<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Told that the general managers across the league favored him to win the Most Valuable Player award in a preseason poll, O'Neal said he is not concerned with the award. ''If I want it, I'll go get it,'' O'Neal said. ``But individual accolades haven't meant much to me ever since I met Phil [Jackson] I've been winning, and that's what it's all about. I'll take winning over individual accolades any day.''</div><div align="center">Source: Miami Herald</div>
I still think he is going to have alot of trouble recieving this award. Kevin Garnett and Timmy Duncan still have a favorable shot and picture the Lakers actually being good this year and that would throw Kobe in the mix.
Well, I'll say this much: if Shaq gets the MVP, it'll be because he stayed healthy all year long. I won't sit here and say he isn't going to put up big numbers...but you can't win an MVP award when you miss alot of games. And for some reason, I think Dwyane Wade won't take the backseat he was mentioning the day Shaq arrived in Miami. No matter what he says, Wade and Jones are still the bigger parts of this team, because Shaq has to adjust around them, not the other way around. Wade and Jones will do their thing, and that's why I see Shaq's numbers not really reaching the 30 PPG and 14 RPG some guys are predicting, but still in the mid-20's for scoring.
wouldnt surprise me. iv been predicting an mvp calibre season from shaq since he got traded. i dont expect him to miss any games either. if the heat finnish up the top of the east, shaq could easily win it
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I'll say this much: if Shaq gets the MVP, it'll be because he stayed healthy all year long. I won't sit here and say he isn't going to put up big numbers...but you can't win an MVP award when you miss alot of games.</div> I agree here, IMO he needs to play 75+ games <div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">And for some reason, I think Dwyane Wade won't take the backseat he was mentioning the day Shaq arrived in Miami.</div>Cmon man. I think you would love to see Wade and Shaq go at it like Kobe and Shaq did. I don't think you're concerened about the best interests of this team. Your hate for Shaq and wanting to see im fail is a dead give away. Cmon man Anyways, Wade has shown that he's all about winning and is willing to give up his greatness to be part of something greater (Shaq has too). Wade's the type of player that loves to pass, he's unselfish, loves to get his team involved, he never question's the coaches decision and does what he's told to the fullest extent and with energy, he's loves to drive to the basket to draw the double/triple team and then kick it to the wide open shooter, etc. His actions prove that he wants to do everything possible to win. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">No matter what he says, Wade and Jones are still the bigger parts of this team, because Shaq has to adjust around them, not the other way around. Wade and Jones will do their thing, and that's why I see Shaq's numbers not really reaching the 30 PPG and 14 RPG some guys are predicting, but still in the mid-20's for scoring.</div> I agree here that it is a team effort and the entire team has to be involved. But it also depends on the plays that SVG has planned and the plays that will be called. As for Shaq's number he's gonna get a lot of plays called for him and the team would love to give him the ball on almost every play cuz he has an easy time scoring. But another thing you have to factor in is that it's Shaq FG% that allows him to get big numbers. Remember last season he wasn't in the top 50 FG Attempts going under 1,000 attempts but he was still ranked #11 in PPG.
heatfan83...the thing is, believe it or not, I really don't want to see the Heat fail. I was seriously on my feet and cheering for them when they were looking good against Indiana in the playoffs, and I would've had their back against any team in the East and probably every team but the Lakers. I don't think that's very hard to believe, actually...but if the Lakers weren't going to win, I wanted to see the Heat win it all. However, I can't say that I want the Heat win and not Shaq, because that's not the way it's going to work. It's either they win, or they lose. If Shaq fails, the Heat fail...and with the way Shaq has been guaranteeing success in his first season in Miami, and by the way he's talking bad about our organization (not just Kobe anymore), I'd love to see Shaq fail. Sadly, it means that Miami will also, and that's not something I wanna see for the rest of the team, but that's not my choice.
No question Shaq's gonna put up big numbers, but can he stay healthy? He hasn't played over 70 games since his MVP season in 2000. If he can stay healthy, and lead the Heat to 60+ wins, He'll win it hands down.
Well seeing that Shaq is the only real threat on the Heat Team besides Wade. Yeah, he'll probrably MVP. Most valuable player for his team definately. Without him, the Heat are at teh bottom of the totem pole.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">Well seeing that Shaq is the only real threat on the Heat Team besides Wade. Yeah, he'll probrably MVP. Most valuable player for his team definately. Without him, the Heat are at teh bottom of the totem pole.</div> same theory applies to almost every team in the NBA if they lose their star player
Yea that is true.... Also, since when did Eddie Jones have to do his thing, Eddie hardly creates shots for himself anymore.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting heatfan83:</div><div class="quote_post">same theory applies to almost every team in the NBA if they lose their star player </div> The Lakers lost their star center. But no way will they be at the bottom. They have depth on their roster. Your point with the rolly valley girl eyes are?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers lost their star center. But no way will they be at the bottom. They have depth on their roster. Your point with the rolly valley girl eyes are?</div> I think heatfan83 didn't point on the Lakers,he just said that every team that loses it's star player falls to the bottom.Take away TD from the Spurs and what do you get? Same goes for other teams but Lakers still have Kobe after Shaq's departure,take Kobe away and you'll see that Lakers will fall.That goes for every team that doesn't have another superstar.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers lost their star center. But no way will they be at the bottom. They have depth on their roster. Your point with the rolly valley girl eyes are?</div> Huh? No Duncan, the Spurs might win some, but they'll not go to far No KG, the Timberwolves could run into trouble Same with Vince, Pierce, Baron Davis, Kidd, Ray Allen, and maybe Dirk. If you're talking about the Lakers last year, they didn't just have one star, and they might have won some games when Kobe and Shaq were out, but it didn't mean they could survive with a lineup like that. The Denver Nuggets of 2 years ago won some game, so obviously you can win with a depleted lineup, now how much you can win is the question.
Carter, KG, Pierce, Kidd, and Shaq have been the most valuable to their teams in the last couple years. If u take a look at how many games they have won without those guys, its remarkable. Without Vince last year raps didn't win a game. Without KG i only see minnesota winning about 15 in a season, and without Pierce they have to fluke out to win. Shaq is the most important by far.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting arhieboy:</div><div class="quote_post">Carter, KG, Pierce, Kidd, and Shaq have been the most valuable to their teams in the last couple years. If u take a look at how many games they have won without those guys, its remarkable. Without Vince last year raps didn't win a game. Without KG i only see minnesota winning about 15 in a season, and without Pierce they have to fluke out to win. Shaq is the most important by far.</div> I don't know about the other teams (statistically), but for the Lakers last season... The Lakers (Shaq, no Kobe) won 60% of their games. The Lakers (Kobe, no Shaq) won 62% of their games. If Shaq is said to have been the most valuable last year, then Kobe's name should appear in there also. :thumbsup:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting arhieboy:</div><div class="quote_post">Carter, KG, Pierce, Kidd, and Shaq have been the most valuable to their teams in the last couple years. If u take a look at how many games they have won without those guys, its remarkable. Without Vince last year raps didn't win a game. Without KG i only see minnesota winning about 15 in a season, and without Pierce they have to fluke out to win. Shaq is the most important by far.</div> Im not sure Carter can win MVP this year unless he goes back into playing like he did in the old days. Yes...he is valuable to his team...but so what. That doesnt make you win MVP automatically just because the team needs you. You have to earn it....So you say Carter is valuable to the Raps right? Well if he seems to be so valuable he should be scoring over 25 ppg but hes always injured. Lets say for example Iverson...he scores over 26 ppg and even scored over 31 ppg 2 years in a row and is also a 3 time scoring champ. He takes advantage of the opportunity to lead his team because nobody else can and thats why he got MVP one year. Carter isnt taking advantage of that opportunity to lead the Raps newhere when he should be scoring just as much as Iverson, Kobe, Tmac, KG especially, etc. But it aint all about scoring either. Its about knowing what to do with the ball. Giving players good passes and grabbing rebounds...playing defense...Carter doesnt do much of anything anymore like he used to.
Shaq isn't going to recieve the MVP award because they are going to lose to Indiana or Detroit and will not make it to the Finals in 05.
Well I look at it this way. Everyone is especting Shaq to bring Miami a ring even though it's his 1st year there. Miami fans being like "oh ah Miami is the team to beat this year", when Detroit is the team to beat. You really don't see anyone talking about the Pistons which is really upseting. Everything is focused on Shaq this year. I say who cares about Shaq. Also if the Heat have an early exit in the Playoffs, even in the 2nd round there is no way that Shaq will get the MVP award.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq isn't going to recieve the MVP award because they are going to lose to Indiana or Detroit and will not make it to the Finals in 05.</div> I agree with you that if they run into Indiana or Detroit they're gonna lose. But the sportswriters decide the NBA MVP. They way they have been hyping up Shaq and the Heat, I can't help but believe if he has a solid season they're gonna give it to him.
