- Heat coach Stan Van Gundy has been studying lots of tape and plans to dramatically change his offense to accommodate Shaq's strengths.
''It will be an overhaul -- not a tinkering, but an overhaul,'' Van Gundy said last week about the move to a post-oriented offense. ``We want to run the majority to him and through him. I would like to get it to him every time down the floor. I have a lot of ideas.''
Van Gundy has been studying the offensive sets -- and spacing -- of not only the Lakers with Shaq, but also the Spurs (Tim Duncan), Rockets (Yao Ming) and the Jazz teams that featured Karl Malone.
''I will borrow from all of them,'' Van Gundy said.
He's also studying how teams have defended O'Neal.
Will the Heat still run?
''We won't be as much of a running team as last year, but I don't want to be a walk-up team, either,'' he said. ``We don't want to diminish Dwyane Wade's role at all, and he's at his best in the open floor.''- Has anything surprised Van Gundy as he watched tapes of Shaq the past few weeks?
''The thing I took for granted was his passing,'' he said. ``He's an excellent passer. It's key you have good cutters around him.''- The Heat recently sent strength and conditioning coach Bill Foran to work with O'Neal in Orlando. O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, said Shaq is working out twice a day, compared to once a day in past summers.
''This is the best shape I've ever seen him in,'' said Rogers, who has worked with O'Neal for three years.- O'Neal is considering opening a restaurant/club in South Beach, if a prime location can be found. O'Neal, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi are major investors in a club/restaurant at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, set to open in December. Rogers also says Shaq will be a presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 29 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
- A random poll of five NBA players -- Antoine Walker, Rafer Alston, Nick Van Exel, Damon Stoudamire and Ricky Davis -- revealed unanimity on two issues: The Heat trade for Shaq was a no-brainer, and Detroit has the better team.
''In the East, it's Detroit, Indy and Miami in that order,'' Portland's Van Exel said.
Said Portland's Stoudamire: ``You'll see a different Shaq -- a guy who will be in shape and motivated. But the Heat's best lineup is with Wade at shooting guard.''
Shaq Attack.
Hehe, I'm so going to enjoy this season as a Shaq fan. Gonna hate it as a Laker fan.
They seem to be really building around O'Neal, niceness.
Can't say they're doing the wrong thing, worked pretty well for LA.
