Shaq looks slow and fat

[greg_kite]

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.

Absolutely.  I love the fact that our guys worked on their game and Shaq was training for swimming or volleyball.  If he just focused on hoops could could have really made a difference.

[colincb]

He's better than Ben Wallace who can't score except on open dunks. He can also push Howard off the block. He can't run on defense, but he doesn't need to on offense.

[Roy Hobbs]

I doubt he slows them down much.  The Cavs already play at one of the slowest paces in the entire NBA.  Plus, it's not like Big Z is a gazelle.

The Shaq acquisition gives them somebody who can both score and defend in the post.  Shaq doesn't have much of a game away from the basket on either end, but in the paint he can still do damage.

[MrTripleDouble10]

I thought the exact same thing when I saw those highlights.  He was definitely rumbling around out there.  I also agree with the other posters here.  I mean the Celtics can defend the Cavs (and just about everyone) in pretty much all aspects of the game.

Coupled with the abundance of options on offense (especially from the bigs), I'm not worried at all. I think it's advantageuous that the Celtics get to play AT Cleveland for opening night.  Time to end that streak of consecutive losses at the Q.  Although that should have ended early in the 2007-2008 season when Ray Allen uncharacteristically botched the free throws to win it in regulation.

[Green Blooded]

We also owe them some payback from the dancing a posing that went on durring our last game there. I remember Ray saying he would not forget that. Hopefully KG and Sheed stretch the floor so Rondo can run circles around Shaq. I can't wait for this game. Celts by 35 or more.

[Who]

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?

It's going to create a lot of problems for the Cavs' defense overall. Sheed created havoc for Shaq when Shaq was down in Phoenix on those pick and rolls.

I think the C's offense can be a lot more effective against the Cavs this season than in the past two years. The team will lose some defensively but I think they gain more offensively than they lose defensively (Sheed does a good job defending the post) in this specific matchup.

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. 

Ditto -- I think it's their biggest weakness too.

Second biggest weakness -- When LeBron goes to the power forward their wings look suspect both in general, and specifically against Pierce and Ray who've had their way with Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker in the past.

Add Mo Williams' below par defense on top of that, and suddenly, you have a lot of possible holes that the Celtics will be able to exploit.

[PierceMVP08]

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.

I could not DISagree more.  So much of the Cavs game is to give the ball to Lebron and let him bulldoze his way to the hoop.  Shaq completely takes away one of the blocks and thus Lebron's penetration becomes more predictable.  I think Big Z is a better fit for this team because he can spread the floor and bring the defense's big man out of the paint and open it up for LBJ.  If you ask me, the Cavs just got a lot more predictable and now Lebron will have to play to his weakness a lot more which is the perimeter game.

[the_Bird]

I'm convinced Shaq is why they signed Landlord.

For all of his flaws, and we know there are many, Landlord's got the lower-body strength to make Shaq work hard for his points.  Put Landlord in there for five or ten minutes, let him take Shaq, push him, keep a body on him, foul him, make him get his points from the line.  Maybe Shaq gets p---ed and gets called for a technical.  If Landlord fouls out, BFD.  Save KG's and Perk's and 'Sheed's and BBD's fouls.  TIRE HIM OUT!  Shaq hasn't been in great shape in probably a decade.  Make him work, get him tired, and he'll either be wheezing on the bench or giving up wide open 18 footers.

Landlord's here to make Shaq work and to give hard fouls.  If he does that, he'll be an excellent signing.

[xmuscularghandix]

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?

It's going to create a lot of problems for the Cavs' defense overall. Sheed created havoc for Shaq when Shaq was down in Phoenix on those pick and rolls.

I think the C's offense can be a lot more effective against the Cavs this season than in the past two years. The team will lose some defensively but I think they gain more offensively than they lose defensively (Sheed does a good job defending the post) in this specific matchup.

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. 

Ditto -- I think it's their biggest weakness too.

Second biggest weakness -- When LeBron goes to the power forward their wings look suspect both in general, and specifically against Pierce and Ray who've had their way with Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker in the past.

Add Mo Williams' below par defense on top of that, and suddenly, you have a lot of possible holes that the Celtics will be able to exploit.

LBJ is their best defensive player by a HUGE margin, its almost comical. Lets assume their starters are the same as last year plus Shaq.

Williams- Essentially Eddie House with better ball handling, not as good on defense as Eddie IMO.

Delonte- A good defender if he's guarding PG's, but in this lineups he's undersized

Lebron- Can guard bassically every position and is a good team defender as well (thank god for cleveland)

Verajao- Solid defensive player can get exploited when you pull him away from the basket

Shaq- Shaq was an average defender in his prime, but could make the big block becuase of him athleticism. Now that thats gone he uses him body like an anchor and you just can't move him, but like Tommy said "size only matters 2 feet away from the basket"

[xmuscularghandix]

I'm convinced Shaq is why they signed Landlord.

For all of his flaws, and we know there are many, Landlord's got the lower-body strength to make Shaq work hard for his points.  Put Landlord in there for five or ten minutes, let him take Shaq, push him, keep a body on him, foul him, make him get his points from the line.  Maybe Shaq gets ****ed and gets called for a technical.  If Landlord fouls out, BFD.  Save KG's and Perk's and 'Sheed's and BBD's fouls.  TIRE HIM OUT!  Shaq hasn't been in great shape in probably a decade.  Make him work, get him tired, and he'll either be wheezing on the bench or giving up wide open 18 footers.

Landlord's here to make Shaq work and to give hard fouls.  If he does that, he'll be an excellent signing.

Landlord looks very small to be taking care of the 3 floor, 1 ton shaq.

[the_Bird]

I'm convinced Shaq is why they signed Landlord.

For all of his flaws, and we know there are many, Landlord's got the lower-body strength to make Shaq work hard for his points.  Put Landlord in there for five or ten minutes, let him take Shaq, push him, keep a body on him, foul him, make him get his points from the line.  Maybe Shaq gets ****ed and gets called for a technical.  If Landlord fouls out, BFD.  Save KG's and Perk's and 'Sheed's and BBD's fouls.  TIRE HIM OUT!  Shaq hasn't been in great shape in probably a decade.  Make him work, get him tired, and he'll either be wheezing on the bench or giving up wide open 18 footers.

Landlord's here to make Shaq work and to give hard fouls.  If he does that, he'll be an excellent signing.

Landlord looks very small to be taking care of the 3 floor, 1 ton shaq.

Lower-body strength.  Landlord's got it.  Shaq will get some points, but make him work as hard as possible for those points.  It's not all height, look at the respectable job BBD's been able to do against some legit big men despite being about 6'7".  There aren't many guys in the league who can match Shaq's brute strength, but you're better off matching it with a stronger-but-shorter player than someone who's tall but lean (Landlord's kind of the anti-Mikki). 

Perk would be the best one-on-one defender against Shaq, but if he does that all game he's going to foul out.  So, rotate Perk and Landlord to wear out Shaq, then when 'Sheed comes back in either Shaq's on the bench or too exhausted to defend.   

[Spilling Green Dye]

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?

It's going to create a lot of problems for the Cavs' defense overall. Sheed created havoc for Shaq when Shaq was down in Phoenix on those pick and rolls.

I think the C's offense can be a lot more effective against the Cavs this season than in the past two years. The team will lose some defensively but I think they gain more offensively than they lose defensively (Sheed does a good job defending the post) in this specific matchup.

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. 

Ditto -- I think it's their biggest weakness too.

Second biggest weakness -- When LeBron goes to the power forward their wings look suspect both in general, and specifically against Pierce and Ray who've had their way with Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker in the past.

Add Mo Williams' below par defense on top of that, and suddenly, you have a lot of possible holes that the Celtics will be able to exploit.

LBJ is their best defensive player by a HUGE margin, its almost comical. Lets assume their starters are the same as last year plus Shaq.

Williams- Essentially Eddie House with better ball handling, not as good on defense as Eddie IMO.

Delonte- A good defender if he's guarding PG's, but in this lineups he's undersized

Lebron- Can guard bassically every position and is a good team defender as well (thank god for cleveland)

Verajao- Solid defensive player can get exploited when you pull him away from the basket

Shaq- Shaq was an average defender in his prime, but could make the big block becuase of him athleticism. Now that thats gone he uses him body like an anchor and you just can't move him, but like Tommy said "size only matters 2 feet away from the basket"

Shaq was not just an average defender in his prime.  He was very effective on defense, and enormously effective on offense in in his prime (in part b/c of the rules at the time).  When he was with Phoenix I thought he was one of their better defenders, and still has the capability of being effective in the middle.

[RAcker]

Ultimately, here is the mistake that Cleveland made this off-season...they were trying to match up man for man with Orlando instead of Boston.

I'm declaring this now...both Orlando and Cleveland think that they are going to see each other again in the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Garnett injury has made them feel much better about themselves than they actually are in reality (although they are both great teams).

We all know that Shaq or no Shaq, they have another thing comin'.

[KCattheStripe]

Ultimately, here is the mistake that Cleveland made this off-season...they were trying to match up man for man with Orlando instead of Boston.

I'm declaring this now...both Orlando and Cleveland think that they are going to see each other again in the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Garnett injury has made them feel much better about themselves than they actually are in reality (although they are both great teams).

We all know that Shaq or no Shaq, they have another thing comin'.

I wholeheartedly agree with this, The reports of the Celtic's detah are greatly exaggerated.

[Prof. Clutch]

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.

Interesting topic.  I made the exact same appraisal of his weight back on July 2nd when I saw him at his press conference:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=29745.0
People posted some different photos and evidence about whether he is indeed out of shape.  Drucci found evidence and posted an article that Shaq was on an extensive diet this summer, but at the time this story was 10 weeks old and may have not been something he was still doing. 
He looked real big to me at his press conference:


but then someone posted this photo from the cleveland media day:


I dunno, its always hard to tell with Shaq.  He comes across as a big ol' guy no matter what.  I can see his addition to the Cavs being really dynamic and tough to beat in stretches for them this season, but I can also imagine his addition being a weakness to be exposed or something that holds them back.

In the end opening day will be the best method to evaluate exactly where Shaq is at physically, though I also imagine that the same game will not be a true opportunity to see how effective a cohesive Cavs unit will be with an incorporated Shaq.