Am I the only one really disturbed by this shaq signing? This is not "just" a former Laker, he's a three time Laker champion. I'm not calmed by the fact he has drifted since those years, he is and always will be the enemy to me and I as a fan cannot for the first time support Danny's decision. Insert sad face....
Well, that's the thing.....Shaq still has something to prove here. Yes - Shaq is a former Laker, and a Huge part of their success in the early 2000's. Yes - he is older, and more limited in what he can do and how long he can play.
But Shaq is The Forgotten Man. In the weeks leading up to the Celtics-Lakers series and even during the series, there was hardly ANY mention of Shaq on the Lakers Blog Silver Screen and Roll. When CLE played LA last season, there was once again hardly any mention of Shaq and what he did for LA.
I understand that teams move on, but how can you basically ignore one of the greatest centers to play the game? On SS and R, its all about Kobe. In "Some" LA fans eyes, it appears that he doesn't exist. I stressed "Some" because of course I cannot speak for all LA fans, but from what I see at SS & R, Shaq is a past relic.
Over here, we talk often about Bill Russell, Cousy, Powe, Gerald, Antoine, etc...nearly every week.
How can a fanbase make little mention of Shaq, even during CLE-LA games last year? It was rather baffling to me. I understand that Kobe VS Lebron was the main show, but I noted how ineffective Gasol and Bynum were with the Big Fella in the middle for CLE. I watched some of the Christmas Day game - neither of those two would challenge the rim much with Shaq out there. Bynum played timidly.
Now, I know that CLE was one of the best defensive teams last year, but still Shaq made LA's frontline rather ineffective in their two games.
Yes - Shaq (hopefully) is about to wear Green, and I love it. Doc Rivers will be able to manange him, like he has done with KG, Ray and Pierce through the years.
Kobe made this even more personal for Shaq with his comments about the number of rings he has compared to Shaq after they beat us in June.
I really believe, in this scenario, that Shaq wearing Green is a good thing. The last 38 year-old Big we had was PJ Brown, and while he was not Shaquille O'Neal, he played well for us and helped us win Banner 17.
Shaq will have four other Bigs (KG, Glen and J.O) with something to prove (See Xmuscularghandi's Thread).
C'mon over, Big Fella! All I can see is him telling Kobe in June 2011: "I have 5 rings now, Kobe - and I helped You, Wade and Now your franchises mortal enemy win one."