Lakers have a better record that Miami

[1Parker1]

One of the reasons people didnt give the lakers the same lee-way might be that they weren't expected to do anything , whether kobe and odom missed or played the games. It's kinda like if the hawks were missing JJ and harringon, it wont make a difference cuz they are still crap.

Kobe>>>>>>JJ
Odom>>Harrington

Last year they made money off him, as will they this year, and probably the remainin of his contract. Look at LA and how much money they lost last year cuz of no playoffs and Shaq not being there. If you got a guy like Shaq that can pull in outside money for you, then he his worth his contract

Yes, but how much longer do you think Shaq can play? My point was that it was better for the Lakers long-term to trade him. Shaq barely got through last season after his "healthy weight loss" he's already missing quite a few games this season...yes, Shaq turned the Heat around, but his contract is for something like 5 or 6 years, you think he can sustain himself that long?

[Banks91]

I wasnt comparing kobe/odom to jj/harrington, and you know that.
I was sayin, but the lakers werent goin to do too much , regardless whether kobe and odom played. The hawks are like that right now. Of course, lakers are nowhere near as bad as the hawks, but you get my point.

As for Shaq continuing to play for another 5-6 years, i think he might retire with a year left on it, i dont see him lettin himself more money then that.

As for Shaq breaking down, that might be true, but we can't tell that from this injury , cuz this injury had nothing to do with condition, physical shape etc.

Same thing happened to Duncan last season couple times, it didnt mean his body was breaking down , did it?

You can mention the fact that Duncan came back faster then Shaq, but we all know how Shaq likes to rest himself more then neccessary, and he's been like that a long time. All i'm sayin is that Shaq isnt as bad off as people try to make him out to be.

[1Parker1]

Major Difference: Duncan is a healthy, lean 29 year old basketball player in his prime. Shaq is an overweight, 34 year old past his prime.

[DesiSpur_21]

No one made the same allowance last season when the Lakers were missing Kobe and Odom ...
Yes, I'm serious. Us Laker fans need to take any good news we can get.

Besides, this goes to demonstrate my point that the Lakers made the right choice in keeping Kobe instead of Shaq, Shaq will spend much of the rest of his "playing days" on the injured list while Kobe is playing and leading the Lakers back into the Elite.

Keep Dreamin' ....

[Banks91]

Hey 1parker, is that you u argue with some one, ignore most of their post , except maybe one thing, and then twist into something i wasnt tryin to say(your first post)

or just throw out something like "major difference, duncan's healthy, Shaq's overweight past his prime"

What does him being past his prime have to do with this ankle injury.
The assumption around here, and everywhere is that Shaq is breaking down.
How do you get this from an ankle injury that he had no control over, that a
"healhty, lean 29 year old duncan" had a couple times last season

[spursfaninla]

When shaq plays, Miami will head toward the middle of the playoff pack again. They will go at least into the 2nd round.

Kobe will be lucky to make it into the playoffs, this year and for the forseeable future. LUCKY.

Shaq is blessed TONs of talent in miami. Kobe's Lakers are OVER-ACHIEVING to be at .500, IMO.

I think the Lakers made an ok LONG TERM choice, but why would be you break up a championship-caliber team early? Only self-important idiots (see Chicago management) would do something like that.

Lakers blew up early. They should have paid to go another 3-4 years. Shaq has his problems, but his team was minutes away from the finals last year, and it was Wade's injury that played an equal part in that.

[Marklar MM]

The heat are 2nd in the East in terms of playoff seeding, but they have the 5th best record.

[Obstructed_View]

The Lakers without Shaq have to fight to make the playoffs in the West. Period.
The Heat without Shaq are a seven or eight seed in the East. Period.

Shaq could make Atlanta a playoff team just by suiting up. There's not another player like that in the NBA. Lakers fans know that's the truth.

[Useruser666]

Except Tim Duncan................

[Samr]

Lakers have a better record that Miami

That speaks worse of Miami than it speaks good of the Lakers.

[Obstructed_View]

Except Tim Duncan................

I think Tim's a better player, but Shaq would be a bigger factor making a bad team decent, even without getting huge statistics. Having his big ass parked in the low post changes the game more drastically than any other single player move IMO.

[missmyzte]

I think the Lakers made an ok LONG TERM choice, but why would be you break up a championship-caliber team early? Only self-important idiots (see Chicago management) would do something like that.

Lakers blew up early. They should have paid to go another 3-4 years. Shaq has his problems, but his team was minutes away from the finals last year, and it was Wade's injury that played an equal part in that.

Huh? You mean Miami blew up too early?

[Obstructed_View]

No. Shaq made Miami an instant finals contender. He could have done the same thing if he'd stayed in Los Angeles. The only problem is that the Lakers were going to lose Kobe to free agency, so a choice had to be made. It's not at all similar to the Bulls in '98.

[sprrs]

I think the point was to show that the west is still at this point stronger than the east. Not in potential number of le co ntenders, but in the number of good, set playoff teams

[1Parker1]

Hey 1parker, is that you u argue with some one, ignore most of their post , except maybe one thing, and then twist into something i wasnt tryin to say(your first post)

or just throw out something like "major difference, duncan's healthy, Shaq's overweight past his prime"

What does him being past his prime have to do with this ankle injury.
The assumption around here, and everywhere is that Shaq is breaking down.
How do you get this from an ankle injury that he had no control over, that a
"healhty, lean 29 year old duncan" had a couple times last season

I am not igorning "most of your post" I'm simply replying to the parts of your posts that I happen to disagree with.

If you re-read my first reply to you, I did say that YES, I do agree with you when you talk about the impact Shaq has had on the Heat, but as I mentioned, I just don't think he has it in him in the long run to carry any team. Yes, Tim Duncan had 3 ankle injuries last season, which he seemed to bounce back, and yes I know that injuries are a part of basketball life. I was pointing out the difference that Shaq has been getting injured quite frequently these past couple of years. If I recall, he also had quite a few injuries last season also, including around the playoff time. I'm saying that it's easier to recover and get back on your feet from such injuries when you're 29 then when your 34 and overweight.

Regardless, I'm not doubting what Shaq can contribute to the team now, I just don't think he's as "dominant" as he's been in years past and that in the long-run, Lakers were better off trading him.

I'm en led to my opinions, just as you are to yours. I'm not going to argue with you over the freakin Lakers and Heat......both teams which I can't stand anyways (sorry Misti)!