Shaq's importance-Scott Van Pelt

[winsomme]

I was just watching to the SVP show and am really surprised that so many don't understand why Shaq is important to beating the Heat.

People still say stuff like "well they don't really have dominant big men, so Shaq's not that necessary in this series..."

Miami has probably the two most dynamic driving scorers in the game. We need Shaq to help stop their penetration. Baby just doesn't cut it. Both those guys can just go right up over him.

and JO is a shot blocker (which is nice) but we really need someone that can rotate over on penetration and make these guys think twice about coming in there.

20-25 strategic minutes a game could suffice. so being in shape is not that essential. but Shaq getting on the floor IMO is essential.

I don't know how we stop these guys at key points in the game otherwise.

[Chris]

Is Shaq a golfer now?

[winsomme]

Is Shaq a golfer now?

I don't usually catch SVP. is that what he usually talks about?

[Chris]

Is Shaq a golfer now?

I don't usually catch SVP. is that what he usually talks about?

Well, it was always his thing.  He came up as a golf guy before he went to sportscenter. 

[winsomme]

Is Shaq a golfer now?

I don't usually catch SVP. is that what he usually talks about?

Well, it was always his thing.  He came up as a golf guy before he went to sportscenter. 

You'd think Rusillo would be a little more on top of at least the Cs....

[Change]

It was on ESPN.

That's all you need to know. Their workers are paid to hype up the 3 stooges in Miami, and degrade the competition. If the Miami Heat loses its because of what they didn't do right, and not what the other team did to them.

[Greenbean]

Not for nothing but DWade and Bron were not getting much at the rim the other night. Wade was pretty lights out with his jump shooting. That being said JO cannot play for 48 minutes so yes, Shaq will be needed.

I would love to see if Wade can reproduce those shooting numbers, especially in Boston.

[droopdog7]

Here is what I don't understand.  Just because we don't have to worry about THEIR center doesn't mean we wouldn't gain an advantage by having them worry about OUR center (which they currently do not).

Shaq is no longer a great low post scorer.  Decent, but not great.  BUT, teams absolutely know that they can't leave him because he will still finish around the rim.  He is a huge target with great hands.  

Shaq's presence would make guys like Anthony more hesistant to go blocks because Shaq would be open for passes (i.e., lobs) under the basket or would grab offensive boards.

[Chris]

Here is what I don't understand.  Just because we don't have to worry about THEIR center doesn't mean we wouldn't gain an advantage by having them worry about OUR center (which they currently do not).

Shaw is no longer a great low post scorer.  Decent, but not great.  BUT, teams absolutely know that they can't leave him because he will still finish around the rim.  He is a huge target with great hands. 

Shaq's presence would make guys like Anthony more hesistant to go blocks because Shaq would be open for passes (i.e., lobs) under the basket or would grab offensive boards.

I agree, this is where Shaq's value is.  He doesn't give us a lot on defense beyond 6 fouls, because he simply is not quick enough to make the rotations.  However, offensively, he absolutely makes an impact, and makes it significantly easier for the C's to score against this defense.

I still think though, that he is not a necessity.  He would help, but if this team is absolutely good enough to beat this Heat team without him.  They just need to clean some things up, and execute better, and they should be fine.  But he would certainly give them a larger margin of error.

[Who]

Joel Anthony really struggled against Shaq in those two early regular season contests. Couldn't defend Shaq at all.

Miami had to put Big Z into the game and in the playoffs they may even put Dampier in to slow Shaq down.

[clover]

The guy has played 5 minutes in the last 3 months and was limping yesterday after 1 practice--I highly doubt we'll see him for 20-25 minutes in any single game.

(But if JO stays out of foul trouble and can go 32-34, 10 minutes from Shaq would be great.)

[winsomme]

If Paul actually is able to walk today and Shaq plays on Saturday, we have a shot.

Baby is just not a great matchup in this series, especially playing with the starters. Wade and LBJ are just going right up over him and his shots are getting sent back. how big was that fumbled rebound by BBD at the 4 min or so mark?

I really believe that Shaq has the dimensions and skills to change this series. Right or wrong, I just hope that we get to find out once and for all what kind of impact the Big Shamrock can have.

[winsomme]

actually the BBD stuff was between the 7 and 5 minute marks. He missed two shots from point blank range that led to easy buckets and then bobbled a defensive rebound that led to an LBJ dunk and foul.

The game went from being tied at 80 to Heat ahead 88-80.

That was a rough stretch for the hometown team.

[RedsCeltics34]

But we have to remember IF Shaq does return in game 3 hes going to play what? 10-15? Minutes not 30 minutes. Shaq playing 10-15 minutes isnt the reason we lost the 1st 2 games, its just not.

[ManUp]

IMO, our defense is doing fine it's our offense that needs some juice. We aren't getting any easy baskets. Miami is swarming us around the hoop. The biggest reason we need Shaq is because he's a  guy that can finish through contact and is hard to block without fouling.  We need someone who will finish around the basket consistently.