although i dont think were gonna lose the 2nd seed, Shaq or no Shaq...It doesnt matter really, Shaq has been pacing himself since the beginning of the season. He turns it up in the playoffs.
Miami's dilema
We all know that shaq likes to rest before the playoffs. With the Nets only 3 games back in the loss column for the 2nd seed Miami now has to make a choice. If
Do they let Shaq slack off and risk losing the 2 seed and perhaps home field in the 2nd round?
or
Do they keep pushing it to make sure that they get the 2nd seed and risk wearing down Shaq?
Do they let Shaq slack off and risk losing the 2 seed and perhaps home field in the 2nd round?
or
Do they keep pushing it to make sure that they get the 2nd seed and risk wearing down Shaq?
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It's a very legitimate question...and the larger issue for Miami is this: did Riley blow it this summer with his huge 5-team trade that brought the Heat Antoine Walker and Jason Williams? Those guys have become albatrosses. I actually think that unless the Heat win it this year--and I dont think they will--they are going to go into decline. Shaq makes $20 million a year til he turns 38. How can anyone afford that, a max contract for Wade and any other players with the luxury tax being what it is. Shaq is now very injury prone...and by the way, so is Wade. One reason is that he gets ALL his points inside the arc and takes a pummelling.
This isn't much of a delimma.
If Shaq misses playoff games, the Heat will be gone.
If Shaq misses playoff games, the Heat will be gone.
That's not even in question anymore. A majority of the people that follow basketball knew that was a highly questionable move when they did it, before they even played a game together. It's been evident since December it was a bad move.NetIncome said:It's a very legitimate question...and the larger issue for Miami is this: did Riley blow it this summer with his huge 5-team trade that brought the Heat Antoine Walker and Jason Williams? Those guys have become albatrosses. I actually think that unless the Heat win it this year--and I dont think they will--they are going to go into decline. Shaq makes $20 million a year til he turns 38. How can anyone afford that, a max contract for Wade and any other players with the luxury tax being what it is. Shaq is now very injury prone...and by the way, so is Wade. One reason is that he gets ALL his points inside the arc and takes a pummelling.
By the end of Saturday we will know if catching the Heat is a possibility. If we are still 4+ games back after Saturday's games, Shaq will start getting a rest. If not they will wear him down. :biggrin:
i dont think it matters for the heat. they can fall down as far as they can because when playoffs come and they have a healthy shaq it doesnt matter what seed they are. their priority has to be getting shaq as healthy as possible. they could do winless for the rest of the year, we could get the 2nd seed yet once the playoffs start and if shaq is healthy that is all that matters. the heat didnt win the best record in the east this year so i dont think it matters where they seed now because in their eyes they are better than everyone anyways. it would be sweet if we could stay this hot and catch the heat for the 2nd seed and win it, that would get the media going thats for sure
actually, he supposedly turned it up a few weeks ago, and even was quoted as saying that he would be able to relax once the heat clinched the 2nd seed.Gio305 said:although i dont think were gonna lose the 2nd seed, Shaq or no Shaq...It doesnt matter really, Shaq has been pacing himself since the beginning of the season. He turns it up in the playoffs.
he turned it up a notch, yes.lukewarmplay said:actually, he supposedly turned it up a few weeks ago, and even was quoted as saying that he would be able to relax once the heat clinched the 2nd seed.
as for the other part of the sentence, i havnt seen that qoute, but Shaq will always be Shaq. Last season before Zo was in the team, He was quoted saying "Michael Doleac is the best back up center in the league.".....you think thats true?
There is, throughout this discussion, an assumption that Shaq can get healthy for the playoffs. That was the assumption last year as well and it was faulty. Deep thigh bruise and now hyper extended knee. These are not injuries that would effect a young man. Very tall players, for the most part, go downhill fast. May not happen with Shaq, but then again, it might.Gio305 said:he turned it up a notch, yes.
as for the other part of the sentence, i havnt seen that qoute, but Shaq will always be Shaq. Last season before Zo was in the team, He was quoted saying "Michael Doleac is the best back up center in the league.".....you think thats true?
I think Miami does need to keep the number 2 seed. Originally I didn't think the nets would have a chance against them in the 2nd round but now the Nets are playing a lot better. If the nets somehow get that number 2 seed then I think they could possibly beat the Heat in the second round.
it might, but i dont see it happening this time. the knee problem seems to be ok now.NetIncome said:There is, throughout this discussion, an assumption that Shaq can get healthy for the playoffs. That was the assumption last year as well and it was faulty. Deep thigh bruise and now hyper extended knee. These are not injuries that would effect a young man. Very tall players, for the most part, go downhill fast. May not happen with Shaq, but then again, it might.
Other than Shaq, that team does not have the kind of deep playoff experience that the Pistons and Nets have. Zo, Wade, Haslem, Posey, Walker, Williams...none ever made it to a conference finals, let alone the league finals. Nets have five players who have played in two NBA finals each: Kidd, RJ, Collins, Robinson and Vaughn. That counts.Brian said:I think Miami does need to keep the number 2 seed. Originally I didn't think the nets would have a chance against them in the 2nd round but now the Nets are playing a lot better. If the nets somehow get that number 2 seed then I think they could possibly beat the Heat in the second round.
I love Shaq. I find him to be a very entertaining NBA personality. But if you pay a guy all that money to cruise through an 82 game season,then I doubt he's worth it.
And,pardon if this question is stupid because I have a bad memory,but after cruising for 82 games last year,did shaq even "turn it on" in the playoffs?
I know he wasn't that impressive against the Nets. We were a one-dimensional team that just came off a mentally and physically draining playoff push. And even then,Shaq wasn't dominating.
I think he missed most,if not all,of the Washington series. Now all that's left is the Detroit series. Was he even "MVP-Laker-like" in that series. I hardly doubt it. Though I may be wrong.
So if he didn't "turn it on" and Shaq cruised through the season last year,thinking he would turn it on in the playoffs and didn't,what makes everybody think that one year later and older,and with more injuries,he'll do it this year?
And,pardon if this question is stupid because I have a bad memory,but after cruising for 82 games last year,did shaq even "turn it on" in the playoffs?
I know he wasn't that impressive against the Nets. We were a one-dimensional team that just came off a mentally and physically draining playoff push. And even then,Shaq wasn't dominating.
I think he missed most,if not all,of the Washington series. Now all that's left is the Detroit series. Was he even "MVP-Laker-like" in that series. I hardly doubt it. Though I may be wrong.
So if he didn't "turn it on" and Shaq cruised through the season last year,thinking he would turn it on in the playoffs and didn't,what makes everybody think that one year later and older,and with more injuries,he'll do it this year?
They played Detroit in the conference finals last season.NetIncome said:Other than Shaq, that team does not have the kind of deep playoff experience that the Pistons and Nets have. Zo, Wade, Haslem, Posey, Walker, Williams...none ever made it to a conference finals, let alone the league finals. Nets have five players who have played in two NBA finals each: Kidd, RJ, Collins, Robinson and Vaughn. That counts.
oh my.....NetIncome said:Other than Shaq, that team does not have the kind of deep playoff experience that the Pistons and Nets have. Zo, Wade, Haslem, Posey, Walker, Williams...none ever made it to a conference finals, let alone the league finals. Nets have five players who have played in two NBA finals each: Kidd, RJ, Collins, Robinson and Vaughn. That counts.
Zo has made it to the conference finals on more than one occasion. Wade and Haslem were also playing in the ECF just last season vs Detroit. Walker has tons of playoff expirience, along with the other vets in Zo, Shaq, Payton. J-Will and Posey have been in the playoffs as well before.
overall, playoff expirience we have plenty of.
Edit: i forgot to mention Shandon Anderson, and Derek Anderson.
as mentioned before in this thread, Shaq had that nagging 'deep-thigh-bruise injury' for the entire playoffs.VCFSO2000 said:I love Shaq. I find him to be a very entertaining NBA personality. But if you pay a guy all that money to cruise through an 82 game season,then I doubt he's worth it.
And,pardon if this question is stupid because I have a bad memory,but after cruising for 82 games last year,did shaq even "turn it on" in the playoffs?
I know he wasn't that impressive against the Nets. We were a one-dimensional team that just came off a mentally and physically draining playoff push. And even then,Shaq wasn't dominating.
I think he missed most,if not all,of the Washington series. Now all that's left is the Detroit series. Was he even "MVP-Laker-like" in that series. I hardly doubt it. Though I may be wrong.
So if he didn't "turn it on" and Shaq cruised through the season last year,thinking he would turn it on in the playoffs and didn't,what makes everybody think that one year later and older,and with more injuries,he'll do it this year?
Not baiting anyone or any of that sort but I really despise the Miami Heat. They have a chorus of players that I've never been to fond off. Antoin "Shimmyboy" Walker, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, Gary Payton, Dwane Wade, Shaq (Who I hate the most), ZO, and basically everyone on that roster. I just hate that team and organization so damn much. Again, No offense to anyone. I'm talking about the players.
Aside from Wade the guys that really killed us in that series were Damon Jones, Eddie Jones, and Keyon Dooling. And none of them are there anymoreVCFSO2000 said:I love Shaq. I find him to be a very entertaining NBA personality. But if you pay a guy all that money to cruise through an 82 game season,then I doubt he's worth it.
And,pardon if this question is stupid because I have a bad memory,but after cruising for 82 games last year,did shaq even "turn it on" in the playoffs?
I know he wasn't that impressive against the Nets. We were a one-dimensional team that just came off a mentally and physically draining playoff push. And even then,Shaq wasn't dominating.
I think he missed most,if not all,of the Washington series. Now all that's left is the Detroit series. Was he even "MVP-Laker-like" in that series. I hardly doubt it. Though I may be wrong.
So if he didn't "turn it on" and Shaq cruised through the season last year,thinking he would turn it on in the playoffs and didn't,what makes everybody think that one year later and older,and with more injuries,he'll do it this year?
Not only that, but they have a different coach and a different system too. :biggrin:
lol, no offense taken....if you have a valid argument :devil_2:jizzy said:Not baiting anyone or any of that sort but I really despise the Miami Heat. They have a chorus of players that I've never been to fond off. Antoin "Shimmyboy" Walker, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, Gary Payton, Dwane Wade, Shaq (Who I hate the most), ZO, and basically everyone on that roster. I just hate that team and organization so damn much. Again, No offense to anyone. I'm talking about the players.
but just out of curiosity, why so much hate?
hate is a strong word dont ya think? :biggrin:
yes, the very same guys that disappeared in that last crucial 7th game vs Detroit.Netted- said:Aside from Wade the guys that really killed us in that series were Damon Jones, Eddie Jones, and Keyon Dooling. And none of them are there anymore.![]()
Not only that, but they have a different coach and a different system too. :biggrin:
Trust me, the coaching style isnt that much different. SVG was Pats protege, their styles have many similarities.Not only that, but they have a different coach and a different system too.
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