<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Shaq should take a backseat because while he was still with the Lakers, he was overweight. He wasn't as mobile as he used to be. He'd take a ton of beatings from his opponents each and every night, and that slowed him down on his offensive opportunities from the field. And one of the most annoying things about Shaq is he'd never give credit to Kobe even when it was Kobe that bailed the Lakers out in critical situations. Nobody wants to be the #2 option ever on a basketball team when you have egos doing battle constantly, but Shaq is coming up on age 35, and that 35th year means something no athlete ever wants to hear. Wear and tear. Shaq may have started shedding pounds at Miami, but sooner or later he's just going to have to put the shoes away and call it a career. Kobe on the other hand recently turned 26 years old and at least has 10 years of basketball life left in him. And who would you rather build around? An aging Shaq that wants MORE MONEY even though he's being owed 29.4 million this year, or a 26 year old superstar? My vote is Kobe. </div> That is true but Shaq is only 32 right now, so according to your thoery he still has 3 good years left in him. If he continues to stay in shape and if his work ethic is as great as it seems to be right now, then there's no reason that Shaq won't be dominant until he is 37-38. It's very unlikely Shaq will work out as hard as he is right now. Keep in mind, he's looking for that contract extension and once he gets it, I doubt he won't return to the lazy Shaq he always was when he was with the Lakers. Kobe is not a saint. He has just a big of an ego as Shaq does. As Emo said, neither wanted to take the backseat. It is not Kobe's fault the MANAGEMENT chose him over Shaq. It's the managements fault. Shaq refusing to take a paycut for better role players is a slap in the face to the organization. A fat, lazy, never playing defense Shaq demanding a contract extension is just too much. I'm glad they built around Kobe. Shaq is pretty much past his prime. Yes, he will dominate but not the way he used to. Kobe is only 26. He still has 2-4 years left till his prime even STARTS. Glad the Lakers picked him over Shaq.
Another Question for the Laker Fans here? Does this team the way it looks on paper better than last year's squad?
<font size="4">"Dr. Buss made a choice between who thinks of money before playing and who plays before thinking of money.? </font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting white_bread:</div><div class="quote_post">All you guys are focusing on Shaq. What about all that business with Kobe wanting Shaq out? You guys are acting as if Kobe is a saint. Don't forget why he is on trial. ONe of you suggested that Shaq should take a backseat. Why? A lot of you play basketball, right? Do you like it when people disrespect your contribution? Why should Shaq like it anymore? I'm not defending Shaq, but you guys beating up on him is ridiculous. They both want to be seen as the best player on the team, or at least equal. I personally think Kobe's ego is too big. He thinks he doesn't need Shaq, but he'll find you. The moral of the story is, they both needed each other.</div> Unless you have some proof that the words "I want Shaq out" came out of KBs mouth your statement is not valid. We're not acting as KB is a Saint but what do you prefer a hard working player who's always ready to play or a player that is only ready when he wants to. Also KB being on trial has nothing to do with Shaq. Oh yeah from what I know the accused is presume innocent until a verdict has been reach by a jury; learn the facts about the case first before you talk about it. Oh yeah and if you're referring to him cheating his not on trial for adultery. Your thing about the ego they both have fault non of them probably didn?t want to play with each other anymore not just KB. I kind of agree with you about the contribution thing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">Well hes getting shipped away for the 1st time in his career actually. He came to LA as a free agent. Andh e;s geting shipped because of a man named Kobe Bryant(maybe you've heard of him ) Shaq is now in shape and has Dwyane Wade who is happy to take the back seat to be his partner. I don't know why you always say he'll go down with an injury for the whole season adn their sarting center will be Micheal Doleac. I don't know why Lakers fans always kiss Kobes ass. I don't see what he did that SHaq did in success. Shaq has done more for the Lakers organization than Kobe has. Face the Fact Laker fans.</div> Again your statement about Shaq being shipped away cause of KB not valid I need proof, your assuming. Again Laker fans are thankful for what he did in LA. We appreciate it very much and even though I'm mad at him I was too upset about the trade. The thing that makes many Laker fans get mad at Shaq is why couldn't he get in shape in LA why did it take a trade for him to change. We've wanted Shaq to get in better shape for at least 2years. As for kissing KB's ass, don't you have to cause he is the one who remains in a Laker uniform. The guy does some stupid stuff that makes you get mad at him but he's always ready to play and he will most likely take the blame for it. Shaq couldn't have done more if he probably didn't have KB.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know why Lakers fans always kiss Kobes ass. I don't see what he did that SHaq did in success. Shaq has done more for the Lakers organization than Kobe has. Face the Fact Laker fans.</div> Are you kidding? The Miami fans are the ones doing all the kissing lol...I guarantee every one of you would've hated Shaq if it was the Heat advancing to the Finals instead of the Pistons. Plus, I guarantee that you would all be drooling over Kobe if he was the one to join Wade, instead of Shaq. Here are the facts, Ace2k2. Shaq has never won a ring without Kobe. He's had his chance with a guy who was a great young talent by the name of Penny, but it never happened. However, Kobe has never won it all without Shaq either...but then again, he's never had the chance to. So, before you go off saying (or hinting at) the assumption that Kobe wouldn't have this much success without Shaq, we'll see what Kobe can do for the rest of his career without the Diesel, and if he does nothing...then we can all come to the conclusion that NEITHER could do it without the other. But, if he wins the championship without Shaq, then I'll be smiling and thinking about all of you that (for some reason) love Shaq and think he's the best thing to ever happen to basketball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MR_SAC_KING:</div><div class="quote_post">Does this team the way it looks on paper better than last year's squad?</div> This isn't really a good question since a big offensive force in Shaquille O'Neal is out in Los Angeles, but the main areas we certainly improved on was the forward positions. I know we may have five forwards on our roster currently, but names in Caron Butler and Lamar Odom definitely give us some depth in those positions at the three and four to give Kobe a bit of a cushion to build around so that he wouldn't have to do all the dirty work. Unlike in years past, when we had Kobe and Shaq having to carry all the load with the offense and our role players would act like spectators and only produce 5-10 points a night. Our question marks are at the point guard and center positions. Now that I think about it, I understand how Payton feels at this point right now since he said earlier before he was traded that he felt a sense of dedication to the Lakers and renewed the 5.4 million left on his contract. If the Lakers had plans all along to trade Payton, why couldn't they get a decent point guard back in return to seal that hole? We all know Payton's collapse last season, but I'd rather see Payton with the ball taking control of the offense rather than Chucky Atkins and if he fails unfortunately, who'll be the one molding and mentoring Sasha Vujacic into a great point guard? And we all know about Vlade Divac. I seriously can't blame the front office on this one since there wasn't really any talent at the center position this free agency. Divac is 36 years old, (unbelieveably) he does have leadership capabilities and is an excellent passer in the low post with incredible vision, however....how many points will he contribute from the field with his lousy footwork? Chris Mihm we were courting this season and we benefited from that knowing we traded for a guy with size and can be a significant backup off the bench besides a Slava Medvedenko or Brian Cook, but he is a lanky guy and he can easily get torn up in the frontcourt by other opposing frontcourts. The Lakers will make the playoffs with Kobe finally getting what he wanted all along, to finally be named as a leader on a basketball team, but I'm making the Lakers to be no better than a 6th seeded team entering the playoffs. At least this isnt a rebuilding season like some haters made it out to be. The future is bright in LA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MR_SAC_KING:</div><div class="quote_post">Another Question for the Laker Fans here? Does this team the way it looks on paper better than last year's squad?</div> Hmm... I agree with Emo, it is a tough question. If they Get JKidd Definately. If they don't I don't know. its hard to tell because you have to predict how the players will mesh, and see if they improve/disimprove. Like Odom will most-likely improve but, if he doesn't it factors in.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">This isn't really a good question since a big offensive force in Shaquille O'Neal is out in Los Angeles, but the main areas we certainly improved on was the forward positions. I know we may have five forwards on our roster currently, but names in Caron Butler and Lamar Odom definitely give us some depth in those positions at the three and four to give Kobe a bit of a cushion to build around so that he wouldn't have to do all the dirty work. Unlike in years past, when we had Kobe and Shaq having to carry all the load with the offense and our role players would act like spectators and only produce 5-10 points a night. Our question marks are at the point guard and center positions. Now that I think about it, I understand how Payton feels at this point right now since he said earlier before he was traded that he felt a sense of dedication to the Lakers and renewed the 5.4 million left on his contract. If the Lakers had plans all along to trade Payton, why couldn't they get a decent point guard back in return to seal that hole? We all know Payton's collapse last season, but I'd rather see Payton with the ball taking control of the offense rather than Chucky Atkins and if he fails unfortunately, who'll be the one molding and mentoring Sasha Vujacic into a great point guard? And we all know about Vlade Divac. I seriously can't blame the front office on this one since there wasn't really any talent at the center position this free agency. Divac is 36 years old, (unbelieveably) he does have leadership capabilities and is an excellent passer in the low post with incredible vision, however....how many points will he contribute from the field with his lousy footwork? Chris Mihm we were courting this season and we benefited from that knowing we traded for a guy with size and can be a significant backup off the bench besides a Slava Medvedenko or Brian Cook, but he is a lanky guy and he can easily get torn up in the frontcourt by other opposing frontcourts. The Lakers will make the playoffs with Kobe finally getting what he wanted all along, to finally be named as a leader on a basketball team, but I'm making the Lakers to be no better than a 6th seeded team entering the playoffs. At least this isnt a rebuilding season like some haters made it out to be. The future is bright in LA.</div> Well Emo i didn't say it was a good question ,but you answered it very well.i apreciate the honesty in your answer,as i believe the Lakers are still playoff contenders.as there not going to be dominating as they have been in the past,there still a decent team with or without Shaq(and probably better). The Point Guard and Center positions are questionable,and a decison has to be made in order for the Lakers to determine who will start.now that's going to be probably the hard part for the Lakers this year,but other than that it will be a good year for the Lakers,and probably a better year for the Kings LOL
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> but other than that it will be a good year for the Lakers,and probably a better year for the Kings </div> That is yet to be seen but I believe that will be the case. However, one thing I'm looking forward to is that if the Kings win thier divison and grab the 3rd seed, and hopefully if L.A can crab the sixth seed as I project them to, it will bring us to another 7 game LA-Sacramento series, perhaps the final one before a roster (Kings) is overhauled and fired. It won't be the same without Shaq and I know those Sacramento fans as well as the players will be cocky as ever because they think this franchise is nowehere without Shaq. You (Mr. Sac King) are not one of those over-the-top, Laker-Hating fans but there are plenty out there that expect the Lakers do to worse then the Warriors without Shaq. Are you forgetting that we got 3 quality players in return? We didn't lose him to free agency.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">That is yet to be seen but I believe that will be the case. However, one thing I'm looking forward to is that if the Kings win thier divison and grab the 3rd seed, and hopefully if L.A can crab the sixth seed as I project them to, it will bring us to another 7 game LA-Sacramento series, perhaps the final one before a roster (Kings) is overhauled and fired. It won't be the same without Shaq and I know those Sacramento fans as well as the players will be cocky as ever because they think this franchise is nowehere without Shaq. You (Mr. Sac King) are not one of those over-the-top, Laker-Hating fans but there are plenty out there that expect the Lakers do to worse then the Warriors without Shaq. Are you forgetting that we got 3 quality players in return? We didn't lose him to free agency.</div> Spawn,well i do believe that the Kings will win the divsion,and i would love another Kings-Lakers playoff series,so that way the Kings can FINALLY Win a playoff series against LA.but as a Kings fan i believe that the Lakers are still a good team with or without Shaq,and that there's 3 good players on the team in that trade that will help. I'm not a cocky Kings fan,as i don't make excuses for my team.they lost because they don't have a great defensive team. I'm just stating my opinon here.this is going to be a tough,but yet exciting year for both the Kings and the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yanix:</div><div class="quote_post">hehe vlade versus the kIngs? hmm another twist in the LA-Sac rivalry.</div> Yeah...if only Shaq had went to Sac-Town...geez. Haha. Imagine a playoff game like that. Vlade would be fighting Shaq in the entrance again, and there'd be so much fighting going on, it would be terrible.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah...if only Shaq had went to Sac-Town...geez. Haha. Imagine a playoff game like that. Vlade would be fighting Shaq in the entrance again, and there'd be so much fighting going on, it would be terrible.</div> Shaq as a King playing against Vlade.Now that would be pretty damn cool,and funny :mrgreen:
somebody tell David Stern this idea. if i know him then he's gonna do whatever it takes to get shaq in Sac. just so he can get loads of money!! lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yanix:</div><div class="quote_post">somebody tell David Stern this idea. if i know him then he's gonna do whatever it takes to get shaq in Sac. just so he can get loads of money!! lol </div> Ok...Everybody's got a right to dream.
All I can say is.........."GET THE DAMN SEASON STARTED ALREADY" Im itching to see the Lakers new squad on the floor
I don't know either of them personally, but here is the way I see it. Shaq wanted to share in all the glory, but Kobe wanted it to be, "Kobe is the next MJ, he's the best!" Everyone kept saying that Kobe couldn't win without Shaq. Now Kobe got rid of him and we'll find out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting white_bread:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know either of them personally, but here is the way I see it. Shaq wanted to share in all the glory, but Kobe wanted it to be, "Kobe is the next MJ, he's the best!" Everyone kept saying that Kobe couldn't win without Shaq. Now Kobe got rid of him and we'll find out.</div> I bet you want a Shaq avy and sig to replace those pair of Kobe that you have. Shaq seemed like he wanted to share...at some moments...but if this was true, he wouldn't have verbally attacked Kobe so many times like he did. This didn't start during the Finals, either...so you guys have to remember that this has been going on for quite some time, and I believe it was when Gary Payton actually commented on running the offense and being the team leader (since he's the vet PG), and then rumors flew around that Payton was trying to take KOBE's leadership role away from him. It hit the media, the media blew it up, and hence...blew the Shaq/Kobe disputes out of proportion to where each of them could say one thing, and it would be twisted so badly that there was no way that they could stop mud-slinging at each other. If Shaq did want to share, he wouldn't have told the media that he doesn't get the ball enough. Saying that they could've won if "the ball was thrown to me more often" is just saying that the Lakers can't do it without Shaq, which is a bad thing to say when you have three other top-quality players on your team. There weren't four basketballs on the court for each to have of their own, so it got to the point where arguments brewed over nothing. When the Lakers reached the Finals, Shaq thought about his MVP performances there, and Kobe thought about his "should-have-been" MVP performance in the last Laker championship run...with Payton and Malone wanting to do everything and play a part in winning their first championships, the ship began to sink...Kobe gave the Lakers Game 2, and it was over from there.
