I'd also add that if the Lakers could 1) win without Shaq or 2) had a much better record people wouldn't get on Shaq's case as much. The Lakers without Shaq are way worse than a .500 team and since their still are below the #8 seed, people may have a legitimate worry if Shaq misses enough games. P.S. as great as Kobe is, I think it's quite telling that he can't win without Shaq. I would argue that McGrady w/o Hill is comparable yet the Magic win alot more although they do play in the East. With all that said, it's tough/rare to win in the NBA without a big man. MJ did it, but aside from him recent Championship Teams have relied most on guys like Shaq, Duncan, and the Dream...
My gut feeling is that Shaq was always going to play this game, and that he is just setting himself up for one of two possibilities: 1. A heroic, gutsy effort while hobbled with injury (and billions of people rooting against him) to lead his team past a dangerous opponent, and into the playoffs. (what a hero!) 2. A heroic, gutsy effort while hobbled with an injury and billions of people rooting against him, falling just short of an incredible victory against Ming the merciless, a giant with billions of people rooting for him. (what a martyr!) Of course, the billions of people rooting against Shaq (and for Yao) would ALL be from China, since it's not like Yao won the paper balloting for the all-star game, in addition to the online. As for him not playing, I'll believe it when I see it. until then, it's just posturing in the media.
try reading my post again, but this time, flip that little switch that says "sarcasm detector" to on. (I'm very sarcastic.)
I'm hoping that Shaq sits and Kobe plays. If neither plays, we're bound to lose. If Shaq plays, it'll be a tough game. If we lose, the Lakers will be tied with us. If we win, we won't pay any attention for the next half-dozen games and fall out of the playoff race entirely.
I'm afraid that if Shaq doesn't play, Kobe and Kareem Rush will both get their career highs and eek out an 89-87 win over the curiously listless Rockets whose only scoring comes from PG Steve Francis who after the game says: "We tried to get the ball to Yao all night. You just don't understand what it's like to be a PG in today's NBA"
If Shaq plays, then Yao will have a better game. Because if Shaq plays, they won't send double coverage on Yao, and will let O'Neal take care of Yao. I'm just not convinced that Shaq can defend Yao while so hobbled and after Yao's had 4 days rest. He's played something like 1 hour and 15 minutes TOTAL SINCE the Cavaliers game (estimating). If Shaq doesn't play, the Lakers will send double coverage and Yao and Francis will have trouble connecting. But I think we can win either way. Kobe is in no position to play D right now. He has a sprained knee, and has to carry LOTS of the offensive load wit Shaq injured. The startegy is simple. Go to Yao as much as humanly possible, but come right back out and let our backcourt win it for us.
I agree. Shaq will play, and the announcers will give him all sorts of praise (which, he'll OBVIOUSLY deserve) for playing a game that the team doctors requested he sit out. Whatever. Play the damned game or don't play the damned game. I don't care. Just please don't turn the NBA into your personal soap opera, Shaq.
also, if Yao plays better this time ... Shazam can point at his knee as the reason for the rise in Yao's play. All of a sudden it's a win-win for Shaq when I previously had thought it was a win-win for Yao.
"Hopefully," O'Neal said, "everybody will step up and hold the fort till I come back." http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/o...TS&subsection=SPORTS&year=2003&month=2&day=18 http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/o...PORTS&subsection=PRO&year=2003&month=2&day=17
