Yeah, I've kind of been surprised too. All the talk in the offseason about the amazing shape he has gotten his body in...I expected 30 ppg. He hasn't really looked any more mobile or quick right now than he did last season. I suppose if his weight loss prevents injury, it will be worth it, though.
Phil Jackson said in his book that the best post entry passer for the Lakers was Kobe. I saw some of the Miami/Spurs game the other day. Rasho fronted. Shaq got 6 points in the 1st half. You can't pressure the passer if the passer is a talented MFer like Kobe. TMac will eventually become the best post entry passer for the Rockets because anyone who puts pressure on TMac is going to get blown right past.
Spot on. His Miami team mates are struggling feeding Shaq the all properlly. Sometimes they just ignore him and this ticks me off. You have the MDC in the post and Rashual Butler and Eddie Jones are busy laying bricks. Patience is virtue by the saying is lost on his heat teammates. If Shaq is the post, feed his the damn ball every time down until he is worn out and tired. Worst still their post feed is terrible. Lack of patience I notice too. The stuff is annoying. Shaq has not lost anything in my opinion, he is just surrounded by a buch of dumb team mates save for Wade.
Well shaq also hasn't really found a rhythm as well. You notice his turnovers have been pretty high as of lately. This is probably due to the team getting used to having a big center like shaq as well as him nursing his hamstring along as well. It'll begin to pick up I hope but I'm sure with wade back it will be easier to get him the ball. He's still producing out there and dominating that paint. He's also been shooting horribly this year from the FT line. Well worse than recent years. Only at 39% so that accounts for some of his points as well but he's averaging about the same amount of FGA this year as last year. Just like our team their team has to have some time to gel as well. Miami is one of those teams i'm watching as well. I just want them to do better than kobe's lakers.
Hmmm two of the best centers in the league playing for their perspective "_____ Van Gundy" coach and most people complain that Yao and Shaq are not playing to their potential. Do not get me wrong I like JVG, but this idea makes me raise an eyebrow. Maybe I am reading too much into it...
I noticed it too. As I said in a another thread, Shaq's hamstring must be bothering him a lot. He seems slower, and not as explosive. Still gets rebounds though, his body shape has a lot to do with it.
I think its important to remember the size of Shaq's hamstring. The bigger you are the longer the healing process is usually and the more it nags and hurts. IMO he still looks very good and it's only a matter of time till some teams start doubling D wade on a more consistent basis and Shaq starts dominating.
Shaq has certainly seemed less explosive than I expected. I wouldn't blame it all n his touches, either. He's averaging the same FGA as last year, but making less of them (52.6% vs 58.4%). I've watched him miss numerous point blank layups off of spin moves....uncharateristic. I'm inclined to say that the hamstring is bothering him a lot more than we may realize. Also, I agree that he wants to be partners with Wade instead of the main show. Haslim has been a huge boost for them early on. He's looking great. Evan
I'm glad to see ESPN do everything they can to tell the public about how dominating Shaq has been so far, despite Shaq's lack of cooperation.
