The Perpetual NBA Thread

**ILuvDetailing** · January 24th, 2008 12:02 PM

Buttomline, Shaq did'nt take care of his body, he didn't have the work ethic and dicipline of Kobe to take care of his body and now it has taken its toll on the once an unstoppable force. He became content when he won 3 straight titles, after the third title he came in the next season overweight. They could have won 2 or 3 more titles and become a true dynasty if he had taken care of his body. The skills are there but his body is broken down

**theveed** · January 24th, 2008 01:41 PM

Dude, playing center vs playing guards are very, very different... add to the basic fact of carrying substantial body mass to begin with always render heavy athletes to deteriorate first.

**chain** · January 24th, 2008 02:53 PM

Shaq's a real big guy. all that weight's gonna take a substantial toll on his body. and like what the articles says, kareem's game (and bodyframe for that matter...

) is way different than shaq's.

anyway, with regards to the article, lakers wouldn't cough up the cash to get another crack at a title and opted to rebuild instead. and from the looks of things, the Heat paid upfront to get their ring right away but didn't plan for the future.

**vito corleone** · January 24th, 2008 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by theveed

Dude, playing center vs playing guards are very, very different... add to the basic fact of carrying substantial body mass to begin with always render heavy athletes to deteriorate first.

+1. . .it amazes me that he was able to play this long with that body frame. . .it can't be helped

man!. . .there was a time when shaq completing an alley oop play was the most exciting sight to see in the nba for me

**theveed** · January 24th, 2008 03:30 PM

The key problem is the Heat is relying on Shaq carrying the load when he shouldn't be... Kareem was like the third option during his twilight years, ditto with Russell and other great centers as well... Instead of utilizing his remaining strength for rebounds, defense and put backs, they're still running him with a circa 2001 Shaq...

**mazdamazda** · January 25th, 2008 09:06 AM

Riley admitted that he made a whole bunch of mistakes in his player trades.

They should've made a run for Nazr or another serviceable center (Etan Thomas?).

**chain** · January 25th, 2008 01:14 PM

as what the yahoo recap says, "...from 15 Strong to 15 Wrong."

**ILuvDetailing** · January 25th, 2008 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by theveed

Dude, playing center vs playing guards are very, very different... add to the basic fact of carrying substantial body mass to begin with always render heavy athletes to deteriorate first.

True true, but he could have delayed the detrioration for atleast a couple of seasons had he kept his weight down (he was around 350 the season after their 3rd straight title), they could have won that 4th or 5th straight championship with Malone and Payton at the helm. Phil Jackson was always encouraging him to keep his weight close to the 320 range but he was constantly around 20-30 pounds over