If the Mavericks win the NBA Finals...

ShowdownKB8 · Sixth Man Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 26

The Dallas Mavericks lead the Miami Heat 2-0 in the NBA Finals. The way the games have been played, it looks like Dallas will win the series (your pick 7 games, 6, 5, or sweep). More importantly, what will the talk around the league be regarding our old friend Shaq, Wade, and Kobe be? Will pundits admit that Shaq couldn't win a title w/o Kobe? That Wade isn't better than Kobe after all? That no way in hell Kobe would let this team (replace Wade w/ Kobe) lose to these Mavericks? We all know that Shaq can carry a team to the playoffs, but we all know he needed an all star guard to win in the playoffs. Could it be that Wade is more Penny than Kobe? Finally, when the Heat lose (not a matter of if at this point), at what point will Shaq call Wade selfish, ballhog, needs to pass more (insert more Big Aristotle lines) ?

unpossibl1 · Starting Rotation Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 179

It's far to early to call the series over, especially with 3 games in a row in Miami. Dallas is in a good spot, but I am not comfortable proclaiming them the champs just yet. I want Dallas to win so badly, let's not jinx it.

As for whether there will be anti-Shaq articles and such, I kinda doubt it will be a big impact. If the Heat failed to get out of the first round, then yeah. They are in the finals though, with a shot at a championship. That's what Miami wanted when they got Shaq, the chance to win a championship. This Shaq probably isn't enough to win the title, but they go there, so I don't think the media will come down on him too much.

limchrc · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 11477

Mavs are playing great. I thought Shaq will have a field day... but as I turned out, he has been struggling the first 2 games.

limchrc · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 11477

Mavs are playing great. I thought Shaq will have a field day... but as it turned out, he has been struggling the first 2 games.

jjigga3000 · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 568

It doesn't matter what they write. Wade is not as good as Kobe, and Shaq is just not as young anymore. If it were the Shaq of 1999-2004, and I saying this. The Mavs would be having a much harder time. Don't get me wrong, I want the Mavs to win, but it's hard to really judge, the series based on this. Shaq can't turn it on like he thinks he can and The Mavs will win. If the Heat don't win the first game in Miami, count this series over, there is no way Miami will win 4 in a row.

BraveHeartII · Star Player Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1848

This game may have justified every reason for Buss trading Shaq. I've never seen one guy affected his own team, in a negative way, like Shaq does. When Shaq missed those free throws so badly in the first quarter, he rattled his entire team!!! You could tell his team were affected by the rest of the first quarter. Wade didn't know whether to throw him the ball(even though the Mavs were in the penalty) or finish the play himself.

And of course, Shaq himself was clearly affected. Notice how on the lob, he tried to lean his body away from the defender and tried to slam it in quickly, instead of catching it and bring it back down with both hands, obviously, for fear of getting foul if he tried to go back up. Or when he catched the ball in the post, tried to get it away as quickly as possible, and when he was single-teamed, he prefered to fade from the baseline(resulted in a travel), instead of making an aggressive move toward the middle.

To top it off, in the third quarter, Shaq was shooting a fadeaway, even though he was right underneath the basket!!!(he was at that spot where he can just shrug off all the defenders and slam it with one or two hand). He also rushed a couple of other shots during the third, but at that point, it was over. The play above was pretty much for comedic value.

OX1947 · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject:

What ever is said is irrelavant. If Miami loses this season, Shaq has 3 more years to win a title. If he doesnt, Shaq will go down as 3 time world Champion with Kobe Bryant. Not Penny, not Wade. And if Kobe wins a title, well, you know what will be said.....

Personally, I think Kobe will be a 20 year NBA player, and have 6 or 7 titles before its all said and done......

OX1947 · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject:

Raptor2k · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

hig · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject:

All 4 games the Mavs and Heat have played this year have been a double-digit win for the Mavs. I'm lovin' it!

"They are in the finals though, with a shot at a championship. That's what Miami wanted when they got Shaq, the chance to win a championship. "

No, that's not what Miami wanted and expected to get when they signed Shaq. They were expecting and Shaq promised and NBA Championship. A career low of 5 points tonight and 2-16 (or 18 if you count the 2 do-overs he was given in gm.1) from the charity stripe over 2 games...what's gonna be the Big Blowhard's excuse now??

I just saw the stat from another LG poster: Shaq's FT % this series..12.5%
_________________
"Kobe, Kobe, Kobe and some more Kobe, with a sprinkling of Kobe and a huge fat scoop of double Kobe with Kobe sprinkles and Kobe sauce"
----CL member bumrusherer after Kobe's 52 pt. game vs. Dallas 03/02/08

TheMagicalLakerLegend · Starting Rotation Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 127

They should admit Shaq can't win without Kobe and Kobe is a better player, but will they? No way in Hell

DocK36 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Apr 2001 Posts: 19454

Don't feel sorry for Shaq at the FT line. Remember when he had the FT coach, he was actully shooting around 60% from the line that season. What happened? He fired the guy and said he doesn't need him. Ever since then, his % has been going down. I guess when you're ONLY making 20-30 million a year, you've got to cut corners and save a little here and there. Maybe he should start clipping coupons and use the savings to rehire the shooting coach.
_________________
Ringo "You retired too?"
Doc "Not me, I'm in my prime."

KB8SD · Star Player Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 1385

insidepresence · Star Player Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 3901 Location: Ca

My question is where did Desango Diop learn to play defense like that?

What a steal, I mean they got him for NOTHING

lakers0505 · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 10701

BraveHeartII · Star Player Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1848

If Shaq was a summer league player, he probably would have already been cut. A summer league player will probably give you a -2, in comparison to an average player, but with the way Shaq's shooting free throws, he's already at least a -6 or -7, now even if he put up 20 and 10(although if he misses that many free throws, I don't know how he can average 20 points), he would still not be able to make that up(keep in mind, just because Shaq averages 20 and 10, doesn't mean that the team will be missing him by that much without him, because the replacements will always replace that to an extent, that's why teams like the Hawks, Jazz averages 90, without a superstar). If he averages 20 and 10 even by missing that many free throws, he must have had a lot of chances, which means his efficiency would be very low.

The Heat probably would have had a better chance to win if Zo started.

Hap4n · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject:

I really think Zo has a chance to start over shaq next year.

orwell

alcstarheel · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:39 pm Post subject:

kobenbynum · Star Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 1276

One thing is for sure. No way in hell would Kobe have scored 18 points when Snaq only scored 5!

Kobe would have put up 60 if they were so focued on Snaq. That's why the Lakers won three in a row. Double Snaq and Kobe drops 60, double Kobe and Snaq drops 60 (except against the Pistons fat ass).

This ends any chance of anyone ever saying Wade is as good as or better than Kobe. Even if a miracle happens and the Heat win the series. Everyone now knows Kobe>>>>>>>>>Wade.

But of course we all knew that anyway.
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Hooray Mitch!!!!

hig · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject:

FredG · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:48 am Post subject:

If Miami gets swept, the reporters in this town may have to finally remove their tails from between their legs and actually write something critical about the big judas. That means you, JA Adande.

LakersInFour · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:31 am Post subject:

Dreamshake · Franchise Player Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 13711

CheetahMan · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:25 am Post subject: