Uh, Oh.... Question of the Day

I'd go with a 5...If they do win the championship, I hope Shaq won't have to dig into the past, and proclaim that this is the best championship...then again I doubt it.

im cool with shaq getting his ring if they advance...i would be bitter as hell if the lake show hadnt showed any progress and he was on his way to getting his...but we've showed we arent that far away and plus we still got kobe...they got shaq for 2-3 years top...kobe is with us for at least another 5-7 good years...good luck shaq daddy...

As a kid that grew up in Miami I'm very conflicted. I'm still pretty bitter about the whole Shaq and Kobe thing.

I think Shaq got off WAY too easy in the whole Shaq/Kobe breakup. Shaq is the reason there was a rift between the two. Those who read PJ's More than a Game know that during the 2000 championship run he called Kobe out in front of the whole team and said he didn't think the team could win with Kobe.

Not to mention the fact that Shaq's the one who came into camp out of shape every year after the first title year. How would you feel if you worked your butt off like Kobe but a sloth like Shaq always got the credit for everything.

But, on the other hand I lived in Miami 15 of my 20 years of life. So it'd be great to see Miami win one. I'm very appreciative of Wade's skills and Alonzo Mourning is one of my 5 favorite players of all time.

So I've got to put myself at a 5. Miami winning it all would pain me as much as it makes me happy.

11

3

I am so over "the breakup". I'm with BK's sentiment that "the breakup" was clearly BOTH Shaq AND Kobe'S fault. But what's done is done.

It doesn't matter to me who wins and who doesn't. It doesn't even matter who's wearing the jerseys. I'm only down 4 one team: The Los Angeles Lakers. Period!

Lake Show 4 Ever! Purple & Gold for life! Bring on next season, baby!

I would give it a 5. I would probably be rooting for Miami (because of Riley) if it was not for the way that Shaq departed. He basically bad mouthed the entire organization and the fans. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He was as much to blame as anyone for the breakup and he is the one that demanded a trade and would not sign the extension. So I will be rooting against Shaq getting a ring. However, it will not ruin my day either which is why this is only a 5 and not higher.

The Lakers will be back soon.

phantom

I don't care if Shaq gets another ring,even when he was with Lakers i don't even care moreless now.If they win the Piston,trust me they will go down against the Mavrs,WHO WANTS TO BETH ME FOR THAT,GO LAKERS,GO KOBE!!!!!!!

-10. I hate Shaq's guts and I think I may actually throw up if he wins another title. He doesn't deserve another title because he ain't nothing but a big 320 pound baby. The fact that he came out of the whole break up with people actually feeling sorry for him like he was the victim makes my blood boil. All he wanted was the big payday, to make movies, and get surgery on "company time" instead of during the summer. I will never forget when he said that. I have dis-liked him ever since.

I'm actually quite happy for the Heat right now, because these same Pistons upset us in 2004. It's nice to see that we're getting some revenge. It's also good to see that Gary Payton has another chance. I'm at a 7.

We can all agree that Shaq would DEFINITELY NOT be doing it on his own if they Heat to win it. So no one can make the argument that Shaq is better for winning a championship without Kobe. I think Wade is far more important to that team than Shaq, as evidenced last season during the playoffs. I would use the same test as Kobe vs. Nash fo MVP. Take the Heat and Lakers, and swap Kobe for Shaq, who's better off? Do you think Shaq would have put up with such a deficient supporting cast for this long, let alone make the effort to carry them to the playoffs? NO

That being said, knowing Shaq's ego he would still interpret the championship as all him, so I'm at about a 6

I'm not angry at all, but I don't want him to win a title. I want his glory days to have been with the Lakers. I'm guessing we're going to have a Miami v. Phoenix finals, since I really don't want either to win the title.

If Shaq were still acting like a baby, this would be a 10. But seriously, now that he has buried the hatchet with Kobe, I hope he wins another title. It sucks watching him be the Shaq of old for another team (catching bad lobs and slamming them home, offensive rebounding and taking it right back up, strutting up the court, etc), but at the same time, I hated watching him put up 8 pts, 5 reb, 25 min games even more.

Because in the end, I still feel some sort of connection to him and I want him to represent. Kinda like Horry last year. I will always see both Shaq and Horry as Lakers and I will find redemption in the fact that both the Spurs and the Heat needed a Laker to win.

10 only because Kobe takes all the "heat" (no pun intended) for the breakup. Like exodus said, there were other valid reasons for the breakup. It's a shame that more fans of the game have not read Lazenby's The Show to get a better perspective of what really went on with the 3-peat Lakers. My question is, how come Shaq didn't show Kobe love the way he does Wade? To me, it's inexplicable and unexcusable.

Let's all remember, the Lakers have 14 rings to MIami's zero. Miami hasn't won anything just yet. There's a long way to go.

If Shaq does win a title, believe me, he's going to let all of L.A. know about it. Then again, it may be a blessing in disguise as it'll really light Kobe and Dr. Buss' fire.

It's not a matter of Shaq winning but the Pistons running out of gas. The Pistons have too much minutes on their legs. The players are turning on their coach. Flip Saunders rode the starters to death and now they are going to come up short. Although, I think the Pistons will make a series of it. Don't count them out just yet. If by chance the Heat are able to advance, it just shows you how open the league is right now. Honestly, if Dallas comes out of the West...I think they could beat the Heat. Just think, if the Pistons lose, do you think Ben Wallace is going to be upset? Do you think he'll resign with the Pistons? This could be the end of the Pistons as we know them. The league is wide open now, just think how much more if Ben Wallace signs else where.

mike

Here is the real question:
Would you rather have Shaq or Mark Cuban get a title?

You're right Michael T. Imagine Ben Wallace and/or Tayshaun signing w/ the Lakers. I can dream, right? It is the offseason.

I'm over the whole break up but like Carl said above if he starts with the "this is the best championship" crap if they win the title and starts dumping on the Lakers I'll be pissed. If he would just be a man and act more mature it would be different but he's such a big baby at times. And lets not write them in as champions just yet. Even if they get to the Finals there's no guarantee they'll win. I think Dallas would give them all they could handle and quite possibly beat them.

I just have the feeling that if Shaq does win the ring, he will say something stupid and start a big controversy again. On one hand, I don't really care who wins if the Lakers are not there. But, this year it will be painfull no matter what. You have Shaq, Mark Cuban, Raja Bell, And the Pistons who swept the Lakers when we all thought it was in the bag. I am just going hide my head under my covers until the finals are over. :)

Well I got to say that Im at about a 10. I think if Shaq would have stayed and did all the things that he did for Miami it would be the Lakers there not the Heat. If Shaq would have taken a pay cut, lost weight and conceded to Kobe like he does for Wade, there wouldent be a problem , that and all the smack he talked about the people of L.A. being fake. I am glad that the other Heat players will have a chance to get there rings but for Shaq I colud care less. I will say that right now its still to early to say that they will win the whole thing, but it is nice to vent. I still dont think that they will beat neither the Suns nor the Mavs, but I think that if Shaq does get another ring it will go to show that Shaq was the probelm and not Kobe. All shaq had to do was the same thing he did for the Heat and he would have already had anoter ring if not 2.

Do we still have love for Eddie Jones? How bout Nick The Quick? D fish? Big Shot Bob?

Come on! You still have a lot of great memories with Shaq! Are we the half of the relationship that looks at our ex and still hates their gut? Or are we a little bit more of a grown up? We found a better person to live with (Kobe) and although it still hurts to see that other love from our past, we still wish the best for them.

Besides Kobe will get his soon enough.

Once a laker always a laker. Good luck Shaq.

ON SHAQ

Although, I'm a Shaq fan, he isn't the reason the Heat will advance to the finals. Like someone said, he refused to lose weight with the Lakers. He refused to take a pay cut with the Lakers. He refused to let the offense run throught Bryant with the Lakers.

That is everything he did with the Heat and Wade in his first season there. His second season his issues with his weight returned. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY expected the Heat to be in the finals this year, especially during the season when everyone seen with their own eyes how Shaq was playing. THE PISTONS HAVE NO BENCH! THE SPURS BENCH WAS TOO OLD! And Shaq is lucky to have gotten this far and even luckier that the Spurs are out becuase Tim Duncan would have worked him. The Heat are not that good. I'd like to see Dallas win it all. I like to see what the Heat will do with Dirk and the Dallas guards.

This is a perfect time for the Lakers to build a defensive team, simplify their offense (scrapping the tri-angle), and make a run at some Championships.

mike

Ryan K,

"Do we still have love for Eddie Jones? How bout Nick The Quick? D fish? Big Shot Bob?"

It a young man's league. These guys are out! I say that Lakers don't need to bring in anyone over 31 years of age.

mike

GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!

Why does the blame go on Shaq?!!!!

If Jerry Buss had not of toyed around with Phil Jackson's contract and RESIGNED Jackson after the 2003-4 season, this whole conversation would be mute. Shaq was disappointed as well he should have been that Jackson was NOT RESIGNED. Unsure of who would be coaching the Lakers, along with the sense of rebuilding is something that would sour any professional, especially one with at the time, 12 years experience and who DOMINANTS the game.

Shaq was also right when he said the Lakers could NOT WIN with Kobe Bryant we've seen that the last two season. Kobe is not mature enough socially to interact with GROWN MEN as player to lead a team of PROFESSIONALS.

If some of you bloggers can recall the Lakers first game of the regular season. The Lakers won on the game on a buzzer beater. Kobe who supposedly has playoff experience and won THREE (3)Championship RINGS, was jumping around hugging other players like some wet behind the ear rookie!!! Somebody needed to tell him there were 81 more REGULAR SEASON games to be played and to ACT like he has BEEN THERE BEFORE!!!!

Those in denial blame Shaq, but wasn't it Kobe that went against the advise of Laker management and decided to have surgery in Colorado instead of in LA, thus resulting with him being charged for sexual assault? Here is a NEWLY MARRIED Sports Celebrity who's wife just had a baby. A Sports Celebrity who can basically have access to some of the WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN if he so felt the need for infidelity. Why would someone with a bright future even put themselves in a position for failure?

This immature kid Kobe, knowing the WORLD is WATCHING his every move, PUT HIMSELF in an uncompromising position by violating a small town BROKE, hourly waged female hotel clerk. The joke being, if one could be made, was that Kobe could have PAID for sex from a call girl or even a Laker Girl that ATLEAST exercised proper HYGIENE and CHANGED her underwear DAILY.

To top it off, wasn't Kobe being ungrateful to Buss and the Lakers to even suggest trying the FREE AGENT market after Buss and the Lakers went out of their way to PROVIDE Kobe with a private jet for his criminal trial in Colorado? How many team owners would spare that expense? But some still transfer the blame Shaq even though Kobe stated to Colorado investigators that Shaq had extramarital affairs which was no bearing on his own case!!!

Some blame Shaq for the breakup, but look back at this season, Kobe got into arguements with Lamar Odom, shoved Sasha in the face on TV, tossed TV monitors, elbowed Mike Miller, elbowed Raja Bell in the playoffs and then LIED about it, then walked off the court not even showing sportsmanship when defeated by the PHX Suns. All this while Shaq, DWade and the Miami Heat are blending along like professionals with no blowups.

Say what you want, but Kobe needs to held accountable for his OWN actions and not given a free pass by the press. If those coddling Kobe don't start holding him accountable by keep him grounded and stop transferring blame to teammates and others around him. We could one day see INDELIBLE IMAGE of Kobe Bryant driving a White Ford Bronco travelling at slow speeds followed by black and white marked units.

OUT!!!
the Truth

BK:

I agree with Vito's 11. Shaq winning a title will only perpetuate the media's anti-Kobe pro-Shaq, pro-Wade bias and give a$$holes like Steven and his various alias' undeserved new life.

I loved Shaq when he was with the Lakers -- up until his last year when his fat a$$ cost us a chance at fourpeat. Shaq's lack of committment to stay in shape, his selfish, egotistic behavior, and his outlandish, unrealistic demands were the what really trashed the Laker dynasty. And his childish, classless vendetta against Kobe, Jerry, Mitch, and the city of Los Angeles should not ever be forgotten or forgiven. Make no mistake about it, Shaq deserves most of the blame for the crashing of the dyansty.

It also angers me to see grease-head Pat Riley's desperate grab for another ring before his sun sets. From his previous thug-infested coaching failures in New York and Miami to his recent backstabbing of close friend Stan Van Gundy, Riley has clearly shown that he is willing to do anything to get a shot at another ring -- and to prove that he wasn't just a lucky radio color commentator who could only win because he had Magic and Kareem in LA. Phil Jackson he is not.

I am almost as angry with Larry Brown, Flip Saunders, and the Pistons for imploding and opening the gates for the grossly over-rated dumpster-roster Heat to even have a chance to win this year. Adding to that the every-other-year collapse of the Spurs, it is easy to argue that the Heat may be the luckiest team in the world to have a shot at the title at this time. And who would have thought it after their shameful performance against the Bulls?

With a roster including such "lovable" guys as No-Class Shaq, Crybaby Wade, and proverbial losers Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Gary Payton, and James Posey, there is not another team in the NBA that deserves more to lose. I only hope that Dallas can somehow derail this travesty before it happens so we don't have to put up with more of the media's and Shaq's pro-Wade anti-Kobe comments all of next year.

Jerry Buss did the right thing in trading Shaq's a$$ and Mitch did a good job in getting some great pieces - Lamar, Kwame, Chris, Bynum -- to allow us rebuild quickly. Payback will come when Shaq comes to camp next year 50 lbs overweight with $60M still on the books and the Heat self-destruct and return to the mediocrity that is now Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Riley, and the city of Miami.

frankly i do not hate shaq, but, but, but i love kobe and my lakers, so, mine would be 15! shaq, the media, and the ignorant people i know won't give me a peace of mind. i wouldn't mind if d.wade won a ring, but without shaq! but i would bet my bottom dollar that miami, if they beat the pistons would lose in 5 to the mavericks. i do not see why anybody would hate mark cuban( is it b'cos he is not dressed in suits and seated in the boxes?) he is a fan, and he is real. atleast his people do not despise him.

Laker Tom,

You're right about Pat Riley. He was Chick Hearns radio side kick when Paul Westhead got fired. He was lucky he had Magic, Kareem and company to win Championships. I never liked him as a coach. He got out coached by the Celtics in his first try to beat them. What he did to Van Gundy just shows what type of a person he is. Not that I'm a Van Gundy fan but Pat Riley go ran out of Los Angeles with his B.S. motivation tatics. The players were tired of him. All those great 1980's teams were a work of Bill Sharman and Jerry West.

mike

you guys need to stop making excuses for the pistons (including mike t.), they are not tired! if they had weak legs, they would start every game hot, then fall in the third or the fourth quarter, but no, they play catch up the whole game, starting from the cavs series. they have lost their focus. they almost lost to the cavs who played more games than they did, people said may be they were over restestd against the cavs, now they are under rested? please, they need to pick it up, and stop blaming saunders for their demise, it was thesame strategy he used to help them win a franchise best, 64 games, all of a sudden he can't coach anymore. well if the pistons can't do it, the mavs will.

Just for the record.

It was K.C. Jones who out coached Pat Riley in 1984. That was a Lakers Championship that slipped away because of Pat Riley.

mike

1

I am so proud of Shaq Daddy. I think the Heat deserves to win the Eastern Conf. title, and the NBA title as well. With all the great talents that they have, it is almost impossible to beat them especially now that they have those pieces back together. Although I'm in favor of the DEEEEEETROOOOOOOOOOIT Pistons, I feel that they don't deserve the shot at the Finals. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERCONFIDENT! THE PISTONS ARE OVERCONFIDENT! Remember when Sheed told reporters that Game 4 vs. the Cavs is a GUARANSHEED win which was a Guaranteed Cavs win? How pathetic!!! They don't even deserve to be in the Eastern Finals. OVERCONFIDENCE KILLS. Again, Shaq should get that title. If he gets it, it will be Kobe's motivation to win another title. Imagine Lakers-Heat in the NBA Finals, with the Lakers the winner.

The Lakers will be back next year.

Believe.

Just for the record:

When Paul Westhead got fired it was because he was running this crazy offense where they were playing half court offense. Magic Johnson got tired of it and kind of complained and the next thing you know, Westhead was gone! Magic took some heat for that. Anyway, right away the Lakers started running the ball. The Lakers won the Championship that year and all Pat Riley had to do was just sit back and watch. The following years I remember he was in over his head. He didn't start to really speak up, as a man, until about his 3 or 4 year as coach. He was just lucky, nothing more.

mike

as intrested observer pointed out earlier .it is ironic that shaq talked to wade and gave him wat kobe asked (if he did we would have a run better than celtics 5 in a row),but guess it was ego and pride .
i m a 100.i still love shaq and flash is talented but kobe is on another level of talent determenation and work and he deserves a lot more then the shit he gets the newspaper and shaq getting a title before him.
anpther ironic thing(if u beleive in karma than kobe is the devil)coz shaq ended up whith wade and kobe whith 15 million on nothing and yeah kwame brown. i would love to see mark cuban lift it i would love to see nash lift it hell i wish the pistons make history as long as shaq doesnt.

2

I don't really like Shaq (I liked him when he was doing good things in the playoffs for LA though), but I don't hate Shaq either.

The only thing I don't like is how long it took Shaq to put the whole thing behind him, or atleast stop poppin off about Kobe every chance he could. He's an amazing player and you can't take that away from him, even if he is a little lazy.

It's about time for G.P.! I'm really happy for him and I hope nothing bad happens like last time when we lost in 5. As for 'Toine, I don't really like him, being lazy and all winning a title, but Chauncey Billups was named MVP so I've seen worse things.

Now what I really won't like is D.Wade getting a finals MVP before Kobe. Granted much of their success this year has been on his back, but Kobe is definitely a better player and was when the Lakers were winning titles too, but Shaq was at the top of his game so he never had a chance. Wade will have a legitimate chance. Wade's head has gotten big playing with Shaq (I used to have love for him before that). I like his game, but he couldn't carry our Lakers to a 3 - 1 lead against the Suns instead of Kobe. They probably wouldn't have even made the playoffs.

And what about that whole Stan Van Gundy thing? What "really" happened? Does Pat really deserve another title for maybe forcing out a good coach just to get back to the bench? Maybe it was Shaq or Wade's idea? Who knows.

But for Shaq 2. G.P. 1. Pat Riley 6. 'Toine 4.

emman,

All you have to do is go and check the Pistons game logs. They all averaged 35 minutes and more for the whole season. Now you tell me after 82 games and the playoffs that isn't going to effect the team. I said it way back in March that the Pistons were going to come up short because of it. It's not excuses. It's wear and tear.

mike

EXHELODRVR
I would rather have Cuban to win the title instead of Shaq. I just don't like Shaq! I personally think he took advantage of Kobe sacrificing his game for his fat self during their championship run. When the last two years of Kobe and Shaq with the lakers it was Kobe team. Kobe carry the lakers to the finals agianst the pistons with a decline shaq! Shaq didn't wont to scrafice his game for Kobe. When Kobe carry the lakers back to the playoffs in the 2002-2003 season Shaq was jealous because Kobe over came his lamelight in LA. Kobe said it himself during the beginning of the 2003-2004 season. I would like to see that Shaq truly carry a team without another superstar sidekick like Kobe is doing right know. If shaq gets another title he haven't prove me anything. Hakeem Olajuwon never had a superstar sidekick and won two titles. Now that what I call a big men carry a team on his back without a penny,kobe and wade as your sidekick. IF Shaq when a title this year I will have to retire from the NBA. I always tell Kobe haters that Shaq will never win a title again without Kobe, if he does this year then it will be difficult for me to watch the NBA, we all know that the media will attack kobe and jerry buss for that trade! That's why I hope the MAVS beat the SUNS because I don't think the Suns can't beat the Heat!

Steven,

You're as biased as every Laker/Kobe fan you deprecate. No one is saying Kobe should not receive blame for the break-up of the Lakers. And your bringing up the sexual assault allegations show that. Those allegations have nothing to do with why the Lakers were broken up. My issue is that the media acts as if Shaq is a saint. He's far from it and that's where my problems with Shaq lie.

Shaq has an enormous ego and he's always wanted each of his flashy sidekicks (penny, kobe, and wade) to be his "little brother". Well Kobe Bryant did not want to be anyone's little brother. Especially not to a guy who lost the desire to stay in shape following his first championship.

And Shaq is the originator of their feud. Once again I'll tell you to read PJ's "More than a Game" when Phil himself recounts how during the Lakers first championship run Shaq said in front of the whole team that he did not believe the Lakers could win a title with Kobe Bryant.

Also you act as if every owner in the league wouldn't fly Kobe back from EVERY court hearing. He's Kobe FREAKIN Bryant, you want him to play in EVERY game. Having Kobe play in each of those games helps Buss as much as it helps Bryant. Having Kobe helps the Lakers win games any owner with common sense would have done that.

But, like I said before Kobe is as much to blame as Shaq. Once the Lakers were dismantled by Detroit change was on the horizon. Like Phil recounted in "The Last Season" Kobe was not going to return if Shaq was back. But, shortly thereafter Shaq demanded a trade anyway which the media always fails to mention.

And as far as Kobe's leadership skills well if you're going to say arguing with teammates makes him a bad leader well I want you to say Micheal Jordan was too. For those who don't know Charles Oakley and Jordan are very good friends and they played together early in Jordan's career.

The year the Bulls brought Grant and Pippen in they had to deal Oakley. Jordan was furious and let it be known he didnt trust a young player like Grant and didnt feel he could be his enforcer like Oakley was. Also let's not forget that he verbally abused EVERY ONE of his teammates except for Scottie Pippen.

Kwame Brown is the representation of Jordan's emotional abuse gone wrong. But, still I don't see anyone criticizing Jordan's leadership

And also let's not forget that he punched Steve Kerr in practice. A veteran player who helped him win championships.

I'm not trying to drag Jordan down in an attempt to pull Kobe up. The same goes for Shaq. I just demand to see a bit of consistency.

Now that's the TRUTH!!

I'm not a Pistons fan, but what idiot plays his starters 35 plus minutes a game for 82 games and expects to win a Championship? With the way the game slows down and the intensity of the game. Come on, logic will tell you that it's too much minutes for their starters. A fresh B. Wallace, R. Wallace, Prince, Hamliton, and Billups would beat these Heat players.

Here's a correction: Only Rasheed Wallace averaged less than 35 minutes a game this year. He averaged 34.7 minutes.

mike

Mike T:

Right on. Laker fans today don't realize that it was Sharman that taught West how to be a great GM.

Ryan K:

You never heard Eddy Jones, DFish, or Horry trash Kobe or the Lakers or the city of LA after they left the fold. Case closed.

emman:

Mark Cuban is an A$$hole owner just like George Steinbrenner. As a Yankee fan, I love George. He will do anything to help his team win. I am sure that the Mav's fans feel the same way. Yes, he is an A$$hole, but he is "our" A$$hole.

The reason to root for the Mav's, however, is Avery Johnson, who truly deserved COY honors. It will probably come down to rooting for the Mav's to prevent Shaq and Riley from winning a lucky transition year title, which should have an asterisk beside it just like the short-season title that the Spurs won.

ken:

You are absolutely right about Shaq opening his big trap and starting to spout anti-Kobe venom again. And he will be egged on by the pro-Shaq, pro-Wade, anti-Kobe media. We will hear no end of it. Our only hope to deflect the Sh!t coming is to root for the Mavs to somehow beat the Heat in the finals. The Pistons are toast.

I've got to agree with Emman. It's just like the 04 Lakers. Everyone makes excuses for the Pistons. As soon as the Pistons win they've "flipped the switch" or are "awake." And whenever they get hammered by a team they have "tired legs" or are "going through the motions."

The Pistons right now are being outclassed by a team who have hit their stride at the right time. Just like the 04 Lakers.

Shaq will say one of two things if he wins a championship: "This is the best one I've won so far." or "This is the best team I've ever been on."

Xodus:

No doubt that Wade is talented and that Zo deserves a ring. What you need to brace yourself for, however, is the anti-Kobe crap that Shaq will spew and the media will perpetuate under the guise of pro-Wade comments. Despite the fact that Wade plays no defense and cries over every foul, you can already see the story line being propagated by Shaq. Watch how he will try to crucify Kobe in the press by propping up Wade. unfortunately, I also expect to see more of the same media bias on this blog from certain analysts who have obvious hidden pro-Wade and anti-Kobe biases.

I rank it at 20. I hope the Heat lose in the Finals, Yes they will beat the Pistons. The Pistons look tired and very un-focused. Shaq and his ego create a fire in my body, i hate the mother ----er. He caused the whole break-up. He turned into a fat slob and his head grew larger than life. He does not deserve another ring. Wade, Mourning and Payton deserve a ring, but no SHAQ. The reason Shaq was so be-friending to Wade was because he is older and was rejected. Dallas in 6.

Peace out.

It's not over yet, it's only 3-1 we only see the fat player running and not the fat lady appearing.

Mike T:

I really do agree with you that now is the time for the Lakers to build a great defensive team to go with Kobe and make a run at another set of NBA championships. With Kobe and the inside pieces we have -- Lamar, Kwame, Bynum, Mihm, Turiaff, Walton -- we are not that far away. We need to get some speed and quickness in the backcourt, let our frontcourt mature and evolve, and add a couple of veteran players that know how to win. IMO the key would be somehow getting the rights to draft Brandon Roy to be Kobe's backcourt mate. We are entering a really wild transition period in the league where anyone can win and we are not that far away from having the team to do it. I think the Laker trust knows this. If LeBron signs an extension, I think the Laker will abandon the currennt caproom strategy for 2008 and really make a move to win now.

10, I want Shaq never to win a ring again. I sorry Dwayne and Mourning.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY APOLOGY

TO ALL BLOGGERS I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE

Last month I stated mispredicted that the Pat Riley coached Miami Heat team, lead by the STELLAR play of Heat STARS Shaquille O'Neal and DWade would TROUNCE and DISPATCH the Defending Eastern Conference Champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 2. Unfortunately (which doesn't happen often)I was wrong. It will be a 4 games to 1 drubbing!!!!!

MY BAD!! I PROMISE to get the Heat - Mavericks NBA FINALS Series correct. Again, my apologies

OUT!!!
the Truth

20!!!!....Ever since Shaq left the Lakers and lost about 25 pounds and came back in shape...I have grown such hatred for him....It just goes to show you HOW LAZY he was with us...He never got in shape...WHY did it have to take a trade to get him in shape!?!?!?...

Pat the Rat Riley....i cant stand him anymore...ever since he ran Stan Van Gundy out of Miami so that he could run the show...What a rat!!

GP....i personally blame him for our disasterous ending in 2004...I hate his attitude!!!...

Alonzon Mourning...if I have to watch him Flex his Muscles after every play, I am going to throw up...

Antoine "Tippy Toe" Walker....anybody who played for the Atlanta Hawks does not deserve to win a title!!!

the only guy on that team that I like is Wade...though if you notice he falls down more then a little girl playing soccer!!!!

GO MAVS!!!!

There will be a day in the future when Shaq-Baby will come back to Staples with retiring Kobe and both will raise their jerseys at the Staple rafters. These two guys will also be addressing at Springfield, MA the home of Basketball Hall of Fame. That will be the day when we will all be smiling at these two great individuals for their accomplishments without any regard to their differences in personalities.

maybe its just miamis year they were close last year and this year they are gonna do it.Dammit i hate shaqs crybaby a&# he acts like wade is ready for stardom but kob isnt. Kob is the barry bonds of the nba in that his peers respect and acknowledge his greatness but the media has a different agenda. Us laker fans know the deal and we stand behind kobe and our lakers we were one rebound and six sec. away from shutting alot of people up so this is what makes the off-season so terrible b/c we should still be there cant wait for 06-07 season my predictions are as follows:we sign a pt. guard(hopefully cassel,or troy hudson)compete for the top spot with the suns and clips win about 55 gms. kob gets his first mvp and we make it to the finals against lebron and the cavs

Oh yeah, Billups as a Finals MVP. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. And I would say a 4 for Dwyane Wade.

10. Love Shaq as a person, but a title for the Miami Heat is a victory for everything that is wrong about the sport--selfish, lazy players (Shaq, Payton, Antoine Walker), backstabbing coach (Riley), and a rotisserie league mentality to building a team.

But I think that whoever comes out of the East will get blitzkrieged by Dirk and the Mavs.

Mike,

I am not saying that we need Eddie Jones, Van Exel, D fish or Big Shot Bob? You are right, they are way to old. All I was saying is that we still got some purple and gold love for them buried in us somewhere.

And truthfully I don't care who wins as long as it aint Mark Cuban! I would rather raja bell had a ring over Cuban.... well... I guess I gotta think about that one!

Ryan K

I really hope Miami doesn't win men is that team filled with people I don't like as players starting with Alonzo "Kitty Kat" Mourning who punked out of Toronto. Gary "put a sock in it" Payton damn that dude just never shuts up and never can get along with anyone he plays with for an old guy he's really delusional for thinking he can still play all that well face it Gary you're not the Glove anymore. Anotoine "I run like a fat girl" Walker jack up some more 3's buddy. And the grand daddy of them all Shaq that boasting, egomaniac, I don't know after his behavior with the way he handled leaving LA and stuff I lost all respect and admiration for the dude he doesn't deserve it he lost his heart, his hunger and drive a long time ago showing up to camp fat thats inexcusable. Last but not least not a player but coach Pat Riley if that wasn't the dirtiest, underhanded move I've ever seen myself he really jammed a sword into Stan Van Gundy's back. Came in and started reaping the rewards of a team that had alot of potential in the East instead of doing the work himself. That was cowardly on every level. I hope the Heat don't win. I want Dallas to win since the Lakers aren't in it.
My anger is on a 10

Lakers all the way

GP is my 3rd favorite player of all time. Don't down him.

Kobe
Magic
The Glove

6 I don't hate shaq, but i don't particularly like him either. i didn't like him in orlando, and i didn't like him here, although i did appreciate his game more. considering his salary, he ought never to use phrases like "i got hurt on company time, i'll heal on company time". saying things like that shows what a spoiled brat he is. showing up to training camp out of shape and not learning to shoot free throws shows his terrible work ethic. these are not things to be rewarded. all that being said, since the lakers aren't in it, i just don't care that much. kobe will get his soon enough, in fact i predict kobe's career will finish with 6 rings, which should be at least 2 more than the diesel.

Rubin:

Don't be fooled for a moment. Shaq has not put his vendetta against Kobe behind him. He is now just disguising it via his pro-Wade campaign.

If the Heat win, Shaq will really go to town with his underhanded, classless attacks on Kobe. And the pro-Shaq, pro-Wade, anti-Kobe media will jump on the bandwagon. Just watch and see.

LakerTom,

I'm actually hoping Shaq will be a big enough man to not throw barbs if Miami were to win the championship.

BTW, why is everyone just handing the title to Miami? Dallas is arguably the most deepest team in the league and not to mention that they're among the best coached teams in the league. Also the Heat matches up horribly with the Suns. The Heat may very well win it all but it will be in a dogfight.

Edwin Gueco:

Sorry, but I won't be smiling. Shaq burned his bridges for me. He has no class and will continue to demonstrate that if he wins a lucky title this year.

It's so nice to see Kobe suffering, at least career wise. And I really hope that he is aching inside, because he is a Punk.

I'm so Happy at the possibility of Shaq being the one that suceeds here, and that should be a sign of who is most important. Not some idiot who would give up his team mates in a minute (Shaq first, when Kobe got in trouble in Colorado, then game 7 against the Suns where he threw the organization under the bus. He could've at least tried to make it look like he was trying) But then again he is a punk.

It's great that Kobe will never win a championship again, Never.

By the Way, I got the new Kobe shoe and it is pretty cool. The only thing is it quits on you in the 4th.

whatever! I'm still a fan of Kobe!! He is the best! However, i think the Heat will win the NBA Finals because Shaq and Wade are doing great, and i'm happy for them...

I'm at 5.

I don't care if Shaq gets another title as long as he doesn't insult the Lakers. He's not the best player on the Heat anyway.

I don't have any feelings about Riley as the winning coach either way. He did a great job with the Lakers and his HOF legacy is secure. He built something now and got it to work so good for him.

I rate somewhere between 1 & 0! Since the Big make up on King Day I haven't had much venom for fat boy! To me, it's not so much about the Heat as it is about the Pistons! I respect a team that beats my team the way they did in the Finals a few years back but....

I think the Pistons had way TOO MUCH swagger to stomach. They remind me of the basketball equivalent of the St. Louis Rams with Warner & Faulk, one ring but dynasty swagger!!! The way they disrespected the Cavs kind of did it for me. Not that I'm some Cavs fan but the Guar-ransheed & the after effects exposed them & then after Game 1 E.C.F. they talked at the press conference like THEY were the cause of the loss & not what the Heat did!! Damn, give the other team some credit!!!

I rooted for Shaq in purple & gold and I've cursed him ever since he left but if Kobe can forgive him, why can't I? Also watching the game yesterday, it's obvious that Wade makes that team go! He was phenominal!!! And as a human being, who doesn't want to see Zo get a chip?! The guy is putting his life in danger to chase the chip, so why not?

We all need to get over it! Some us may never & it's to our own detriment! Hate is crippling!

P.S. We all know what a 3-1 series lead means so lets not fit them for a ring just yet! Detroit was the best regular season team & they are more than capable of winning two games to push it to Game 7.

P.P.S. I love these playoffs!!! It's been a great season for basketball!!!

I personally don't care if Miami wins the championship. But I know that the media and Shaq will make this about Kobe and the Lakers and that's what I don't like. I hate when the media puts Kobe down or the entire Lakers to elevate Shaq, Wade and the Heat. The Heat should have their glory without involving the Lakers.

Being honest I don't like Shaq anymore, all his comments and bitterness towards Kobe and the Lakers. Blaming them for everything and Shaq washing his hands of all wrong doing made me see that he is not that great of a person. If he wins the championship and says something or implies something about the Lakers or Kobe, I will truly dislike him.

We all know that Shaq is not the one taking them to the finals is Wade. Wade is a great player; the heat wouldn't be in the position they are if Shaq was without Wade. But Shaq doesn't think that, he thinks it’s him, but without Kobe he wouldn’t of won and without Wade he won’t win.

In the end he is afraid of being in a team without a young talented player (a superstar). I admire Kobe for taking the risk of playing with average players and trying to take them all the way. I admire Lebron for the same reason. I know Wade would also do the same thing. Shaq is different and that's why I don't respect him.

I think Kobe would not care if Shaq wins one first, for Kobe is just winning and being one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Remember Kobe has been a Laker his entire career and he is a Laker for life. Shaq on the other hand played for Orlando, then the Lakers and now Miami. Shaq is driven to win to make every one say, see it was I not Kobe, the Lakers made a mistake in trading me. Make no mistake Shaq will not be the bigger person; he will in fact rub it in the face of Kobe and Dr. Buss. What will happen will happen, but just keep in mind that the Heat is Wade’s team not Shaq’s team.

Maybe the good thing about all of this is that Dr. Buss will find better players and make the Lakers better. Hopefully his pride will take over and help Kobe by getting him better players. Maybe for all of us to move on is just for Shaq to win with Miami and let it go. Shaq is no longer a Laker and he wanted it that way. He will win his championship with Miami and hopefully he can let go of all the bitterness and just be happy. For Shaq to forget about Kobe and the Lakers and just move on. This summer if/when he wins we need to prepare for all the hating Kobe and the Lakers will endure, but maybe after all of that we can ALL move on and just focus on our TEAM and not worry about what Shaq does or does not do.

4 - 5 ish. I don't want shaq to get a ring either but what will suck more is that i bet they give MVP to Wade even though without shaq he wouldn't even be anywhere close. It is the same with Kobe. Shaq couldn't win by himself either. I don't understand how any laker fan would like shaq after he said we were fake. He was supposed to be the leader but caused most of the problems. Remember when he purposely left Kobe's name of the list of players that were necessary at camp. I just use to wonder why he could bring everything public and critize but everyone ragged on Kobe when he did. I even dislike Magic now for siding with Shaq. How come shaq doesn't mind letting wade have the glory but would not let Kobe. Even now any time they lose the first thing he says is i need more touches. For god sakes he can barely make a lay up

10

Since the Lakers are out of it i shouldn't care who wins it because either way it's not the Lakers. As much as i hate/love The Diesel, love Riles, and respect D Wade's game i don't think i would be able to handle all of the "heat" it would put on the Lakers and Kobe. I can just see it now, after a whole summer of Shaq/Wade praising and Kobe hating, the league would top it off with a Lakers/Heat season opener in Miami where the Heat players would be presented their rings, ouch! So all i can hope is that'll be to much Dirk and the Jet in the Finals. Go Mavs?

Laker Reg-

I'm about an 8. Shaq has been a baby about everything because the Lakers chose Kobe over him.
Those that think Pat Riley was lucky winning the 4 titles don't remember very well. Ask Magic. Because of the glitz of showtime people forget that it was Riley's defense that triggered the fast break and the championships.
It was not Riley being outcoached that cost us the title in 1984, it was Magic and Worthy making bonehead plays at the end of games. Remember Magic dribbling out the clock when it was a tie game? Riley's motivational "tricks" won us the title in 1988 guaranteeing the back to back. No team had done it in 18 years until Riley.
I haven't liked Riley since he left the Lakers but you've got to give him his due for what he did in the 80's.

personally a 7.

i'm still not over the breakup. i blame 64% on shaq, 12% on kobe, and 24% on mitch kupcake just for being him. the reason i put so much on shaq is because he should've known better. the "wiser" of the two should have been able to keep the younger pre madonna one in check. look at magic and kareem. they hated each other, but kareem knew that to create the greatest team of all time needed to keep this team together.

shaq just wanted all the glory for himself. he knew he was the best, and wanted to just break it up and bring down kobe.

if i was kobe, i'd do the same thing. it's like this. if you were the vanilla in the chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream at sizzler, and everyone said the chocolate tasted better and was the best part, then for sure you need to shine alone as the vanilla. i mean chocolate has been getting the cred for years and years, but vanilla needs some respect too.

give it up to vanilla.

lakerTom and vito... word up, brothers

i'm at a 10.

i had to stomach that ridiculous "DEEEEETROIIIIIIT BASKEEEEEETBALLLLLL" nonsense last week just to see the pistons beat the heat. uh, didn't work but that still shows the level of what i'm willing to put myself through to ensure a heat loss.

love the guy, but shaq can only get a ring after we do. sorry. that's the rule.

on the flip side, i've already been going on the possible match ups of dallas and miami. if dallas survives, i'll stomach looking at cuban's mug all day in hopes that the maves beat the heat.

that's some laker loyalty right there, ya'll.

What I read about Shaq talking about Wade really pisses me off....
______________________________

Shaquille O'Neal, on the verge of reaching the Finals with a third team after advancing previously with the Lakers and Orlando Magic, scored 21 points and took nine rebounds, then said he was more than happy to defer to his teammate.

"It's a different role for me, playing with the great Dwyane Wade," said O'Neal, who made eight of 12 shots and has connected on 61.8% in the series, averaging 20.8 points, "but it's a role that I've accepted. …

"It's my job to make him the best player to ever play the game before I leave. I think I have the ability to do that, and I think he has the ability to become that."
__________________________________

NOW WHY COULDNT DO HE THAT WITH KOBE?!?! if he allowed Kobe to be the man and him backing him up when he got older, we'd still be contending for championships. I want shaq to win another ring, but the Pistons they are beating now arent the same team that won aginast the Lakers. Now everyone going to say Wade is better than Kobe. BULLCRAP!

1.... Will everyone get over this already? The Lakers as formulated circa 2004 were not going to win another championship, let alone get past the WCFs. If you think we had the roster to beat the Spurs, the Pistons, or even Phoenix in 04 or 05, go back and watch the most recent Detroit-Lakers Finals. If Kwame can't close out a pick-and-roll, you think Shaq or the default backup stiff can do it? Do you think we would have gotten the necessary players with Shaq AND Kobe's large salaries? No, so why be bitter?

The west has turned back into the west of the 80's: faster pace, guard oriented play. We are again entering the age of the perimeter player, and Shaq or Yao aren't as valuable as a great point guard or a mobile-and-intuitive offensive scheme.

I'm cool w/ the Heat winning it all this year compared to the other alternatives (Suns, Pistons/ Mavs). I think Shaq is cool, and he did reach out to Kobe this year. BUT if he starts shooting his mouth about this championship is better than the other ones, I'll have a different outlook on him. I'll go to the "Shaq can't win w/o a superstar sidekick, great coach" argument.

So Mike T., when a team loses, like the Lakers and (probably) the Pistons this year, it's always the coaches fault. We've heard ad nauseum how Phil lost the Suns series and now Flip is ruining the Pistons chances, according to you.

But when a team wins (the Lakers during Riley's time) he's just lucky to have good players.

What the NBA really needs is a genius like you to coach a team.

On a scale of 1-10 huh? I'LL GIVE IT A 20! I am a BIG SHAQ fan and always will be. The Diesel getting his 4th ring WITHOUT Kobe will be music to my ears. Once and for all it will shut up all the "Shaq can't win without Kobe" crap. It's already been proven that Kobe can't win without the most dominant post player in the game...even at 34. Just proves that put a any top tier 2 guard (plus good role players) with Shaq and he will win it.

The Heat shouldn't get too cocky. They're not in the Finals yet. Anyway, the Mavs will walk all over them if they do. Mark my words.

From Dime Magazine's (Fox Sports) Mock NBA Draft:

4. Portland Trail Blazers - Brandon Roy, SG, Washington. Portland doesn’t necessarily need Roy, having already pegged Martell Webster as their two-guard of the future, but will still take the best player available. We’ve heard rumors that the Lakers love Roy, so don’t be surprised if an L.A./Portland trade goes down sometime in the near future.

26. Los Angeles Lakers - Richard Roby, SG, Colorado. Behind Redick, Roby was arguably the best shooter in college basketball last year, and the Lakers could definitely use someone who can knock down shots. Plus, at 6-6, Roby handles the ball and passes well enough to maybe even play the point in the triangle.

AK/BK:

Why don't you start a Lakers Draft/Trade thread so we can have one consistent location to post specific draft and trade stuff without cluttering up any other posts such as the Shaq and Heat post. Thanks.

I gotta agree with KobeBean!

I don't want Shaq to win another title. Why? If he would have gotten his ass in shape a long time ago, he'd already 4 or more rings with the Lakers. I don't care if he didn't like Kobe. For him to get in shape in Miami and not for the Lakers is just disrespectful to fans. We're the ones who pay you.

He's also a baby and I can't stand Walker and Payton.

Plus, I'm a Kobe fan and I can't stand that he's STILL taking all the heat from what happened.

And Steven, careful before you open your mouth! I give SOME credit to Miami, but not all. The Piston's are falling apart. If Larry Brown were coach of the Pistons right now, they would be at least 2-2. I hate making excuses for teams, but it's true. Flip Saunders hasn't made any adjustments and he has no control over the team.

Saunders is a regular season coach. He sucks in the playoffs. He hasn't made very many adjustments and his rotations have been horrible.

Steve, the Heat are also playing a team thats falling apart. Things should be interesting come the Finals. I think the Mavs will be there, but the Suns even have a shot. They've proven everyone wrong and I don't think Shaq would be able keep up.

the difference between the Kobe+Shaq combo and the Wade+Shaq combo is that Wade is willing to involve his teammates in the offense. Wade plays the star role but also plays as a contributor, which is important to winning and it evens out his game.

after watchin wade the last game, I'm very impressed. He might not be Kobe good but he's one hell of a player

In the last post I put my "anger" level at 20! That was my anger at Kobe's performance in the second half of Game 7 vs. the Suns. That also will be my level of joy WHEN Shaq wins the title.

I pray to god that kobe passes the ball and shares the ball next year. I just hope he develops a mindset of teamplay next season!

I got to go with a "10". You have to be happy for the guy, everyone wants to taut Wade (who's playing brilliantly, I've never seen Jordan, Kobe, Magic or anyone averge 30 points and shoot 70% in a playoff series), but when you mention the success of Hardaway, Wade and Bryant, there is a 300 plus pound, 7 ft 1 inch common denominator between them. Shaq is a winner, it's just that simple.

If the Heat do win the title, it just goes to show what I said all along; there is no player in the league like Shaq and there won't be for a long, long time. He's agile and fast for his size and he's pretty skilled. There have been tons of Jordan-cookie cutter clones but there's only one Shaq. The Lakers should of traded Kobe to Miami for Wade and Odom. Phil would of stayed and the championship run would still be going on. The Lakers will not win a championship before Kobe Bryant retires. The fact that they made the playoffs this year was a fluke. Houston was hurt, Golden State can't get right, Denver had personell issues and Sacremento didn't get it together until too late..but all of those teams will be much better next year, the Lakers won't.

1

Go Shaq. Thanks for all the good times here big man.

Last year, after 40 plus years as a Laker fan, I boycotted the Lakes becuase of all the stupid pettyness, selfishness, rapists, and all.

This year I came back and enjoyed watching the team grow.

I have no problem with Shaq winning again. He isn't what he was but he is still the most unique player in the league. I loved watching him as a Laker.

If I were to be honest with myself, it bugs the hell out of me. Shaq's laziness and Kobe's work ethic spoke volumes as to who I wanted on my team long term. And then when Shaq went and lost 25 lbs and started the season in shape it really pissed me off. Had he taken care of himself like that in LA we would have one or two more titles.

And then when we trade a once in a generation type player and only get Grant, Butler and Odom in return only adds salt to it. How we don't get another (current) all-star in return in beyond my comprehension.

I wouldn't be sad if Shaq never played another game and Miami turned into NY south with a bunch of inflated salaries and no chance of winning. In fact if it happened, I may giggle.

The only thing at this point that would make it better is The suns makeing it to the finals and sweeping the Heat. And then when the camera pans in on Nash in a celebration he would look directly into the camera and say "CAN YOU DIG IT?" Also the media would say, Kobe took it to 7 and shaq couldn't win a game. Ahhhhh, in a perfect world.

BK,

The scoring is based on Shaq. You lowered yours (as many others) to 5 because of D.Wade, City of Miami, Riley Factors. So really what you mean is 8? Which is about where I stand.

I don't absolutely hate Miami, but I don't want Shaq winning it. Anyone who believes "burying the hatchet" is little more reason to be able to stand it is full of it. That whole "bury the hatchet" crap is PR. The hatch is still up and very visible.

Consider Shaq's recent quote that he now has "no problem" being 2nd wheel to D. Wade. Turn around and insult the Lakers and L.A. then go on and turn yourself into the submissive 2 man to a kid who plays just like Kobe during the Kobe/Shaq era?

Shaq is just a big 6th grader playing with 2nd graders. His emotional maturity is no greater. Would you want that 6th grade bully on the playground to win? No..he'd just act like an ass. That is what Shaq will do.

Oh and yes.
I think (as much as I hate) would rather have Cuban have a trophy than Shaq. AAGH.

The only team I root for now is Detroit. If they go out..then damn, I hope no one wins the finals.

Interesting comment on Ben Wallace by Dan Wetzel:

"Saunders' greatest failure is losing Ben Wallace's confidence. Wallace's marginalization in Detroit's offense has affected his entire game.

I've written this before, but as strange as it sounds, the secret to getting the Defensive Player of the Year to play his best is to include him, at least a little, offensively. But Saunders has failed to do that, almost embarrassing Wallace on the offensive end by ignoring him."

As great as Wallace is on defense, no player likes to be ignored on the offensive end. When you're not involved on the offensive end you get lazy. The mind isn't as sharp on the defensive end. The game becomes lackadaisical. That was part of Kwame Brown's problem with the 1st half of the season.

mike

Get over it Laker fans. It has to be the worst trade in the history of the NBA.

You notice how good Dwayne Wade got when Shaq came to town? Shaq is killing Detroit. Jerry Buss should have said Shaq either you play for me or you don't play.

This is the third team that will have made the finals with Shaq. That should tell you enough right there.

The Lakers will not be back in the finals for at least a decade.

Remember Boston sold Ruth to New York and the rest is history.

Honestly, my hatred for one Shaquille O'Neil is blinding me!!! lol. Seriously though, I'd have to go with a 8 or 9. The only reason that I'm not over the top like 25 is that I think it will all come down to quantity. Who wins more than who. And he might win it this year, sure, but he's only got a 2-3 year window. I abhor Shaq for all the things mentioned here, and I love Alonzo...but my feelings for Shaq like I said blinds me lol.

In the end, I guarantee if Shaq wins it, there will be nothing that will stop Kobe and this organization from doing what they can to win (more).

Let's see, what are our options here - Phoenix, Detroit, Miami and Dallas...

Phoenix broke our hearts in the first round and talked all that smack about winning 5 games to 2 due to poor officiating, so I definitely don't want them to win.

Detroit broke our hearts in 2004 and caused the dynasty breakup that started this whole mess. I like the way they play, but I will never be able to cheer for them.

Miami has Shaq-baby who constantly takes shots at our team. And they have D-Wade who took shots at Kobe without even knowing the guy. I can't respect a team made up of players like that.

Dallas hasn't done anything yet to incur my eternal wrath, so I'm cheering for them, although I think the most entertaining Finals would be Detroit vs. Phoenix.

Steven, is a Troll, if you don't know what a troll is or how to respond to one, Google the word.

I THINK THE MAVS WILL WIN ALL. I CANNOT COUNT ON MIAMI 100%, EVEN SHAQ IS THE CENTER.

once the lakers lost I found myself rooting for any team that played against miami. so, in effect, the only thing i'd like to see other than the lakers winning... is miami losing.

what's the west's chance, dallas or phoenix, against miami ?

10.........I don't want Shaq to get another ring..I don't want to see him gloating about getting another ring and "MAKING DWade the best player ever"as he said he wants to......Please, even if they get in the finals( thanks Detroit), I hope Dallas beats them!!!! I think they have a chance if they get through the West...

Anybody but the HEAT...please

It's true that someday we'll raise #34 and #8 in the rafters together, but that doesn't mean I have to cheer for him to win a championship. I'd rather cheer for the Celtics at this point, just on principle.

There's enough blame for the Laker break-up to go around, but Shaq winning the title only vindicates his terrible attitude in 04 and today for that matter. Payton, while I love him, was not the player he should have been in LA. How can I cheer for that?

Bottom line is, even though Shaq is a piece of Laker history and will be thought of as a Laker great in the future, right now, in the present, he represents a thorn in the side of Laker fans.

His only championships should be his Laker championships.

I'M A LAKER NOW AND BEFORE LOS ANGELES, PLAYED AND COACHED FOR YEARS THE LAKERS NEED A POWER FOWARD THAT CAN SCORE AND WE WILL FINE. STEVE GO BACK AND READ THE JUNH YOU WROTE. YOU ELENATE ALL THE FACTS AND SAY ANYTHING. I'M HOPE YOU ARE NOT TAKING SMART PILLS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT SMART PILLS ARE I WILL TELL YOU ASK ME.

FRED

As a die hard laker fan. I dont want to see anyone win a championship other than the lakers...and especially not shaq. Shaq was as much to blame for the breakup but he tried to place blame on Kobe and Kobe got most of the criticism. Shaq is no longer a Laker, in my eyes...he is a traitor. I do NOT want to see him win another ring!

I can't stand "Wade Lame" (aka Dwayne Wade) he's a poor man's Kobe. I loved the Diesel when he played for us but I'm glad he left when he did b/c his rift w/ The Next Greatest player in NBA history; next to all the other Laker greats, Kareem and Magic, caused too much chaos and heartache for us true Laker fans. There's no reason why we should have lost the Detroit series when we had Malone and GP. I blame Shaq for not coming to Staples fit as a fiddle to play. Kobe deserves a few more titles. He's going to prove he's the next best, no doubt about it. He's just got to get his selfishness and imaturity out of the way first. Kobe and Lebron are going to battle for the Championship like Bird and Magic did during the 80s. We'll let Wade get this one championship and then we'll cut him off. Shaq's on the decline and it'll be a nice ending for his career to get another one outside of LA. This is really Riley's championship. He orchestrated it. Wade Lame just rode in on The Diesel's coattails. Once the big man's finished getting over the hump and on the decline, Wade Lame will just blend into NBA oblivion. There's no way he can hang w/ the likes of Kobe or Lebron.

I'd much rather have ex-Lakers Shaq, Riley, and Payton get a championship than any of those idiots from Detroit, Dallas (Mark Cuban) or Phoenix.

Once a Laker, always a Laker (kind of).

GO LAKERS!

AK/BK,

Only 28 days until the draft. Can we start talking about the players the Lakers have scheduled for workouts?

GO LAKERS!

Shaq, or Shrek as I have called him ever since he ran down the court yelling pay me. He was the second highest paid player at the time and he thought he was underpayed. He will in my eyes just be a big green cash machine.

My problem is he was never in shape after the first championship, if Shaq would of deffered to Kobe the way he does to Wade they would of gone down as the greatest duo in the history of any sport.

No I am not bitter of the breakup, but I will never beable to route for Shaq getting another title.

Can a 4th title for Shaq diminish Kobe's value during the Laker Championship Years?

To be quite honest, I'm not at all worried about Shaq winning his 4th championship. I would be extremely happy for him, a value of “2”, if the Heat play this thing out and win. He's given Laker Fans three championships, inching us that much closer to surpassing the Boston Celtics as the best NBA Franchise of all time. And for true Laker fans out there, that is worth more than anything.

I would also pay big money to see the intense scowl that is normally worn by Mourning and the smug sideways look worn by Payton replaced by tears of joy. To see grown men cry over things like this is amusing to me. Especially grown men who have a facade of being tough and macho.

Lastly, how could you root against Riles? I can't speak for everyone but I was heartbroken when Allan Houston made that game 5 winner against Riley’s Heat in 1999 - which, arguably, led to the Riley's decline.

Now, what concerns me is the impact a Heat Championship would have on the value of Kobe’s presence during the Laker's Championship years. If Shaq wins, regardless of how much he had to do with the Heat’s current success, it would provide the Kobe naysayers more fuel to discredit his career.

Think about it – Shaq made it the finals with Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, and if the Heat win on Wednesday, Dwayne Wade. I’m not saying that Hardaway and Wade are remotely close to the talent that is Kobe. But it does make you sit back and think about what people will say about Kobe during those formidable years. Kobe, at least for the time being, is the one factor that pushed Shaq over the hump. But can someone legitimately argue that Shaq couldn’t have done it with Wade or Hardaway. I think a Heat Championship would make that a moot point.

So can a 4th title for Shaq diminish Kobe's value during the Laker Championship Years? I say yes. Does that make me angry? Yes – the qualified numerical summation would be a resounding 24.

How can Kobe shut the critics up? Win a championship. Easier said than done? Ask Shaq.

I think both Shaq and Kobe were big babies in that whold affair(although Kobe definitely went over the line in revealing Shag's personal business).
I blame Dr.Buss for letting West get away, all may have been resolved and the dynasty would have continued. Kobe probably won't get another one because no player of substance wants to play with a "me first" player.
He's also a quitter, I don't care what anyone says. He did it against Sacramento a few years ago, and he did again the last game against Phoenix.

Without question, this is a 10. Shaq gets propped up; Kobe's rep (just a 'Pippen' figure or less - 'replaced' by Wade, etc.) takes a hit. The Heat beat the team that took out the Shaq - Kobe Lakers (Pistons). I could go on. This is a disaster for Laker nation. No two ways about it. Gotta pray for the Mavs. The Pistons are done. And now we can call the Pistons what they truly were - Fluke Champions. All this bluster and 'This is who we are' garbage. Yeah, this is who you are: A team that won it once, choked it once, and are getting crushed in year three. We know who you are. Don't let the door hit you on your overated a$$es on the way out of the NBA's elite.

Am I the only one that thinks that if Shaq wins it all this year, there's an even better chance of KG being a Laker next year or in 2008? Whether it would be good or not with what we might have to give up (LO/Kwame/Bynum, et al) is still a question ;-)

CAN WE DIG IT? Hell No! Shaq will never let it die, he's going to say something stupid in the media. His path was and will be much easier in the East. Rate it a 1. He could key the ride, burn down the pad, and do the girl and it wouldn't tee me off as much.

If Shaq makes finals, more power to him, as long as he doesn't try to rub anyone's nose in his moment of glory. It will be interesting to see Mavs play Heat. Cuban may have a coronary complaining to the refs about his arch rival Shaq, by the time it's over. By the way, Pistons are playing like crap.

i thought when the suns beat the lakers that i didn't want to see the suns ever again, but at this point i don't care who, anybody beat the heat, the suns, mavs, pistons, 50's allstars i don't care shaq doesn't deserve it after acting like a little... girl!

What is wrong with you people?!? Can't you see that Kobe is a creep? Shaq is the man; he's playing great and he's playing on a great team. Kobe got rid of Shaq; that's all there is to it. If you want to continue suffering, love Kobe. But he's the problem that the Lakers have. I say 10.

DON'T HATE the MOST DOMINANT PLAYER....HATE THE GAME.

aww,..C'MON KOBE FANS...DON'T HATE,..CONGRATULATE

Shaq and the Miami Crew could have won LAST YEAR if not for injuries to Haslem, DWade and Shaq. Let's keep things in perspective,...Where Shaq goes, so goes the NBA Title, stop the denial.
Shaq has been a deservant blessing for a nice young man such as DWade, so there is kharma involved.

It has been a known fact throughout the league,...the Lakers will NEVER, EVER win another title with Kobe Bryant, they NEED a Bigman at Center or a talent like LeBron James.

I would suggest Laker fans nationwide start a grassroots campaign demanding the Laker organization TRADE Kobe Bryant before he gets hurt next season for LeBron James. I doubt Cleveland would actually do it, but stranger things have happened in the NBA, such as the blockbuster trade of Shaq.

Kobe fans living in denial,..this credo rings true: 'Your eyes may shine,...and your teeth may glit,....but with Kobe Bryant as a Laker, not another NBA Title will you get!!!'

OUT!!!
the Truth
case closed

Perfect 10.

"Here Pat, c'mon out of the booth and coach Magic, James and Kareem, Here's a handful of championships. Couldn't get one in New York or Miami, on your own? No problem, here's Shaq to revive your career. Go ahead, Big Fella, you were right to get your operation on company time, you were right not to play unitl April or so. You don't need to be in shape for the regular season fans, you're prime time and this proves it. LA is a phony town with phony people, just like you said. Congratulations MDE, so what if you need a bigger ring size now. You were right and those fools in LA were wrong. Kobe? I guess this trophy says all that has to be said. D Wade, MVP."

Other than that, I'm fine with it.

V

Steven,
Now for the truth, whether you want to hear it or not. Shaq's last couple of seasons were marked with rampant obesity. How about reporting to camp a mind boggling 380+ lbs? This was a man that demanded more than 30 million a year, a ridiculous demand for a player that would/could not help himself from too many BK Shaq Packs.
How about this for class: Screaming at Jerry Buss during an exhibition game. It went something like this: Give me my f'ing money! Sounds like a model employee to me.
The Mavs or Suns will try to run the hell out of his fat ass. Hope they have a doctor ready.

Reg, rdlee, mat kishimoto, cbuck, the Lamar show, nyla, S.Tan, buce sanchez, Kate, Tim, Antwan Brown, Seph, James Archer, fakerz, purplefaze:

The Laker Nation stands up. Thank you all.

**********

Paul from LA, Lou in LBC, Tom Daniels, jon, Doug, and all of the other aliases:

Steven, you have the scale reversed, A$$hole. 10 means you can't stand Shaq winning.

Finally proof that you are all the same stupid person.

F*ck you and goodbye.

Xodus:

Your hopes that Shaq will take the high road will be dashed. He will pimp Dwayne Wade to jab at Kobe and the Lakers for sure.

I do hope you are right about the Mavs. I just have this terrible feeling in the bottom of my stomach that everything is break is going the Heat's way. I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns rally and beat the Mavs but Steve Nash is injured and out for the finals.

********

SamII:

You mean if Shaq doesn't insult the Lakers any more, since he has already done so repeatedly. Our loyalty should be with the guys that are here (except for Smush), not the guys that left and trashed us.

********

Mitch:

You disappoint me. Unless the 1 & 0 were really meant to be a 10. I do like Zo. In fact, he is the only one on that rotisserie team that I do like.

********

lakofan:

Props for a very intelligent and well thought out post. I think you are right about Kobe. He really does not harbor any ill will toward Shaq at this point. As with Phil, he doesn't hold a grudge. If only Fat A$$ Shaq had the same attitude, the playoffs would be much more pleasurable. Think about it. Shaq's refusal to let go is the only thing other than the Lakers being out that is not great about these playoffs.

********

Rudolph:

4 and 5 = 9.

********

Fish Guy:

How much do you want to bet that if the Heat do win, Shaq will come out with this being his best championship?

**************

Faith:

Thank you. You just might be right about KG, but I agree we might give up too much.

*********
nozzie:

Yes, even the Suns. Even Raja Bell. Even Marc Cuban.

AK/BK:

A Laker draft and trades thread, please.

Man, you guys really know how to stir things up. Is there a way to create a poll? Never mind, Steven would just vote a 1000 times. On second thought, since he and his aliases all think a 10 means a 1 that would be OK.

lakerville,

It's true, Pat Riley came from the radio booth and won a Championship the same year as an assistant. That's not great coaching. That's lucky! Two years later...I followed the Lakers that year like this year. Magic Johnson got Paul Westhead fired. Pat Riley took over because Jerry West didn't want any part of coaching. Magic, Kareem, Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilks, Bob MacAdoo, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Mitch Kupchak, Mark Landsberger, Eddie Jordan and others won the Championship that year. Pat Riley just sat and watched.

Flip Saunders ran his played his players to death this season. I wrote about it as early as March that the Pistons had too much minutes on their legs. That's the coaches fault.

Phil Jackson didn't adjust to the Suns when he had at least 2 games to do so. That's the coaches fault.

mike

ever since riles joined the heat as coach, ive had miami as my 2nd team. ive always held pat in high esteem and was one of those who earnestly hoped that he'd come back to coach the lakers once again. plus the fact that zo has been through a lot, both healthwise and all those heartbreaking years against the knicks, i root for miami to win it all this year. as far as shaq is concerned, im kind of ambivalent about it. you know what they say, "the opposite of love is not hate...its indifference."

Mike T:

Great post. I also followed the Lakers then, listening to Chick (and Riley) and remember well how Magic led the revolt against Westhead. If I remember correctly, I believe that Pat Riley grease ball hairstyle was born when he took over as head coach. Do you remember that?

Interesting parallel is how Steve Lavin chose the same hair style when he took over as the UCLA Bruins hoop coach after Jim Harrick was fired.

Similar lucky rise to head coach. Similar greasy hair style. Similarly both were fired by their teams.

Laker Tom,

Yes, I remember that Riley slicked his hair when he became head coach. Before that it was wavey with no hair dressing. He looked something like this:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bpat%2Briley%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dybr_sbc%26x%3Dwrt&w=101&h=138&imgurl=www.speakingofsports.com%2Fspeakers%2Fimages%2FRiley2.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.speakingofsports.com%2Fspeakers%2FRileyP.htm&size=6.6kB&name=Riley2.jpg&p=pictures+of+pat+riley&type=jpeg&no=13&tt=7,406&ei=UTF-8

Without the mustache.

mike

I'm sorry.... Shaq who?

Oh right, the greedier-than-thou traitor.

Are the playoffs even still on? I knew there was something getting in the way of my Law & Order marathons, I thought it must be baseball or something.

9
Only because Shaq has always wanted all the credit. True BASKETBALL fans know that Shaq is a good factor but not the most "dominating" one in their. If it wasnt for Kobe he wouldnt have won 3 rings and if wasnt for Wades 69% shooting they wouldnt be beating the pistons. Its Wades game that is killing the Detroit Pistons not the stats of Shaq. Still Shaq is being credited with him leading the hit. Til people actually recognize that Shaq is the SIDEKICK then i wont mind him getting a championship before Kobe but til then i still hold a grudge against him. He always wants the attention even if it means taking away the team (Kobe or Wade's mostly) credit. Still i dont think theyll get past the Mavs in the finals. They are a good team that can defend Wade and lower his shooting % back to 40s and let Shaq scored his 20pts and 9rebounds. Kobe carried Shaq and the Lakers and now Wade is carrying Shaq and the Heat. STOP GIVIGN SHAQ THE CREDIT!!! Then we can move on.

Praying that the Heat take it all and Kobe can watch and say "It could have been, should have been me"

1
I am a Laker fan since Magic-Karrem Era.It does not matter who comes in the Laker line up I just want a winning team.Kobe is a selfish man and he caused all that conflict.Why do you guys disagree with Magic.He said to Kobe if you want the ring you need a big man with you.When he played with Kareem he said to him do you need to make 60 points ,OK here is the ball.Magic was a winner and unselfish .If you want to win play ball .Excuse me folks,Phil Jackson said it KOBE IS UN COACHABLE.Dont blame wrong KOBE WILL NEVER EVER HAVE A RING.

lol Kevin McK...you too? Darn those Law and Order reruns are good lol

I give it a 10+ !!!! GO SHAQ!!!!
I gave up on the Lakers when Kobe the Rapist got away with RAPE and the Lakers washed it all away like he was really innocent.
The Lakers will never win another ring with selfish ball huger Kobe in the team.
Time for the Heat, Shaq, Wade and Gary Payton to win this years RING!
Kobe will be watching TV as Shaq wins the Championship agains Dallas.
BUT KOBE SHOULD BE WATCHING IT FROM JAIL WHERE HE