ok guys,shaq is back!please give your comments about shaq

[McDwyane]

shaquille o'neal played for the first time since nov.he was injured in a collision to chuck hayes.shaq posted 5 points and 5 rebounds..now that miami has shaq and wade back..what can they do?can they defend their title please give comments in shaq's return..thanks!

[Matt]

how about you use the Miami Heat thread

[Matthew]

how about you use the Miami Heat thread

How about you don't spam?

what can they do?can they defend their title

It depends on how much they have in the tank. Remember the showtime lakers, with all their talent of Magic, Scott, Worthy, Kareem, they barely had enough to beat such inferior teams like Utah, Dallas and The Pistons (being pushed to 7 games in all of those series). Riley has a way of overworking teams when defending their championship and this could be another case of this, especially when you consider Shaq's age and Wade's long summer.

But with all that being said, the East is so wide open, there are alot of teams out there that are being considered a chance to make the finals. Teams like Orlando, Cleveland, Washington. These teams have holes much bigger then the ones you see in Miami, so Miami is definately a chance. Plus Miami has a sizeable experience advantage over the rest of the conference not named Detroit.

Right now when you look at their record it doesnt seem promising, but I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them advance deep into the playoffs, even if they do draw a low seed.

[BigKaboom2]

I think they'll need home court advantage to do much damage in the playoffs. I still have no idea how they won last year starting Antoine Walker *shudder*. The fact is that Shaq drawing double teams = open shots.

I think the recipe offensively for a championship team is having a guard who can create his own shot and a big man who can create his own shot. Cleveland and Washington don't have a reliable low post scorer, and Orlando's banking on Grant Hill - enough said. I predict Detroit over Miami in the Conference Finals in 6 games, assuming they don't get matched up earlier somehow. I don't know about the Webber/Wallace-Shaq matchup, but it's just a hunch.

[Matthew]

Antoine Walker isnt that bad of a player. He's a winner. People forget he led Kentucky to a national championship when he was younger as well.

Homecourt advantage is necessary for a young team like the 2000 lakers who virtually relied on it to win. But think back to that Laker team. The very next season they went undefeated on the road in the playoffs. And also remember the Heat won their championship in Dallas, so homecourt won't be that big of a factor.

I'll be suprised if Cleveland makes it to the 2nd round this season. Lebron is a great player, but look at his role players: Larry Hughes, Eric Snow, Damon Jones, Drew Gooden... they're all rubbish. Washington, given the right matchups could make the conference finals. People talk about Arenas, but Caron Butler is the key to their success.

The Shaq matchup with detroit will be interesting. If Shaq is anywhere close to being healthy, they will probably have Webber play behind him and Rasheed come on help.

[J J]

IMO (nobody make aggressive comments,its my opinion!) IF and ONLY IF Miami draws 7th-8th seed, they would be eliminated in the 1st round predicting they would face Detroit/Washington/Cleveland since they mostly have the boost on home court advantages and winning streaks in the playoffs.

If they face Orlando in the first round, I think Miami would get the upper hand even if they are the 7th or 8th seed, basing from what I'm seeing in Orlando right now. (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD ORLANDO GIVE REDICK MORE MINUTES!)

IF they draw 1st-6th seed they have a HUGH chance to get to the Conference Finals but would be knocked out by Detroit (IMO)

Well, its gonna be the Suns, Lakers or Mavs who's gonna be the champ anyway.

[Scotty]

I don't really have any predictions for Shaq and the Heat, but from watching this game Shaq didn't look ready and played like shit.

[---]

I don't really have any predictions for Shaq and the Heat, but from watching this game Shaq didn't look ready and played like shit.

I actually laughed when I saw that post. What was the point in putting the the "(Y)"?

About Shaq, even though his numbers are down (and health) substantially he still draws double teams simple because he can have his way with pretty much every center in the NBA. This opens up other players not just for jumpshots but cutters because Shaq is a very good passer out of the post. The double teams will come, players like Posey will thrive of the open looks while Shaq and Wade will compliment each other by drawing double teams and taking pressure off one another. It won't work as well as last year, but it will work well enough for Miami to make a run in the playoffs.

[Indy]

All I know is the first time Shaq got the ball he got his shot blocked by Jermaine. The second time he got it he caught it right under the rim, and Jermaine pushed him so far out of position he had to just kick it back out. I also know the Pacers trailed by 20 late in the 3rd quarter and came back to win the game.

I also know this is a useless thread