challange him. If that damn toe, which is still bothering him, ever heals, maybe the inspiration from a challange like Yao will get O'neal lean and mean. A Shaq daddy in good shape means a better basketball player wich means better basketball for the league in general.
I'm sorry but this will not make for prettier basketball...there is just no elegance to Shaq's game...When Shaq is in, you see slower games more fouls and a guy run over everyone else...Just read his statement again, he talks about physically hurting someone else, i fail to see how that is good for the NBA
I love Yao Ming. He can take almost any C in the league. Damn, he went up against the 2nd best inside tandem in the league, kicked their ass (Spurs). Went up against the flop-master who was, at times, named 3rd best C in the league last year and kicked his butt. He went up against Bradley, absolutely demolished him. Look at Bradley's stats. He was having a GREAT season until that game. Yao TRASHED his confidence. Kandi, Magloire, Robinson, Brian Grant, Vlade....It doesn't matter, because Yao Ming is the 2nd best C in the league. Yao has passed the test. He was worth the pick, and is one talented guy. No doubt, we wouldn't be sitting pretty at 5th or 4th place in the West without him. I'd love to see Yao Ming stand up to Shaq and come out the winner. But everytime Shaq has set out to destroy someone, he has. He went toe-to-toe with our very own Hakeem Olajuwon. Sure, we sweeped the Magics, but Shaq played amazing basketball, and his teammates couldn't produce anything against our role players. Sorry Yao, here's my prediction: Shaq 40 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks, 6 assists Yao 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 assist, 5 TO's, 6 Fouls
Shaq shot 5/18 FT in Toronto. That means he shot the ball at least 25+ times. I hope Yao get that many touches. 5 out of 18 FT is very bad. It seems like he is regressing.
What happened to Stanley when he palyed with us? Why did we get rid of him, I just can't remember? I read the SI article & after reading it just wish I could slap Stanley & tell him to get with it. If he wanted to, he could still be a very good center in this league. He is only like 32 years old.
Are you implying he was ever a very good center ? The guy was so fat that whenever he fell down there was no stopping him rolling to the other end of the court....
Stanley had all the physical talent in the world. He just didn't have the will power to make it. Barkley even stated that he would have been a superstar if he could have just said no to the buffet line.
Houston will send Yao some help on the defensive end. We can alway do the Hack-a-Shaq (not using Yao to foul of course) and send him to the line. Cato will probably can do the Hack-a -Shaq pretty well too. But seriously Shaq can get position down low against anybody so Yao will need some help and the Rockets might play zone around him. Also I remember Eddie block Shaq's shot last year so he can also helping out. I don't think the result will be too lopsided like people think. Yao had stood up to the challenge so far. It seems to bring out his best. Yao will had a hard time getting position on Shaq, but if we can incorporate some plays for Yao to pop out and shoot a 15-17 foot jumpers (like Hakeem use to do) then it will bring Shaq out of the paint. In practices I think Yao hit that shot consistently. When Shaq come out of the paint then our guard can penetrate or Yao can drive around him. I think Yao will figure out a way to score against anybody. When you can't compete physically with him yet at his own game then using your head can also bring success. I think if Divac can get some success against the Lakers then Yao can also do the same.
But Oski's right when he talks about it being good for the league. It's a David vs. Goliath right now because Shaq is so big and has been unstoppable for the past 3-4 years. I think everyone in the league wants to see a Shaq-equalizer. Its interesting that no opposing center has really gone off on Yao. But Shaq is no Kandi, Vlade, or Bradley. I'm just afraid of Yao getting quick fouls because I wouldn't think a person knows how to guard Shaq right off the bat. But who knows, maybe Yao to Shaq is Mark Eaton to Hakeem -- so tall that he just puts his arms straight up and blocks the shot cuz Shaq keeps forcing it. Doesn't Mr. Cato usually play Shaq well? I remember that one nationally televised game where he blocked Shaq twice in the 4th. My prediction is early foul trouble for Yao is that first matchup with Shaq.
I have a feeling that Yao will not do well in the first meeting since he hasn't experienced anyone with Shaq's "game" yet. But he'll see Shaq again on Feb. 18th, so that may be a better game to gauge how well Yao will do in the future against Shaq.
Yao plays a finesse game, while Shaq uses brute force. Both have their strengths. As a rookie, Yao doesn't have anything to prove against Shaq this season. He's already more than validated his being the No.1 draft pick and is playing a complete and team game. And he has class. Two things that are going against Shaq: time and expectations. He's supposed totally dominate Yao the first time they meet. Anything less is a plus for Yao. I hope RudyT runs a different gameplan around Shaq to maximize the team's and Yao's strengths, just like teams are now starting to plan around Yao.
The officiating will also have a great impact on the match up. We'll see how they are going to call it when Shaq puts his body (all of his shoulders and elbows) on Yao. I predict that there will be a lot of finger pointing against the refs after the game.
