<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Rockets may need to consider adding Shaquille O'Neal to their payroll. Not as a player, but as a consultant. He would be paid simply to call and criticize his buddy, Tracy McGrady, before every game. So far, O'Neal has made that phone call twice. The first time was before the Dallas game Dec. 2. Guard Tyronn Lue gave McGrady a message that the Miami Heat center said McGrady should step up his game. That night, McGrady had a season-high 48 points. The second time was before the San Antonio game Thursday night. McGrady hadn't scored more than 18 points in either of the two games since his 48-point outburst. O'Neal, a teammate of Lue's in Los Angeles, called Lue again and told him to tell McGrady to wake up. As O'Neal watched the nationally televised game, it was evident his message had reached McGrady. The Rockets' star orchestrated a stunning comeback by scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds to give the Rockets an 81-80 victory over the Spurs. The Rockets became the first team to overcome a double-digit deficit in the final minute and win since Dallas registered a 104-97 overtime win over Chicago on March 12, 1998. Amid the postgame jubilation, McGrady couldn't help but think of O'Neal. "After the game, he was definitely in the back of my mind," McGrady said. "I was definitely going to call him and ask him if he saw the game. He knows how I play. He's watched me. He's like my big brother. And he told Ty Lue to tell me to stop playing ? I don't want to say it on camera ? but to stop playing like a girl. "I talked to him last night, and he was all excited because he was watching the game. He was saying, 'That's what I'm talking about. You should have been doing that.' " </div> <div align="center">Source</div> Just thought I'd share that with the Rockets fans
Nice find. Tracy has always been close with Shaq but I'm actually surprised at how caring Shaq is towards Tracy. He really looks out for him that's what brothers are all about.
Ah, Shaq's getting credit for McGrady's spectacular moments now? Geez. Why don't we just give in and thank Shaq for the green grass and blue skies?
^ Don't get all sarcastic on our asses man, they are just saying Shaq was an inspiration for Tmac. They arn't saying Shaq is the main reason Tmac has good games, although it is quite a coincidence.
Now come on people. DO u actually believe this? T-Mac is a great player.He doesnt need advise from Shaq to play good in a game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">^ Don't get all sarcastic on our asses man, they are just saying Shaq was an inspiration for Tmac. They arn't saying Shaq is the main reason Tmac has good games, although it is quite a coincidence.</div> I guess T-Mac needs to give Shaq a call then. I'm not being sarcastic about any of it. If you seriously believe that Shaq had ANYTHING to do with McGrady's performance, then you might as well give him credit for every single shot Kobe took, every steal by Fisher, every three by Harper...every coaching decision by Jackson. McGrady took the game into his hands and was on fire. And...it was in the final minute. No lame phone call can "magically" spark that. Sometimes I wonder if Shaq believes he's working on Kazaam 2.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess T-Mac needs to give Shaq a call then. I'm not being sarcastic about any of it. If you seriously believe that Shaq had ANYTHING to do with McGrady's performance, then you might as well give him credit for every single shot Kobe took, every steal by Fisher, every three by Harper...every coaching decision by Jackson. McGrady took the game into his hands and was on fire. And...it was in the final minute. No lame phone call can "magically" spark that. Sometimes I wonder if Shaq believes he's working on Kazaam 2.</div> The difference here is McGrady himself said Shaq was a inspiration. I'm giving credit to Shaq for lighting a fire under McGrady's ass, not Tmac's performance. Nobody is saying Shaq was the main reason including Tmac or Shaq. Whats so hard to understand? Jeez...
Funny thing about you saying Shaq should get credit for all those silly things you listed, you failed to mention that Shaq, without a doubt, is responsible for every single championship rings that Kobe's got. He's responsible for them just as much as Kobe is. I'm sick of this. I bet if it was Kobe instead of Shaq that has said it, you Kobe-<font color="Red">fans</font> wouldn't even say a negative word about this issue. Even Tmac himself said that Shaq's got something to do with it... Like Bobcats said, Shaq doesn't have a BIG influence over it, he's just an inspiration. You all need to calm down. The only thing you're doing is confirming the stereotype that Kobefans don't care about anyone but Kobe. Nobody else matters. Shaq is evil, Kobe is God. etc etc. I've never seen any other fans worse than Kobe's fans except a few good apples. Quite sad. <font color="Red"><font size="1"> Edited by me. ~Dre</font></font>
Well, this is a waste of time for me to argue. Attacking Kobe has again become the topic of this thread. What McGrady did was spectacular, no doubt. The fact is, he did it alone. Any player can have inspiration. I'm sure even Jordan was inspired by someone more than once in his career, but you don't hear about it...and they don't get credit for it. My point was not to diss Shaq, but to get everyone to realize that T-Mac did this alone. Just as the championships in LA...neither Kobe or Shaq could get it done by themselves...they both needed each other. Shaq can be one of the greatest centers to ever play the game...arguably the most dominant player...but he doesn't have that much influence over guys. That's the point of this thread, anyways. When Shaq puts up a similar performance, he'll be credited for it...not someone who gave him a phone call. In that case, I can say that Kobe influenced Ray Allen to play great, since he did call him out after Ray did the same to him...right? It doesn't make sense guys...that's all I'm saying. Give Shaq a little credit then...but McGrady was the reason, 99.9% of the reason, why the Rockets won and why he was the man of the hour (or minute).
yeah I saw this on the news last night...........kobe fans need to get over it, I mean damn maybe shaq did inspire TMac to play well
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, this is a waste of time for me to argue. Attacking Kobe has again become the topic of this thread. What McGrady did was spectacular, no doubt. The fact is, he did it alone. Any player can have inspiration. I'm sure even Jordan was inspired by someone more than once in his career, but you don't hear about it...and they don't get credit for it. My point was not to diss Shaq, but to get everyone to realize that T-Mac did this alone. Just as the championships in LA...neither Kobe or Shaq could get it done by themselves...they both needed each other. Shaq can be one of the greatest centers to ever play the game...arguably the most dominant player...but he doesn't have that much influence over guys. That's the point of this thread, anyways. When Shaq puts up a similar performance, he'll be credited for it...not someone who gave him a phone call. In that case, I can say that Kobe influenced Ray Allen to play great, since he did call him out after Ray did the same to him...right? It doesn't make sense guys...that's all I'm saying. Give Shaq a little credit then...but McGrady was the reason, 99.9% of the reason, why the Rockets won and why he was the man of the hour (or minute).</div> I think you are overanalyzing what these guys are trying to say. They aren't giving Shaq full credit,they are saying Shaq told T-Mac to stop being so passive and assert himself in games...and it's clear Shaq was onto something because look at the outcome. It's good for that,because most of the time others see things that you don't see or don't want to see. When you hear it coming from a friend and someone you respect it carries a little more weight than if it came from Joe Blow.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">In that case, I can say that Kobe influenced Ray Allen to play great, since he did call him out after Ray did the same to him...right? It doesn't make sense guys...that's all I'm saying.</div> Actually, I've heard people making that argument and I wouldn't rule out that Kobe calling Ray Ray out has had some affect on how good Ray Allen has been doing. It makes sense for us, just not you Kobefans. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Give Shaq a little credit then...but McGrady was the reason, 99.9% of the reason, why the Rockets won and why he was the man of the hour (or minute).</div> Finally, you've seen the light. That's what we've been telling you all along
Well maybe I'm misunderstanding everyone then. It just sounded like Shaq was getting more credit than he deserved for it. Just like Ray Allen's performance so far this year...sure, he could be amped because of what Kobe said to him, but I'm not going to say that Kobe is a big factor...that's what I'm trying to say.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Well maybe I'm misunderstanding everyone then. It just sounded like Shaq was getting more credit than he deserved for it. Just like Ray Allen's performance so far this year...sure, he could be amped because of what Kobe said to him, but I'm not going to say that Kobe is a big factor...that's what I'm trying to say.</div> Yes, you misunderstood everybody. And what you're saying here is exactly what we've been trying to say to you. Good to see it paid off
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Well maybe I'm misunderstanding everyone then. It just sounded like Shaq was getting more credit than he deserved for it. Just like Ray Allen's performance so far this year...sure, he could be amped because of what Kobe said to him, but I'm not going to say that Kobe is a big factor...that's what I'm trying to say.</div> Well, it's not meant to be taken that seriously. McGrady evidently felt somewhat motivated by what Shaq said to him, but "putting Shaq on the payroll" was obviously a joke. Oh, and you mentioned Kobe first. You gotta expect people will respond with the "Kobe wouldn't have won anything without Shaq" line when you bring up Kobe in a Shaq thread.
SHaq daddy is the man...look at his jersey sales..SHaq is 1st Tmac is 2nd..what a great inspiration and role models because we know a lot of ppl look up to them or they wouldn't have bought it!
I dont know if this is a coincidence but both calls were before McGrady's two best games this season. I dont know why the Laker fans find a way to hate on Shaq/Tmac by this (yes I am a Laker fan, and no I am not hating) . Tmac and Shaq are like best friends, a call from my friend telling me to stop playing like a girl would motivate me to explode for a huge game..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont know if this is a coincidence but both calls were before McGrady's two best games this season. I dont know why the Laker fans find a way to hate on Shaq/Tmac by this (yes I am a Laker fan, and no I am not hating) . Tmac and Shaq are like best friends, a call from my friend telling me to stop playing like a girl would motivate me to explode for a huge game..</div> Whos Hating?
Well, I was just sharing an article amongst Rockets fans about how Shaq inspired T-Mac to turn it up a notch and some how "The Haters" managed to find their way here. Obviously it wasn't 1000% Shaq but it was just to show that Shaq was looking out for his homeboy by giving him a call to show his support and telling him go out there and be T-Mac. Anyways if you don't have any quality contributions to add then don't. Some people are just going around degrading the quality of threads, starting problems and I'm pretty sure that's that doesn't sit well with certain people in JBB.
