Shaq looks slow and fat

[Greenbean]

I just saw a SC highlight of a Cavs preseason game and Shaq looks super fat and out of shape. He took a lob from Lebron, timed the jump perfectly and looked like he jumped about 5 inches from the floor.

Anyone with me that thinks that even if Shaq plays 82 games and stays healthy that it hurts the cavs? They get bigger, but also slower. Its time to start taking advantage of the Bo Jackson of basketball and get him in the open court. Adding Shaq will be a step back in that regard.

With the C's specifically, think of a lineup with KG and Sheed on the floor at the same time. How can the Cavs matchup with either of their slow footed big men? I cant wait.

[Bahku]

Actually, I don't think it hurts OR helps them ... I think they come out about even. Fact is, despite the fact that Shaq has put on weight and is older and slower, he still has enough skills and is enough of a driven athlete that he can move his feet when he wants to and get up and down the floor. He will still be a major force inside and be able to make defenses honest enough and be enough of a threat to open up the lanes for LeBron, to the point where he can drive to the basket at will. However, I don't think it will be any more or less of the threat that it has been the last couple of years ... time will tell.

[Atzar]

Eh.  I agree that Shaq will slow them down a bit.  With that said, he's had no vertical for the past few years.  I don't think he's in any better or worse shape than he has been since he joined the Suns.  

I don't think he'll help the Cavs as much as they hope, though.  The general consensus is that he's an answer to Dwight, but Howard will run circles around him.  

[Greenbean]

Eh.  I agree that Shaq will slow them down a bit.  With that said, he's had no vertical for the past few years.  I don't think he's in any better or worse shape than he has been since he joined the Suns.  

I don't think he'll help the Cavs as much as they hope, though.  The general consensus is that he's an answer to Dwight, but Howard will run circles around him.  

I just thought he would try to get his weight down. He looks heavier than last year and without the great training staff that he had in Phoenix, I predict another season similar to his last in Miami where he could only be played for short minutes (20-23) because he was slowing down another athletic high scoring SF in DWade.

Im just saying they should have tried to get more athletic and more dynamic. We got Rasheed who adds a dynamic with his outside shooting. Shaq gives them a post presence who cannot be counted on in 4th quarters (ft shooting)and is no longer a plus defender.

[greenwise]

Shaq is already too old. He for sure will help the Cavs, but they can´t expect the same production as he had when he was in his prime.

It's funny cause everybody talks about the aging Celtics, but nobody mentions that both centers of the Cavs (Shaq and Z) are almost retired and looking quite washed up whereas our "old" players look extremely fit (see Ray Allen for example).

[celticsclay]

This thread title just cracked me up. I dont really have too much sympathy for these guys since they are millionaires and playing a game as their profession. However, I just think about how if I said this at one of my pickup basketball games the person would be so offended. "Hey doesn't richard look really slow and fat today."

[jayk009]

correction: Shaq IS slow and fat

[celticsclay]

my money says he plays two more years. He actually looked kinda spry last year with the suns and had one 40+ pt game

[xmuscularghandix]

I just saw a SC highlight of a Cavs preseason game and Shaq looks super fat and out of shape. He took a lob from Lebron, timed the jump perfectly and looked like he jumped about 5 inches from the floor.

Anyone with me that thinks that even if Shaq plays 82 games and stays healthy that it hurts the cavs? They get bigger, but also slower. Its time to start taking advantage of the Bo Jackson of basketball and get him in the open court. Adding Shaq will be a step back in that regard.

With the C's specifically, think of a lineup with KG and Sheed on the floor at the same time. How can the Cavs matchup with either of their slow footed big men? I cant wait.

Not even just with the lineup of Sheed and KG, think about the weight loss of Perk and Baby. Our entire front court can run them into the ground.

[Who]

Sheed's shooting ability is going to cause Shaq a world of problems defensively.

[Rondo2287]

Sheed's shooting ability is going to cause Shaq a world of problems defensively.

I agree.  I dont think they can have shaq on the floor if we have KG and Sheed out there.  Any thoughts?

[Spilling Green Dye]

Who didn't see this coming??  In the off-season he was doing his own television show "Shaq vs.."  It just seems like he has been giving his bball career 50% of his effort the last few years.  If Shaq were committed to winning a championship he would have lost 30 lbs and gotten some foot speed / vertical back.

However, I don't think the Cavs are particularly worse with him because they didn't give up much for him at all.  The Cavs should be better on the offensive end (provided Delonte comes back), but defensively they might struggle.  I love how the Celtics match up with Shaq.

[moiso]

The Phoenix training staff was like a fountain of youth for him.  He might seem 5 years older this year, but it may be worth it to him if the Cavs have a great year.

[Eja117]

You mean that trying to beat Michael Phelps at swimming and Oscar DeLahoya at boxing and Misty May at volleyball and Ben Rothlisburger at football this summer didn't get him in shape?

I can't believe it.

If they manage his minutes (he has a 2 time all-star backing him up - albeit he is also about 100 in NBA years) I think he'll be ok.

He has fundamentals and takes up serious space. I don't expect a lot of centers to push him around or anything and if you double or triple Lebron he'll make you pay

[the_Bird]

Sheed's shooting ability is going to cause Shaq a world of problems defensively.

'Sheed AND KG.  We'd be giving up some size, of course, but how's Cleveland going to defend against those two in the frontcourt?  Sideshow, maybe, but neither Shaq nor Big Z's going to be able to defend thise guys on the perimiter. 

I'm convinced that the Cavs' Achilles Heal this year is going to be defending against perimiter-shooting big men, and we've got three of them.