Dear: Shaquille O'neal

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly

As for that letter, you think we would even know about Shaq if he was 6'1 and can't shoot/handle or else like he stated in that letter?
that letter is so bias.</div>

You are a hypocrite because it is clearly obvious that your post is bias towards liking Shaq and the Heat. People didn't get angry with Shaq to a certain extent until he left the Lakers and failed to resolve his problems with Kobe. It annoys me that his work ethic has increased dramatically that he is in Miami. For the past few years in LA, he was still overweight and unhealthy. I can see why Kobe was angry with Shaq for not keeping fit. Kobe is young and wants to keep on winning championships where as Shaq was older and had already proved himself to be "dominent." The reason for Shaq losing weight is because of his motivation of getting one over on Kobe by doing better. What alot of people are failing to realise, is that Shaq is already on the better team. If you took Shaq away from the Heat and Kobe away from the Lakers, the Heat have the better team. Another reason for people disliking Shaq now instead of a few years ago is because of Shaqs constant cheapshots at the Lakers and Kobe. He acts like a baby. Throughout this whole season, I haven't seen Kobe take a cheapshot at Shaq or the Heat.

The conclusion for people turning on Shaq since he joined the Heat is that we have seen a new side to Shaq by the way he acts. Two years ago, we were unaware of the fact that Shaq wouldn't resolve things with Kobe, Shaq would keep taking cheapshots once he left and Shaq would change his work ethic dramatically. You can't blame us for disliking him as most of us were unaware of the fact that he would change his attitude.

 

Exactly my point. Shaq was top dog here, but was not gracious enough with Kobe and the Lakers for Buss to keep him. Yet in Miami, he's been an angel for Pat Riley. LA smog must have gotten to Shaq the time he was here.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">You are a hypocrite because it is clearly obvious that your post is bias towards liking Shaq and the Heat. People didn't get angry with Shaq to a certain extent until he left the Lakers and failed to resolve his problems with Kobe. It annoys me that his work ethic has increased dramatically that he is in Miami. For the past few years in LA, he was still overweight and unhealthy. I can see why Kobe was angry with Shaq for not keeping fit. Kobe is young and wants to keep on winning championships where as Shaq was older and had already proved himself to be "dominent." The reason for Shaq losing weight is because of his motivation of getting one over on Kobe by doing better. What alot of people are failing to realise, is that Shaq is already on the better team. If you took Shaq away from the Heat and Kobe away from the Lakers, the Heat have the better team. Another reason for people disliking Shaq now instead of a few years ago is because of Shaqs constant cheapshots at the Lakers and Kobe. He acts like a baby. Throughout this whole season, I haven't seen Kobe take a cheapshot at Shaq or the Heat.

The conclusion for people turning on Shaq since he joined the Heat is that we have seen a new side to Shaq by the way he acts. Two years ago, we were unaware of the fact that Shaq wouldn't resolve things with Kobe, Shaq would keep taking cheapshots once he left and Shaq would change his work ethic dramatically. You can't blame us for disliking him as most of us were unaware of the fact that he would change his attitude.</div>

Im a heat fan and shaq has not given us one reason to hate him yet. Don't blame me for not hating him

 

I'm a Kobe Bryant fan to the fullest but everything has swayed in Shaq's favour this year just like he "prophesized".
Therefore, the world is in his palms, the media is in his palms and he's enjoying this year with the fact that he can be satisfied that he proved to everyone how deadly he is and how stupid Kobe and the Lakers are for letting him go.

Well, wait a second. All of a sudden he's a glorious leader to all you guys?? Wait, let's rewind. Isn't this the same Shaq that people used to constantly critque for being too slow, too fat, for not being able to co-exist with Kobe, and asking for pay raises while on the decline?

So now because he slimmed down for vengenance, cared about winning again, he's a real leader? The only reason he's doing this is to "prove" himself and that's the part that ticks me off. How can he say Mitch Kupchak was stupid for trading him when HE BROUGHT IT UPON HIMSELF?
You see the ignorance of Kobe, but you don't see Shaq's ignorance?

You know who's a real leader? Kevin Garnett.
Shaq is a GREAT leader on the court but in terms of doing the little things, he is not.
He is greedy, self absorbed but yet charming, which is why everyone loves him for now.
Kobe is perceived as greedy, self-absorbed and a loner, which is why everyone hates him.

My question to all you Laker fans that sound SOOO bitter about Shaq right now is, isn't this what you always wanted? So what is the damn point of making these threads about Shaq?
Obviously, you're losing, you're frustrated and now you blame Shaq for the problems your Lakers are having.
Man, losing changes everything don't it?
Guess you need to feel the taste of losing before you feel the taste of winning. You need to experience failure before you experience success, remeber that.

My one messages for all you guys that are so down and depressed and panic stricken is that what goes around, comes around, and what goes up, must come down. Kobe's time will come soon, you guys are only in YEAR 1 of the rebuilding phase, and you expected to win the championship?

Shaq has the upper hand now, but its not about that, it's about Kobe. The sooner you realize that the Laker's record is not Shaq's fault, the better. The sooner you realize Shaq is more "dominant" then Kobe, the better.

Shaq knows how to use his teammtes in the best ways. You know why? He's 7'1, 300 something pounds and commands 3 people on him everytime he touches the rock. The thing is, people collpase on him IN THE PAINT, so he can dish it outside to some of his shooters/penetrators.
Kobe gets the rock in the perimeter and either he passes it inside or, with the help of his pride, he'll try to take it by himself.
And now to present the ultimate fact:
Shaq is deadlier to have on your team right now. Look at the standings. That proves everything. No excuses needed. Please. Coach? Conference? Just look at the standings.

You give Shaq the lineup the Lakers have right now in the West and its safe to say they'd get a playoff seed. Why? Because it's Shaq.

Look, you people need to realize Shaq has already proved himself. Kobe hasn't. Pardon the mob reference, but Shaq is a made wiseguy, Kobe isn't. Kobe was always a lefty. It's like if Ray Liotta in Goodfellas went solo. He's not made yet, you have to prove yourself and gain the respect and fear of your opponents and your TEAMMATES as well. Do you think Damon Jones doubted Shaq for a second? As soon as Shaq was traded, Damon knew his life would be easier. If Kobe had come to Miami, do you think Damon Jones life would have been easier? Damon would have had doubts, just like Chucky's having doubts now.

It's not about statistics and how much Chucky Atkins shooting percentage and points have increased, its abouut the standings and how many wins and losses you have.

And until he (Kobe) proves himself, he will continue to be hated upon, scrutinized and fall on the recieving ends of "I told you so's"
So my message for you Laker fans that are so bitter is that, winning changes everything. Trust me, it does.

Sorry for the essay, I had to get my message across. So much ignorance on the part of Laker fans in this board and so much angst by certain individual posters led me to writing this. My thoughts are scattered I know, but hopefully you get my message, Time will heal all wounds. It's only the first year, Shaq is winning the battle right now. Time will take care of itself, just relax.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">I would also like to add the example of a few seasons ago when the Lakers had injury problems with Shaq. Who stepped up their game and basically single handedly kept the Lakers championship hopes alive while Shaq was out injured?



This team would be together if Kobe got traded to the Heat instead of Shaq. There are so many examples of Kobe stepping up and leading by example. Just look at all of his clutch plays. How about when he shot a 3 pointer over Rip Hamilton in the playoff's? What about my personal joint best clutch play with Kobe's two three pointers in the final game of the 2004 regular season against Portland? Who stepped up and pulled of the impossible. Especially the three that made the game go into overtime. Just to let you know, my other joint favourate clutch play is the Derek Fisher four tenths of a second shot against the Spurs.</div>
The Heat didn't want Kobe instead of Shaq, so no, it still wouldn't be together, and Kobe's contract doesn't match that of Odom, Butler and Grant's.

Yes, we all remember Kobe's latest clutch play, but he was the most unclutch big time player in the playoffs last year, let me just say 28% FG. Last season during the regular season he was good in crunch time, but playoffs he was terrible, he just took a lot of late game shots but didn't make many at all.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe, bad attitude? Are you kidding me? He is the hardest working individual in the NBA, ask any player in the league..they will tell you that there is no one in the league that works harder than Kobe. </div>
I think Arenas could challenge him for that one...

I agree it is unfair to judge Kobe by this season, but his performace this season has also allowed me to give more props to Allen Iverson. In previous years if their was an argument about Kobe and the other perimeter players, the main things would be his leadership ability, being in the post season, his clutch play, and his defense. Now a season of being without Shaq, and also having an "incomplete" team that many other guys have had for years, and he doesn't hold those same arguments. It will be interesting to see how things develop...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Kobe, bad attitude? Are you kidding me? He is the hardest working individual in the NBA, ask any player in the league..they will tell you that there is no one in the league that works harder than Kobe. </div>
What in the world does "bad attitude" and "working hard" have to do with one another?

 

Hardest working refers to how much time and effort you put into something. Your attitude is your state of mind and how you express it to others via words, tone and body language. To give the first example of a dissociation between the two that pops into my head: I think that Shaq has a good attitude but doesn't work so hard. Or Iverson who has a great attitude on the court but doesn't like to practice.

As for Kobe, few or none have a better attitude about winning. The only problem with his attitude seems to be that he doesn't trust his teammates. I can't say for sure though because I live in China and have only had the privilage of watching a half dozen laker games this year. Am I wrong about him trusting his teammates?

 

Oh yeah, if we are going to dis Shaq's skills by imagining that he's 6'1, let's imagine that Iverson grew a foot and increased his weight by a buck fifty. Man, nobody could stop him.
Actually, as ridiculous as your hypothetical is, I understand the point you're making. I've always found Shaq's game a little boring to watch. But, don't you think that Shaq's presence allowed Kobe to save his energy for all those clutch 4 quarter perfomances he blessed us with? Anyway, I can't hate on Shaq and in this league you are what your w/l record says.