this is sad, dampier and diop? orlando magic shaq would have destroyed them. Dream (any non-steve francis year)...those dudes would have fouled out in the 1st half.
If shaq would just come up the lane and have an 8 footer, it would make a big difference, he is just camping on the low post and it is too easy to guard him there. DD
The game is just changing...plain and simple. You can't really do much when you are double teamed before you even have the ball...this ain't the 80's and 90's anymore. It's an all guard game now. The Mavs have Howard, Harris, and Terry who are all fast, quick, and good defenders. That's why I think we need to definitely draft guard...for those who are in favor of Sheldon Williams. I think Howard and Stro, as bad as they are...will not be much worse than a PF out of college. We need some quickness and shooters for sure.
I kinda want Riley to win one. part of me feels for Miami since its the old school players we loved to hate. Zo Payton Shaq I dont want these punks from Dallas to win.
Overall team speed is the difference. It is Wade and the old school NBA relics against the roadrunners. It is not working out. The Heat will have to shoot 60% for four quarters to win a game.
the biggest problem: no one is feeding the ball! he should get at least 12 shots! little off-topic: my friend and i were arguing if yao deserved to be in the all-star game. he said yao got into the ASG because of all the chinese fans. i said yao got more paper ballots than shaq but my friend wont believe me. can any of you please help me find some credible evidence to support my argument? thanks in advance
This is from three years ago when Yao was going against Shaq head to head, so it's even stronger proof: http://www.nba.com/allstar2004/allstar_game/starter_040129.html
Two points: 1) If Shaq's teammates could hit a damn jump shot, then maybe the D would be forced to use single coverage on him more often. 2) If Yao's chinese votes are going to be used against Shaq, then maybe Shaq's US votes should be discredited too, then it will be fair.
Shaq is not the Shaq of old, but he is still a force. His teammanets just couldn't get him the damn ball in this game.
You know Shaq is done when he got out-scored AND out-rebounded by a guy Shaq regularly made fun of - Erika Dampier!
Damn it, How hard is it to put mourning and shaq in the game at the same time????? i know he is really the only other big man, but jeez - 15 minutes a game with both of them on the court would make a hell of a difference. Dominate the rebounds. Clog up the paint on D. Mourning there for easy dunk if his man doubles. COME ON!!!
I don't think we should try to play like the Mavs or Suns, but with the rule changes speed/quickness is now more important than ever. All the successful teams you mentioned are all fairly quick.
this is an outstanding post. the suns and dallas are really exceptions in the nba, not the rule. good teams with good players win, no matter what they're style. as major points out, look at the diversity of the current nba elite. could detroit and phoenix be any more different, yet their success level was pretty equal.
I have said it since game 1. The second best center outplayed Shaq down the stretch. And in game two, he simply outplayed Shaq the whole game. Now Damp has a strong case to claim himself to be the best center in the world.
Shaq = Yao Haslem > J Howard/S. Swift T-mac = Wade Posey, J Williams > Alston, JJ Redick Walker, Payton, Mourning > Bench ? Results? both teams got blown away by the Mavericks.
Last night was a shocker of a joke -- they have to play competively next game... right!? Please... _____ Shaq looks like he is wading through mud in a swamp filled with mosquitoes [Mavs].
DD, now you are beginning to scare me. Yes, Shaq at 34 is no longer the Shaq we all remember. But to say that Yao would have fared any better against the type of defense we saw last night is simply not true. Yao may indeed be more mobile than the 34 year old Shaq but he's not THAT much more mobile. In fact, last night, the Heat started to look a whole lot like the Rockets did last season. The new zone rules have all but eliminated the effectiveness of big men to play in the low post. That's why I am skeptical about your belief that the Rockets can "impose their will" on other teams and force them to try to play into our strengths. To me, they simply don't have to do so. The presence of TMac won't be enough to force them into playing into our hands either. Your post also "hopes" that somehow, some way Swift will finally start playing up to his "potential" after what: 6 years in the league? That would certainly be something to see next season (or any season for that matter). As for depending on CD to "find" us a FA or 2, oh yeah, that'll happen. Why just look at the fine job he's done so far... It really saddens me to say this but after watching the Mavericks completely dismantle the Heat last night, the future started to look very bleak for this franchise. Between, Dallas & San Antonio and perhaps even New Orleans, the Rockets face an uphill climb back to contention - one that may take them years to complete.
I agree, that game definately reminded me of a rockets game with Yao getting mobbed before catching the ball and his teammates bricking open shots. Welcome to Yao's world, Shaq. Not so easy when your teammates suck and the rules are constantly modified against you. Not so easy when you can't get away with your pet moves that should have been called offensive fouls years ago. I'm sure Stephen A. Smith is probably going off on Shaq right now, but imagine what he would say if Yao had that type of performance.
