ESPN says they are close to a deal.

that 1st ballot hall of famer joins 3 other no doubt HOFers for another run at a title



FIFY


...and DC is a little b.itch

I don't think you can say that. They were a quarter away from winning another championship. I just don't see why they would go after Shaq. Jermaine O. and Perkins are way better options at the 5.

Also, this would just sully Shaq's overall career even more. Orlando to LA to Miami to Phoenix to Cleveland to Boston and you want to be considered the most dominant big man of all time? Not going to happen.

[This message has been edited by ItalAggie (edited 8/3/2010 10:01p).]

quote:

---

edwardsk2003 posted 2:08p, 04/25/10

classy - your post and handle are so ironic

---

quote:

---

mchensel6:40p, 06/14/10

classy - nice retort, well thought out, great counterpoints.

---

quote:

---

Also, this would just sully Shaq's overall career even more. Orlando to LA to Miami to Phoenix to Cleveland to Boston and you want to be considered the most dominant big man of all time? Not going to happen.

---

There is also the fact that Orlando was really the only team that was sad to see him go.

I'd love to see a Shaq behind the scenes book written by all his former teammates.

While I'm sure Orlando missed having Shaq's talents, I don't think Penny and Brian Hill were weeping when Shaq left.

quote:

---

I just don't see why they would go after Shaq. Jermaine O. and Perkins are way better options at the 5.

---

Perkins is going to miss a big chunk of the season with that knee injury he suffered in the Finals.

I think this is a really good pickup for Boston. They just need 10-15 min/game from Shaq. Their big weakness last year was depth inside and the Lakers exploited that... barely.

They're still title contenders in my book.

quote:

---

I'd love to see a Shaq behind the scenes book written by all his former teammates.

---

I always hear from reporters about what a great teammate and locker-room guy Shaq is. I never bought it for an instant.

with all his nicknames, the most relevent one for shaq is the Big Assole

Boston's problem is that the East got better. Their playoff run was aided considerably by being able to sit Garnett & Pierce for long periods during the reg season and limiting minutes while knowing they could pretty much coast to a top 4 finish and then having an easy 1st round matchup. They will have to try for 82 games next season as there will probably be at least 5 50 win teams in the East and if they don't get a top 3 seed they'll have a tough 1st round opponent. They won't be as fresh as they were this last time & a year older.

[This message has been edited by Syd_X_Barrett (edited 8/4/2010 2:14p).]

Totally agree Syd. They (and the Lakers for that matter) were gassed in Game 7. That's one reason it was so ugly. The older you get the more likely that will happen earlier. Hell, Ray Allen was gassed the whole series except for Game 2. And between Ray, KG, Pierce, Shaq - somebody's getting hurt during the season. Perkins is going to be battling that knee all year since he'll have to jump in at the mid-point of the season as well.

Has any other player of his caliber ever played for so many teams? In any sport?

Rickey Henderson was the only one who came to mind for me outside of bball, he played for 9 teams, including 4 different stints in Oakland and two stints in San Diego.

quote:

---

Has any other player of his caliber ever played for so many teams? In any sport?

---

Pudge?
Ranger, Marlins, Tigers, Yankees, Astros, Rangers, Nationals

Robbie Alomar:
Padres, Blue Jays, O's, Injuns, Mets, White Sox, DBacks, White Sox

Piazza:
Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres, A's

Winfield:
Yankees, Padres, Angels, Jays, Twins, Injuns

Sheffield:
Yankees, Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Tigers, Mets

Moses Malone:
Spurs, 76ers, Rockets, Bullets, Utah Stars, Spirits of St Louis, Buffalo Braves, Hawks, Bucks

Good pickup for Boston. However still doesn't make them the favorites to win it all, let alone the East.

Malone's a good one. Pudge is the only other one on that list that I would say is of the same caliber.

Winfield is in the baseball HOF. He's certainly in that class.

And Winfield would certainly be one to tell you that he is in the HOF and as great as anyone else.

All of those guys are HOFers or will be eventually. Malone, Pudge and Shaq are at that next level above your "run of the mill" HOFer.

quote:

---

Boston's problem is that the East got better. Their playoff run was aided considerably by being able to sit Garnett & Pierce for long periods during the reg season and limiting minutes while knowing they could pretty much coast to a top 4 finish and then having an easy 1st round matchup. They will have to try for 82 games next season as there will probably be at least 5 50 win teams in the East and if they don't get a top 3 seed they'll have a tough 1st round opponent. They won't be as fresh as they were this last time & a year older.

---

Good point.

For the first time in forever (can anyone think of a year...I cant think of the last time) I think the East might be a better conference than the West.

It depends on how you compare the conferences. Comparing the top 4-5 teams, the nod goes to the East. Comparing everything after that, the West is best.

While the Heat became an elite level team, they did it at the expense of a very good team (Cleveland) and a playoff challenger (Toronto).

I think when the win over-unders come out from Vegas, you will see a good percentage of the top 6 and bottom 6 from the East. I think the West has 12 teams that will be contending for the playoffs.

Boston still won't have to try in the regular season. You have Boston, Miami and Orlando contending and that's it. Toronto and Cleveland just went to the lottery. Chicago, New York and New Jersey purged their teams hoping for Lebron, Wade or Bosh. Atlanta lost Childress. If you look at it, not counting the big three, the only teams to really get better in the East is the Knicks and maybe the Wiz. And they sucked so bad to begin with it's not going to matter much.