<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The game can't be billed as "Kobe vs. Shaq," leading to a relative drop in pregame anticipation for Heat-Lakers, Episode V. "Without a doubt," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "They're the champions and to not have Shaquille [O'Neal] here to play in this game, and without us being at full strength, takes some luster out of the game. It still should be a good basketball game. "Dwyane Wade's a sportsman of the year by international standards, United Nations. Then we've got Kobe [Bryant], who was the scoring champion. We'll put on a show." O'Neal and the Lakers' Lamar Odom are out with knee injuries. Jackson had other observations of the Heat, including one on O'Neal. When asked about Bryant's tireless work ethic, Jackson paused for a couple of seconds and picked at O'Neal's lack of one in past times. "The only person I've ever had that hasn't been a worker in the fortunate times I've been coaching is probably Shaq," he said. "He's the one guy that didn't really like to work. I know Pat [Riley] got him working here. ? We had a hard time getting him to work. All the other players ? Michael [Jordan], Scottie [Pippen], Dennis Rodman, all those guys that we had, Horace Grant, they're all hard-working." Jackson apparently wasn't fond of the Heat's roster last season either. "I still am amazed they won" the title, he said. "I told Pat that was a remarkable job to bring that team to the championship level. Dallas had them looking cold in the water and they came back and won the day." </div> Link
I've heard this before, too. I guess that big men don't have to work as much. I'm talking 'bout the heavy guys. Not those who are moving and shooting much. Like Garnett or Dirk or Big Z etc. Phil is great when it comes to answering imo. His answers are correct, straight and simple. Greatest coach of all-time ! ;D
I gotta say the same thing about Miami's lineup, it just goes to show you how much respect the players on that team have for Pat Riley. I thought the lineup consisted of a bunch of retirees, lol.
<div class="quote_poster">og15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's not a shot at him, Shaq didn't like to work, it's true, telling the truth is what it is.</div> Well, Kobe saying that Shaq was fat was also true, but not very nice.
<div class="quote_poster">Bahir Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Kobe saying that Shaq was fat was also true, but not very nice.</div> EXACTLY! But this wasn't as badly said as Kobe said that he is fat.
Shaq Fires Back <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">O'Neal, whom Jackson criticized for weight and free-throw issues while playing for the Lakers, apparently took offense to Jackson's comment that the Big Aristotle "didn't like to work" during his days in Los Angeles. "How can Benedict Arnold be reliable in what he says?" O'Neal replied as he left the Heat's locker room following Miami's victory. The L.A. Times says that O'Neal barely broke stride as he made his comment, and did not elaborate. But it is not hard to understand the source of Shaq's angst: Jackson's reunion with Kobe Bryant (a well-known O'Neal nemesis), and the Lakers. O'Neal missed his 21st game and is recovering from surgery on November 19 to repair torn knee cartilage. He was in street clothes for the game and was therefore not required to give a (more formal) post-game interview. Jackson favored Shaq over Bryant in a tell-all book released roughly two years ago. And the L.A. Times says Jackson had already talked to the news media by the time O'Neal made his comments. "The only person I've ever had that hasn't been a worker in the fortunate times I've been coaching is probably Shaq," Jackson reportedly said. "He's the one guy that didn't really like to work. I know Pat [Riley] got him working here in Miami. We had a hard time getting him to work. All the other players ? Michael [Jordan], Scottie [Pippen], Dennis Rodman, all those guys that we had, Horace Grant, they're all hard-working practice and personal work players." </div> Link Benedict Arnold
<div class="quote_poster">SpeeJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">EXACTLY! But this wasn't as badly said as Kobe said that he is fat.</div> LOL, don't feel sorry for Shaq, he was 7'1, 350lbs when Kobe called him fat. I'm sure Shaq didn't cry over it and tell the lunch lady.
