[19-28] 'Saur Losers | Retired

[kibaxx7]

No idea how they keep signing players with the MLE being used by Kleiza and the team being way over the cap.

Apparently a sign-and-trade with the Magic... dunno what they are gonna give in return.

Low scores but considering it's preseason, all good. Nice games by DeMar.

[The X]

Interested to see what Ed Davis can do for you. I think he'll be solid.

[|)e8*]

Wats with the low scoring matches?

[shadowgrin]

5 min. quarters?

[Lamrock]

Raptors, Shaq Closing In On Deal

October 17, 2010 - After three and a half months, Shaquille O'Neal's free agency appears to be coming to an end. The 38 year old, 15 time all-star has reportedly agreed to a two year, $11 million dollar deal with the Toronto Raptors. This is expected to be the last contract of his illustrious career.

With the Raptors being over the salary cap and having used their mid-level exception to sign Linas Kleiza, a sign-and-trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers (Shaq's previous team) will need to be done. The Raptors are expected to use their trade exception from the Chris Bosh sign-and-trade, in addition to Joey Dorsey and a future draft pick to acquire O'Neal.

Following unsuccessful stints with the Suns and Cavaliers, in which both teams failed to meet expectations, O'Neal's market value plummeted. The Big Diesel averaged career lows in scoring, rebounding and minutes per game, struggling with injuries and fatigue. Shaq wanted to go to a contender, but none were willing to offer more than the mid-level exception. The Raptors, who lost frontcourt star Chris Bosh to free agency seem to be an excellent fit for O'Neal. Shaq would presumably start beside Andrea Bargnani at the Center position.

O'Neal averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 23.4 minutes last season with the Cavaliers. He posted an offensive rating of 102 last season (101 for his career) and should bolster the Raptor defense, which was the worst in the league last season. According to O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, it is "pretty much a done deal". On Twitter, Shaq wrote "bout 2 put Canada on da nba map. Factually Shaqtually makin da playoffs next year".

Most expect the rebuilding Raptors to miss the post-season. Shaq has only missed the playoffs once in his career (with the 2008-09 Phoenix Suns). Can he live up to his guarantee? I can't wait for the season to start.

[Clutch]

w00t! Shaq may be on fumes and running on empty, but i'd still take him to anchor the team over Doris

[Fresh8]

I support Shaq in Toronto!

[Martti.]

He will definitely help you front court, though I doubt Shaq would like to go to Toronto.

[|)e8*]

The Big Dinosaur!

[Valor]

I support Shaq in Toronto!

That

Age apparently doesn't matter in video games with big fellas cause their size alone kills, i'm looking forward to vintage shaq performances

[Axel The Great]

Who said Shaq wanted to go to Canada? Nice pickup, hopefully this dinosaur can stomp all over his opponents.

[kibaxx7]

i'm looking forward to vintage shaq performances

[Lamrock]

Can't find my cord which connects my phone to my computer, so the final pre-season recap will be stalled.

I'm excited about Shaq. He's slow, and has an extremely low stamina rating, but he's a beast in 2K. Hoping to get some 2008-09 type performances out of The Big Dinosaur.

[shadowgrin]

Start and play him until he gets tired in the 1st (one or two bars left in stamina), by the time he's fresh to play again it will be to help closing out the 1st half. Do the same for the 3rd quarter so that you'll have him refreshed when crunch time (late 4th) comes.

[Lamrock]

Weekly Round-Up: 2010 Pre-Season Part 2

October 26, 2010 - With The Big Fossil in tow, the Raptors have managed to finish the 2010 pre-season a respectable 4-4. Shaq actually looked very solid in his 3 games with us so far, and may actually be a good fit, should he stay healthy. Nevertheless, we had an easy pre-season schedule, and things will get much more difficult once games actually count. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually kind of looking forward to next season, even if the Big Geritol kills our chances in the Harrison Barnes sweepstakes.

Meal Ticket Dominates As Knicks Blow Out Raptors


D'Antoni: "The hoop's in the OTHER direction!" | Meal Ticket being the stud that he is.------------
October 17, 2010 - Shaquille O'Neal was in street clothes as he watched his new team take on the new-look Knicks. He couldn't have liked what he saw. The first three quarters were competitive, with DeMar DeRozan and Il Mago shouldering the load as usual. Then, the fourth quarter happened. Anthony "Meal Ticket" Randolph scored 8 of his 14 points in the final period as the Knicks blew out the Raptors 58-45, dropping the Raptors to 2-3 on the pre-season. Randolph and STAT should prove to be a potent frontcourt this season, with the duo combining for 24 points and 12 boards in this half game. Toronto could have really used a vintage Shaq performance there. Will the Big Diesel save the Raptors season, or is he too washed up to make an impact? Only time will tell.

10 14 15 6 45 | DeRozan: 9/5/1, 4-5 FG; Bargnani: 10/4/0; A. Johnson: 7/5/1
14 13 11 20 58 | A. Randolph: 14/7/3; Felton: 11/2/4; A. Stoudemire: 10/5/1

Shaq Dominates Former Team In Debut


One of Shaq's many dunks on Varegina | Turkoglu terrorizing Mo Williams.
October 19, 2010 - Just when it looked like the Raptors were running on empty, they dug up a (very) big supply of fossil fuels. Playing against his team of yesteryear, Shaquille O'Neal was very impressive in his Raptors debut. Shaq scored a game high fifteen points on 6-8 shooting, as his Raptors blew out the Cavaliers 59-44. The game was lopsided from the start. Toronto jumped out to a 15-8 lead at the end of the first and never looked back. "It was only one game, but having him changes everything", commented Andrea Bargnani, who had 11 points and was left open many times thanks to O'Neal's presence. Shaq was acquired in a sign-and-trade for Joey Dorsey (who didn't play) and a future second rounder.

15 14 12 18 59 | O'Neal: 15/6/2, 6-8 FG; Bargnani: 11/3/2; Jack: 7/1/6
8 12 13 11 44 | M. Williams: 13/0/4; Jamison: 8/5/1; Varejao: 4/7/0

New Look Bulls To Much For Raptors


-------Il Mago was the only Raptor getting it done. | The sad thing is that Rose actually scored there.
October 22, 2010 - The Bulls continue to get the best of the Raptors. After beating out Toronto for the 8th seed in the East the previous season, Chicago has handed them their fourth defeat, preventing a winning pre-season record for the Raps. The first half was promising for Toronto, with Bargnani and Boozer duking (no pun intended) it out, and the score being close. The third quarter saw the Bulls finally get something out of ridiculous 2010 all-star selection Derrick Rose and employed a very successful "hack-a-Shaq" strategy. They then stagnated the Raptors offense in the fourth to win it 54-46. The Raptors fall to 3-4, while the Bulls tie the Heat for the top pre-season record in the East at 6-1.

11 16 10 9 46 | Bargnani: 14/6/1; DeRozan: 8/4/2; O'Neal: 5/4/1, 3-8 FT
12 13 15 15 54 | Boozer: 13/7/0; Rose: 11/0/5; Deng: 8/4/3

Raptors Close Pre-Season With Win Over Kings


Shaq loses the opening tip. | Owned with a capital D!----
October 25, 2010 - Toronto concluded the 2010 pre-season on a positive note, defeating the Sacramento Kings 52-46. Toronto was in control from the start. Tyreke Evans tried to take over the game, but Jarrett Jack and DeMar DeRozan kept him in check, limiting him to 3-11 shooting. Though DeMarcus Cousins showed flashes of stardom and led the game in rebounding, this game was all Shaq. The Big Fossil scored 12 points on perfect shooting, crashed the boards, and even dished 4 assists. Shaq controlled the game from start to finish, and as a result, the Raptors ended up taking is 52-46, to finish the pre-season a very respectable 4-4.

10 13 12 11 46 | T. Evans: 11/3/5; C. Landry: 12/3/0; Cousins: 8/6/0
14 14 13 11 52 | O'Neal: 12/5/4, 5-5 FG; Barbosa: 11/1/3; DeRozan: 9/3/2

phpBB [video]

Vintage Shaq?

'Saur Losers Readers Vote DeRozan As Raptors' Pre-Season MVP
DeMar DeRozan averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 53% shooting from the field this pre-season, and has edged out Shaqulle O'Neal and Andrea Bargnani to win the Raptors pre-season fan MVP vote. The second year player out of USC had a solid rookie season, and has backed it up with more polished offense, and good D. Shaq was the runner-up, averaging 10.7 points and 5 rebounds on 82% shooting, but only played three games. Bargs was a close third, putting up 9.2 points, 4.4 boards and a block per game, shooting 40% from behind the arc. DeRozan ends Chris Bosh's five year streak of winning this award.

[kibaxx7]

Lol, Shaq is a beast. He loses the opening tip, but then he kills you.

[Clutch]

Randolph and STAT should prove to be a potent frontcourt this season, with the duo combining for 24 points and 12 boards in this half game.

just wait til the season starts and they EACH start dropping those numbers on you

'The Big Fossil' ... awesome to see glimpses of his vintage form this early... hopefully Kobe's one-up championship ring gives Shaq the impetus to get his junk in the gym training hard this season!

[Lamrock]

Updated my sig. Text is a big cluttered, so I'll probably have to sacrifice my "A Lamrock Joint" text.

[Clutch]

nice but don't sacrifice it; maybe try integrate it in a comic/text bubble, like Shaq is saying it lol

[J@3]

Lol that sig is awesome. How are you recording your replays btw? That one is really good quality.

[Lamrock]

During replays, you can click the left stick, which gives you the options to upload videos and snapshots to 2K's website. Takes about a minute to upload a second of video though.

[J@3]

Yeah I do that too but mine always look shit compared to that. Awell, I should get one of those recorder things.

[Axel The Great]

Nice sig. What do you use to make it?

[shadowgrin]

ms paint.

[Mark.]

Haha that play by shaq is awesome, reminds me of a play my team ran in a recent tourny where we gave it our massive center in the high post and then all cleared out back into our defensive half, worked a treat and had the opposition in hysterics.