ofcourse shaq hates it when anybody gets attention besides him, he is arrogant and selfish but he is a great basketbal player. i would love to see Ming play in a rcket shirt against shaq, i think shaq wil kill him, but shaq qill not play forever, and it is wise to have a good center when shaq is gone. I WANT MING WITH THE ROCKETS
If you'er not a Laker fan you have to hat Shaq on a certain level. Have you ever played against a guy 6 inches and 100 pounds heavier down low. It is impossible. I remember I used to play one on one with my 12 year old son and I'd be Shaq as I was 100 pounds hevier and 6 inches taller. Used to feel the same way about Jabbar in his prime, with the sky hook --just back it in and shoot the damn thing that nobody could block. (Yao is working on his skyhook.) However, I do find Shaq, funny and he is one of the most intelligent and well spoken guys in the NBA, It is interesting that even Shaq is commenting. What a phenomenon Yao will be if he isn't a complete washout, which is unlikely.
I know Shaq committed the cardinal sin to Rocket fans and dissed Yao and it is unforgiveable, but it was funny as hell. And the truth. And another thing, you don't want that guy to zero hjis radar in on you, just ask David Robinson. Please, everyone, Yao will never be that dominant in this league because of the simple fact he will never be able to move anyone in the paint. Shaq is dominant because nobody, NOBODY, can keep him from getting his position and backing them down. Watch the expressions on even strong guy's faces when Shaq puts that first sholder into them. You can almost see the air leaving their bodies. Yao will probably be knocked back at least five feet! And, say what you want about Shaq, he knows what a big man's game is. He won't spend most of his time outside doing crossovers and jacking up threes. Sheesh, if a guy won't stick his @ss in the paint playing against 6'7" guys, what the hell makes anyone think he will do it in the NBA?
Shaq is athletically gifted - open mouth, insert foot. Working class? Only when the officials stop allowing him to rock into a defensive player and start calling the charge that it is.
Not anymore. I forgot what show it was on, but I was watching an interview with him earlier this year, and the reporter asked him where he thought he stacked up among all-time NBA centers. He said that right now, he thought he was right behind the group of Russell, Chamberlain, and Abdul-Jabber. There was never any mention of Hakeem. The only reason I think he used to praise Hakeem was Hakeem's veteran presence in the league (and Shaq's youth), and the fact that Hakeem embarrassed him in a Finals sweep. All that being said, Shaq is still the best player in the game. The best player in the game delivers the big shots in the final minutes, when the game is on the line. By that definition, he's not even the best player on his own team. "Don't give me the MVP like you gave it to Tim Duncan," he said. I love this quote, because it implies so much anger on his part with the award. All the media types were saying that he would go for 40 each game of that series. He never got close. With all the motivation in the world, Duncan clearly outplayed Shaq, and actually was there to reject him repeatedly in the fourth quarter. The only difference was Shaq had Kobe Bryant and the Spurs' lack of offense to bail him out down the stretch. I'm just sick of hearing that particular quote. He had five games to prove his worth by outplaying and embarrassing Tim Duncan, and he didn't do it. Deal with it, moron.
Watched an interview the other day where he was giving Hakeem his props along with Chamberlain, Jabbar, Russel. He didn't mention Hakeem in one interview after repeated interviews whereby he praises him and suddenly he doesn't respect him.
He didn't mention Hakeem in one interview after repeated interviews whereby he praises him and suddenly he doesn't respect him. When the question is directly asked of him where his place in history is, and he lists himself and not Hakeem, I'm not sure what other way to think of that.
Shaq is playing injured right now and still is being a force. Whether you like him or not, you can't deny that he's a more dominate player than Timmy D. But playing on an arthritic toe that needs surgery and two sprained ankles kind of limits what you can do on the court. When the Diesel is healthy, he runs over anyone. You have to give him his due.
One of the ankles is fine; Shaq said so himself. In fact, before game 5, Shaq had some kind of treatment, and I remember him saying that he was completely healthy and ready... and he still couldn't get it done. Everyone has problems come playoff time. Duncan had to play with the death of his father, and I'm sure that gave him a few limitations as well, at least mentally. Shaq's clearly the more dominant player, but I don't consider him the better player. The best of the best deliver in the final minutes of close games to win games and series, and Shaq doesn't do that. IMO, he's not the best player on his own team. It's not a matter of Kobe just happening to be a great fourth quarter player. As clutch as Kobe is, do you really think the Lakers would let him take 15 foot fadeaways if Shaq could get the same dunks and 2 foot hook shots he's gotten all game? In the final minutes, especially on the road in crucial situations, Shaq is a liability to be fouled and sent to the line. He's clearly the most dominant player, but before I anoint him MVP of the league, I want to see him win a few games down the stretch.
Let me clear up a couple of misconceptions you and many other people here seem to have about Ming. #1. All the anti Ming people like to say he will be the next Shawn Bradley. He will get pushed around in the paint because he is too skinny. Let me ask you this. What 21-year-old rookie has ever come into the NBA and not got pushed around in the paint. Well besides Shag who is a physical freak of nature. Ming is nearly 300 pounds at age 21. Nearly 30 pounds heavier than a fully-grown SB, and I’m sure he will put on more weight as he matures. I don’t think it’s out of the question to think he can put on 25 to 30 pounds of muscle in the next 2 or 3 years. He has a solid foundation, have you seen the size of his legs? There nothing like those tooth picks SB has. If he is able too put on the weight he will be a monster. Besides I think Hakeem proved you don’t have to be a 300-pound physical freak to be a great center. #2. He wont be able to help us this year. While he may not come in and dominate in his first year I think he will help us. Look at his game, it fits Rudy T’s system to a T. He’s a big man who can spread the floor with his range. At 7’6” you better not leave him open or you’ll never block his shot. You can’t tell me he will be worse than Jason Collier. Why do you think the Rockets drafted Collier and signed Mo T to such a big contract? It wasn’t because of their rebounding skills or ability to bully people down low. It was their ability to spread the floor so our penetrating guards would have an easier time getting to the basket. At worst he will be second string and get a pretty decent amount of min. On offense Rudy will use him to spread the floor until he develops some low post moves. Similar to the way they have brought EG along but hopefully not as drastic. On defense he will be asked to stay in front of his man and keep his hands up to force people to try and go around him where, EG a very good weak side shot blocker will be waiting. Rudy’s system and Yao Ming is a match made in heaven. When Mo T started it really opened up the lane for our guards. Our offense was really starting to jell. It was because Mo T was knocking down 14 to 18 foot jumpers consistently. Even when Collier was in the game and hitting his shots our team was effective. If you watched the first game against the Lakers last year you know what I’m talking about. Collier’s jumper was on and causing LA’S defense all kind of problems. We won that game by the way. In other words Ming doesn’t have to be dominate to contribute next year, just hit his open shots and play decent defense. If he can do that the center position will be improved over what it was last year. IMO I don't think that is far fetched at all.
God, I LOVE Shaq! Why? Because he has a quality that's in very short supply in the NBA, HEART. Granted, its easier to have 'HEART' at 7'1", 330, but it's still nice to know that there are some warriors left in the NBA. NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE COMPETITIVENESS, THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET! And if Ming is as fiesty and passionate as players like Shaq, Pierce, and Kidd, OOOWWWEEE! BTW, in defense of Shaq, it was actually a rep from the Shaghai Sharks who fired the first shot with a remark about Ming having better fundamentals than Shaq.
How can you take anything Shaq says seriously the man is rarely serious . . . ok about the flopping etc. . but about BS like this Ming thing I doubt seriously he will BOW Ming anymore than he bows everyone else Rocket River
We could draft Borchardt with the 15th pick to do that. He'll probably be a better shot blocker. I just know we will look back on this draft and realize that we were better off drafting Woods or Butler at 5 and a center at 15. As it is, the fans will revolt for Rudy wasting a number one pick - yes even the Ming homers. Look at Mo T. Everyone was glad when he chose to sign with the Rox and now most the people on this board would trade him for a dixie cup and string. I see the same thing happening when people consistently score on Yao and when he's sitting outside shooting jumpers. The cry will go out over all of Houston - "You're 7'5" for crying out loud. Get you @ss down in the paint you friggin wuss!"
Whether you like our big men taking jumpers or not it's a major part of Rudy T's system. This team is being built around SF and Cats ability to drive to the basket. They cant do that as effectively with power players with no range in the game. Cato for instance, when he is in the game it is harder for the guards to get to the basket because his (Cato's) man is cheating down on them. That's where most of the ally-oops to Cato came from. Ming probably wont be a great defensive player his first year. How many players are? His offense (range) should make our guards play better right away. We almost have to give Ming a chance unless you can bring in a player that you can say will help us become a real contender next year. If we trade him and he lives up to his potential were going to be kicking ourselves for years.
Guys, Shaq respects Dream and no else in the league. Why, Dream doesn't talk and he lit Shaq up like a Christmas tree in the finals. I love the Diesel and would trade the entire Rocket team to land him. He quotes are funny and yes, when he plays against Yao 4 times a year. It's dog out city. I feel for the Yao until he bulks up with the quicks.
This is another reason I don't want us to get Ming. He's got a bullseye on him bigger than Mark Eaton, Manute Bol, Shawn Bradley, and Dikembe Mutombo combined. He's going to be on more posters than Farah Fawcett.
The worst thing anyone could have done was to get Shaq fired up for Yao. Whoever said Yao has better skills than Shaq shall soon see the error of their ways. The Diesel is hard enough to stop without being pi$$ed off. He's going to have a serious point to prove. That means Ming, R.I.P. It's going to be ugly. Yao may never recover.
