Am I the only one who thinks he is crazy for keeping Kobe while alienating Shaq.........Kobe will be just a better than average player without all the attention Shaq commanded. Not to mention letting Phil go because of Kobe............What he should have done is trade Kobe at the beginning of last season and keep Shaq happy..............Get used to saying...........The 4th place LA Lakers.........Kobe has trouble even shooting a respectable % from the outside........without a shooting touch how is he going to be better driving to the rim........Buss must just be in love with Kobe or something.........
Is Jerry Buss crazy or what...........
- Thread starter maverick2112
- Start date
If you watched espn Shaq continues to make himself look bad. Mr. me,me,me always blames everone else except the self proclaimed "MDE."
The Lakers could not ignore the economics. Shaq makes $30 million.
2 massive contracts. does not work in a salary cap environment. It is apparent by the last 2 years that Shaq and Kobe cant do it alone. So who could the lakers upgrade to make themseleves better next year should they both stay? Role players Lakers have SUCK! Period!
1 - So do you choose a guy (Shaq) that has clearly stated that he did not want to return at the end of the season. By all accounts his off and seasons preparation habits dont show any drive to win.
2 - Or do you choose an egomaniac (Kobe) that at least wants to win and prepares himself accordingly.
I think Shaq will be back up to 27 and 10-12 next year. He'll finally get his lard-ass into shape and care about basketball again. He'll be out to prove the Lakers wrong. He'll play in the center weak East.
BUT, he will still miss many a game, his team still won't be good enough to win it all, and the year after, he'll be up to the same old tricks, only he'll be 35.
Taken from an article.....
Shaquille O'Neal, the mighty giant who is so fragile that he missed 28 games his last season with Orlando, 31 games his first season as a Laker, 22 games a season later, 15 games in the 2001-02 season and 15 more in 2002-03.
Shaquille O'Neal, who would put off toe surgery all summer and then have it when the season began.
Shaquille O'Neal, who would show up for camp overweight, with body fat of 20 percent.
Shaquille O'Neal, whose legs get weaker year by year.
Shaquille O'Neal, who mocked his own general manager, Mitch Kupchak, in public.
Shaquille O'Neal, who made 49 percent of his free throws in his 12th NBA season but continued to brag that he could make the important ones anytime he liked.
Shaquille O'Neal, who is being glorified in L.A. as a man who turned the Lakers into champions, when in his first three seasons they won no championships.
Is it not possible that Lakers owner Jerry Buss was justified in trading a player who demanded to be traded? Who refused to play for a new coach? Who couldn't get along with the team's other star player?
The Lakers could not ignore the economics. Shaq makes $30 million.
2 massive contracts. does not work in a salary cap environment. It is apparent by the last 2 years that Shaq and Kobe cant do it alone. So who could the lakers upgrade to make themseleves better next year should they both stay? Role players Lakers have SUCK! Period!
1 - So do you choose a guy (Shaq) that has clearly stated that he did not want to return at the end of the season. By all accounts his off and seasons preparation habits dont show any drive to win.
2 - Or do you choose an egomaniac (Kobe) that at least wants to win and prepares himself accordingly.
I think Shaq will be back up to 27 and 10-12 next year. He'll finally get his lard-ass into shape and care about basketball again. He'll be out to prove the Lakers wrong. He'll play in the center weak East.
BUT, he will still miss many a game, his team still won't be good enough to win it all, and the year after, he'll be up to the same old tricks, only he'll be 35.
Taken from an article.....
Shaquille O'Neal, the mighty giant who is so fragile that he missed 28 games his last season with Orlando, 31 games his first season as a Laker, 22 games a season later, 15 games in the 2001-02 season and 15 more in 2002-03.
Shaquille O'Neal, who would put off toe surgery all summer and then have it when the season began.
Shaquille O'Neal, who would show up for camp overweight, with body fat of 20 percent.
Shaquille O'Neal, whose legs get weaker year by year.
Shaquille O'Neal, who mocked his own general manager, Mitch Kupchak, in public.
Shaquille O'Neal, who made 49 percent of his free throws in his 12th NBA season but continued to brag that he could make the important ones anytime he liked.
Shaquille O'Neal, who is being glorified in L.A. as a man who turned the Lakers into champions, when in his first three seasons they won no championships.
Is it not possible that Lakers owner Jerry Buss was justified in trading a player who demanded to be traded? Who refused to play for a new coach? Who couldn't get along with the team's other star player?
Scott........you have got to be kidding me .......being in SoCal cant you see that Kobe is by far the most selfish player in the league. If he had any kind of a hoops IQ he would'nt have gotten along with Shaq and Phil and that would have made him a better player. Look at what Kobe is doing now.......playing the clippers along with the public into thinking he is considering switching la teams. I would be absolutely shocked beyond believe if Kobe isnt already signed sealed and delivered to the Lakers. No way Lakers trade Shaq without knowing they already have Kobe in their pocket.
Who in their right mind gives a f**k about Shaq showing up overweight and the beginning of the season...........when you play in the finals every year you are playing well into June and then the new season starts in October so it makes for a very short off season........not much of a problem for 180 lb guards but when your'e over 300 lbs it takes a little more time to get into shape. Look at all the fatasses in the NFL who come into camp overweight and are ready for the season by the first week. In the NBA its just wasted energy to focus on the first half of the season ......teams are much better off pacing themselves like Shaq does.....
You keep referring to Shaq saying he didnt want to stay in LA but can you blame him for the way he was dissed by the Lakers brass..........I would have done the say thing.
Shaq......out of shape huh........he sure didnt look to out of shape tearing apart Yao Ming and Tim Duncan in the playoffs while Kobe was consistently putting up his usual 30% shooting percentage while not getting his teamates involved.
How about the Lakers biggest game of the season......gm 4 against Detroit.......Shaq had like 30 some points and 20 rebounds while Kobe looked pitiful.......In fact I challenge you to find a worse performance by a "superstar" in such a big game
How about the big game against Sacto in the regular season when Kobe refused to even take a shot while pouting the whole first half. Thats the same guy you are reffering to as "a guy that wants to win".........Gimme a break
The Lakers are one of the teams that could have easily paid 2 contracts that size........money was no issue........
You say the last 2 years that Shaq and Kobe cant do it alone but it was Kobe who sucked in the finals this year.........he is a ballhog who is in it all for himself.
"Its a truly sad day for Lakers fans and you will see that is a fact when the Lakers and superstar Kobe Bryant will be playing for the 8th seed in the west all because Kobe is a spoiled rotten kid who has always gotten his way"
Of course thats if he's not in Jail............
Jurry Buss is justified to do anything he wants because its his team........but he has just made a supid decision............not to mention losing Phil Jackson and replacing him with Rudy. Another bad move.........IMO
Who in their right mind gives a f**k about Shaq showing up overweight and the beginning of the season...........when you play in the finals every year you are playing well into June and then the new season starts in October so it makes for a very short off season........not much of a problem for 180 lb guards but when your'e over 300 lbs it takes a little more time to get into shape. Look at all the fatasses in the NFL who come into camp overweight and are ready for the season by the first week. In the NBA its just wasted energy to focus on the first half of the season ......teams are much better off pacing themselves like Shaq does.....
You keep referring to Shaq saying he didnt want to stay in LA but can you blame him for the way he was dissed by the Lakers brass..........I would have done the say thing.
Shaq......out of shape huh........he sure didnt look to out of shape tearing apart Yao Ming and Tim Duncan in the playoffs while Kobe was consistently putting up his usual 30% shooting percentage while not getting his teamates involved.
How about the Lakers biggest game of the season......gm 4 against Detroit.......Shaq had like 30 some points and 20 rebounds while Kobe looked pitiful.......In fact I challenge you to find a worse performance by a "superstar" in such a big game
How about the big game against Sacto in the regular season when Kobe refused to even take a shot while pouting the whole first half. Thats the same guy you are reffering to as "a guy that wants to win".........Gimme a break
The Lakers are one of the teams that could have easily paid 2 contracts that size........money was no issue........
You say the last 2 years that Shaq and Kobe cant do it alone but it was Kobe who sucked in the finals this year.........he is a ballhog who is in it all for himself.
"Its a truly sad day for Lakers fans and you will see that is a fact when the Lakers and superstar Kobe Bryant will be playing for the 8th seed in the west all because Kobe is a spoiled rotten kid who has always gotten his way"
Of course thats if he's not in Jail............
Jurry Buss is justified to do anything he wants because its his team........but he has just made a supid decision............not to mention losing Phil Jackson and replacing him with Rudy. Another bad move.........IMO
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Over paid because of one fact (above many others)
Over paid because of one fact (above many others)
Shaq cannot be used to close a game.
end of story
Over paid because of one fact (above many others)
Shaq cannot be used to close a game.
end of story
I think losing Shaq is a bad move, for the simple reason that big men win in this league, and no matter how great Kobe may be he won't be able to stop Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett.
The funny thing about it all now is that the Lakers are built like a team that could succeed in the East. Very athletic but won't be able to muscle anyone around, a real Sacramento "Queens" type of squad to steal one from the Big Aristotle.
Shaq gets paid to come through in the playoffs, and I don't think anyone can complain about this playoff performances. Sure 30 million seems very high for a player that misses time during the year, but lets face it they are paying him for playoff production not regular season stats. Almost like Derek Jeter in a way -- mid season seems overpaid but in October he's worth every penny.
I just look at this trade this way --- the Lakers this year won the Western Conference, and now about a month later are the 5th best team in the West in my opinion. (I'd go Spurs, Twolves, Rockets, Sac then LA. If Denver gets KMart they might bump up and be on par with LA.) Big men have dominated this league since the Jordan era, and since there are still some very good ones in the league I think this is going to continue. Kobe can drop in 30 a game, but as I see it his 30 will easily be neutralized by a Duncan or Garnett -- and the Lake Show just doesn't have that big time second threat anymore. Odom left the West for a reason, and Grant is a nice player but isn't going to have a huge impact. Butler is a bit of a wild card --- but I question his ability to play in the post with the big boys of the west.
We'll have to see, but I think right now Miami is the winner here. They go from probably a 4 or 5 seed to the 2 seed in the East.
The funny thing about it all now is that the Lakers are built like a team that could succeed in the East. Very athletic but won't be able to muscle anyone around, a real Sacramento "Queens" type of squad to steal one from the Big Aristotle.
Shaq gets paid to come through in the playoffs, and I don't think anyone can complain about this playoff performances. Sure 30 million seems very high for a player that misses time during the year, but lets face it they are paying him for playoff production not regular season stats. Almost like Derek Jeter in a way -- mid season seems overpaid but in October he's worth every penny.
I just look at this trade this way --- the Lakers this year won the Western Conference, and now about a month later are the 5th best team in the West in my opinion. (I'd go Spurs, Twolves, Rockets, Sac then LA. If Denver gets KMart they might bump up and be on par with LA.) Big men have dominated this league since the Jordan era, and since there are still some very good ones in the league I think this is going to continue. Kobe can drop in 30 a game, but as I see it his 30 will easily be neutralized by a Duncan or Garnett -- and the Lake Show just doesn't have that big time second threat anymore. Odom left the West for a reason, and Grant is a nice player but isn't going to have a huge impact. Butler is a bit of a wild card --- but I question his ability to play in the post with the big boys of the west.
We'll have to see, but I think right now Miami is the winner here. They go from probably a 4 or 5 seed to the 2 seed in the East.
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