The Spurs Still Have To Go Through Shaq

[Extra Stout]

Shaq's weight loss is starting to pay real dividends. People think he's slowing down because his stats are off, but part of it is that Miami plays more cohesively as a team than the Lakers ever did, and Shaq has no problem deferring his stats to guys like Wade who are unselfish.

I like Miami, but one good win against the West does not a Finals shoo-in make. Detroit still stands in their way.

So far this year, Miami vs. San Antonio remains a relative unknown. Wade missed the game in SA that the Spurs won, and the Heat squeaked out a win in Miami against a hobbled Duncan leading an exhausted Spurs team. There's not a lot to go on in predicting what might happen in the Finals should these two make it.

I am not that worried about Zo. He just turned 35 and cannot take anti-inflammatories. It's not even certain he'll be able to hold up long enough to play in the postseason, even with judicious monitoring of his minutes and practice time. At best, he'll give Miami an option besides going small when Shaq sits.

Nor am I freaking out about that loss. The way I read the game was that the Spurs didn't have much left in the tank after playing back-to-back without Duncan and then making that big comeback against NJ, and just tried to hang around until late. I expected them to make a charge with about four or five minutes left, but it was clear they didn't have their legs, especially Tim, and so they couldn't kick it into that extra gear they usually have. When they are fatigued, it shows up on defense first, and that bore out in Miami's steadily rising FG% over the course of the game. Despite that, they had a chance to win in the final minute.

[TDMVPDPOY]

if shaq wants to win, he has to go through teh pistons first then come talk to us.

[boutons]

"Shaq's weight loss is starting to pay real dividends."

When I saw Shaq's huge weight loss last October, I knew he was serious. And losing 40 lbs takes a ton of work of his legs and feets, making him less injury prone, more available.

But the way the Pistons have begun to play, I don't think the Heat have chance to get out of the EC.

We'll find out 20 Mar @Pistons if SPAM has arrived.

If we win, it means we're the best.

If we lose, it won't mean .

[Ghost Writer]

The Piss-tons are not playing with the same fire as last year and their bench is deplenished.

Miami vs. SA in the Finals

It's inevitable.

[T Park]

Detroit is winning with a passion right now, and Carlos Arroyo is making Jerry Sloan look like a tool.


Detroit is fer real.


If the Spurs face them, they better hope they have home court advantage.