I submit to you that the best defensive big man in the league today is Alonzo Mourning, period -- starter or bench player. Incredible shot-blocker, and looks like he still has a few more good years left in him. If Shaq is healthy and remains so into the playoffs, I wouldn't want the Heat in a 7-game series, simply because they have the best inside combo in the league in Shaq and Zo -- not to mention that at times they play both at the same time. If some of their other guys (i.e. Walker, Posey, GP, Williams, Anderson) get their act together and make a contribution in the playoffs, I genuinly believe they will defeat the Pistons and give us an epic finals to remember against the Spurs...provided Duncan is somewhat healthy, of course.
There is no doubt about that. I'd like to see a little bit of twin towers style of play with him and Shaq daddy.
if zo had to play more than 25 mins per game all year, he wouldn't be nearly the player he is. in fact, he might be injured.
I think you know where I stand on Zo...I believe the Heat are actually better when Zo is on the court in the 4th quarter b/c shaq is a shell of himself, can't hit free throws and is a liability on D. I hope ZO can win sixth man of the year, since he probably doesn't play enough minutes to earn defensive player of the year. If shaq can get in shape and stay healthy, d wade stays healthy and riles plays shaq and zo together more, I think they can beat the pistons. I believe they are playing each other this wed on ESPN. Should be a great game.
He would average close to a double double and probably close to 3 blocks a game. Dude is a warrior and probably the hardest player in the game because he plays every second with the intensity of a game 7.
The fact Zo is a reserve who can max out his effort in limited minutes is key to his effectiveness. That doesn't subtract from how good he is on defense during games. Outside shooting could haunt the Heat in the playoffs. They'll need stellar defense plus consistent all-world games from Wade to make the Finals. For some strange reason, when I've seen the Heat play this year they don't play their best as a team. It's always Wade Wade Wade bailing them out. Their roster seems stacked, but I haven't seen Posey, JWill or Toine play a good game yet. I give the Pistons a big edge right now.
Statistically, the Heat are just the 12th best team in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Spurs are just blowing everyone out of the water, defensively. They're three points per 100 possessions better then the second-best (Indiana) team. Duncan anchors the interior defense and still brings home a ton of defensive rebounds. No, he's not quite the offensive player he was last year, but for once I'd like to see the guidelines most writers use for MVP voting applied to this award -- the best defensive player on the best defensive team. And as good as Bowen's been on D, Ginobili is right there this season. If Zo could play more then 20 minutes a game, he'd be my guy. Also, I've seen the Heat give up WAY too many offensive boards while Zo chases blocks. It was the case back in November when he was starting, and it's the case now that he's a role player. Still, Zo does hold guys to something like a 11 PER. Good stuff.
A warrrior? LOL. A true warrior won't tell a team he's shipped to, "Your team is no good, so I won't report, and I will just claim that I am injured and collect my paycheck. You better buy me out, so some good team can pick me for cheap, where I can maybe ride someone else's jock, and showoff my fire in that 10 minutes." Anyone wants to jump on a bangwagon to pick a ring on someone else's mercey, is doomed to fail. Malone proved that to you. So did Payton, and he will do that again, so does Zo - the warrior.
He never claimed he was injured. He did not want to play for the Raptors, a team headed nowhere. If I were him I would have done the exact same thing! The only thing he did wrong in my opinion is insist on the buyout. He should have asked to be waived without asking for a settlement of the money. On that regard I cannot defend him but on not wanting to play for the Raptors he did the right thing. What's the point of him playing on a $hitty team? Dude is risking his life by playing (the only reason he came back was to win a title). Through his whole career, you can name maybe one other all-star player that plays with as much passion, energy and heart every single second he is on the court (KG). Dude is a warrior!
For some reason, I've always had much respect for Zo's game. He really seems to leave everything in the floor (which may explain why his body is so banged up), never sacrificed defense for offensive stats, and was ready to do whatever it took for the team to succeed. I'd really like to see him get a ring, just not with the Heat. Maybe if Deke retires, we could bring the Twin Towers back to Houston?
He never claimed he was injured? He was injured, stayed injured, and never reported, even for physical exam. That injury miracalously cured once he received the buyout. If he said I don't want to play for you and I won't report, he wouldn't get paid, just like JJ. He didn't want to play for a $hitty team, but was more than happy to rip off that same $hitty team. I have no respect for that kind of warrior, despite all his poses after a dunking or a blocking.
Of course he could play 25 min a game. When Shaq was out for a month, his stats were as follows: 30 min per game 12 ppg 9 rebounds per game 4.2 blocks per game The guy is in great shape. He treats each possession as if its the last play of his career. His intensity is unmatched. He can consistently play over 30 min a game which isnt too bad considering the fact that Yao could barely do that until this season.
In other words, he's Old Skool. God I miss old school basketball, I guess that's why I tend to be biased towards the older players. That 'intensity' and 'toughness' and warrior-like mentality is almost completely gone from this league. The young players in the league today are just as talented as those greats who came before them, but they just lack the intangibles those great players had.
He was recovering from the aches and paines of playing all those games for the Nets and was getting tested by his doctors (afterall he was only coming off a kidney transplant, no bid deal )
Speaking of the Heat, how good will Wade be when he gets a consistent outside shot? 99% of his moves involve taking his man to the basket, and he still averages 27/6/6
