KOBE VS SHAQ: INTERESTING LAKERS EXCERPTS FROM "MADMEN'S BALL" BY MARK HEISLER

[OnlyInCalifornia]

I was saying this for the longest time that Shaq had the ego, Shaq was the lazy one, and ultimately it was the right decision to let him go.

 

[labelplant]

You're right about Dwight bein a nobody, but what the fucc did you just fukking say, you lil biitch? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, wit over 300 confirmed kills. Im trained in gorilla warfare and Im the top sniper in the entire US armed forces. Your biitchass is nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the fucc out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fuccin words. You think you can get away with saying that shyt to me over the Internet? Think again, mufucca. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, fagboy. The storm that wipes out the pathetic lil thing you call your life. You fuccin dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that’s just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you lil shyt. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little “clever” comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your biitchass tongue. But you couldn’t, you didn’t, and now you’re paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shiit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You fuccin dead, kiddo.

Wow, I'm impressed that u went off caps lock

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

So I guess the reason no one wants to play with Kobe is because he getting old right?

nikka is a ballhog,are yall serious right now?

So Kobe was that much of a ballhog? How do you win 5 titles hogging the ball? Moreover, last I checked shooters were suppose to shoot. Assist numbers aren't suppose to be as high in the Triangle as they'd be in a traditional offense and even still his assist numbers were good for a true shooting guard. When Kobe played point in a traditional offense his assist numbers shot up. How could that be if he's a ballhog? You can't spend basically your whole career being the facilitator on offense and be a ballhog that's some oxymoronic shyt. Face it, you have no idea what you're talking about and felt like bringing a shytty argument to the table.

His career is almost over, I think it's time these outdated bspn talking points go out the window.

 

[Sccit]

Your writing style is hard to read. They teach this shyt in pre-school

WHY IS IT HARD TO READ? SHOULD BE EASIER, CONSIDERING THE LETTERS ARE BIGGER.

 

[Sccit]

so are you saying nobody wants to play with Kobe because he's a ballhog OR getting old?

DONT MIND HIM, HES AS GOOD AS DEAD ANYWAYS

 

[Sccit]

I hear you man. But I don't know how with Shaq not taking a pay cut. I believe the pay cut was more important than him being in shape. I think some of the things with Shaq is revisionist history. People like weed head Bill Walton dogged out Shaq in Orlando because he he didn't have go to post moves. But in LA he developed more post moves his fade away push shot and other moves.

Lets look at Shaqs career. His first season in the league Orlando is 41-41. He was in shape but his team was young and misses the playoffs. The magic draft penny in the off season and his team loses to indiana that season in the playoffs. Shaq was in shape that year too. But the team is still young and shaq dominates in the playoffs.

The next year shaq takes the magic to the finals. He basically matches Hakeem but the other players outside of penny come up short.

Next year his team gets swept by Jordan's 72-10 team. Shaq or Jesus himself wasn't beating that team.

Shaq then goes to LA where his team doesn't get to the finals until the 1999 - 2000 season. Shaq was the main man those season. But that team was young with lynch, Eddie Jones, Anthony Peeler and an even younger Kobe who was a bench player. Plus they had Dale Harris who was not a chamoionship coach. Until the Lakers got veterans like Glen Rice, Rick Fox and Horace Grant and Kobe became a young star and closer and Phil as the coach they didn't win a ring.

Also don't forget that the young Lakers ran into the Spurs with Duncan and Robinson (spurs were a veteran team with a young star in Duncan). Had two big men that shaq had to battle and coach Pop. Then he lost multiple times to Jazz team that went to the finals with arguably the second greatest PF and a top maybe 6 pg of all time. That jazz team was on a mission and took MJ bulls teams to 6 games both times.

Once Shaq got Phil and Kobe became a more exp player he won 3 rings in a row. The year they were going to 4 peat they were swept in the second round vs the Spurs. It is almost impossible to 4 peat and has only been done once. I don't even think Jordan's bulls could have done that because MJ even stated that at the end of each 3 peat he was totally mentally and physically drained. Jordan just retired each time so he was never able to come short in a 4 peat attempt.

After the spurs sweep the Laker reloaded and got Payton and Malone. They lost to the Pistons, but what folks forget is that karl Malone goes down in the western conference finals. Of course there is in fighting between Kobe and Shaq. Shaq dominates the series, some say there were times during the game that Kobe would not pass him the ball. The biggest issues that I have with the series is that with no Malone Rasheed Wallace dominates his position

Shaq gets traded to the heat and him and wade are injured during the conference finals vs the Pistons. Now if shaq is healthy does he defeat the pistons maybe. Was this because he wasnt in shape to start the season....could be. But that heat team does not beat the Spurs with a unhealthy Wade.

The next year the Heat win the championship. Then the following year wade dislocates his shoulder and the heat get swept. Now no matter how in shape shaq was he was not gonna beat the bulls because they were too young and without a healthy wade they had no one to score on the wing.

Now we know the 2007-2008 season was a cluster fukk with shaq out of shape. But wade also had issues with his knee and was shut down. In the spring of 2008 shaq was traded to the suns and played there until summer 2009. I just don't see how shaq was gonna win a ring with D'antoni. shyt even Lebron couldn't even take team fool to the finals (and he takes every scrub coach to the finals) with that dumb ass run and gun no defense team.

Then shaq goes to Cleveland and you see how that went with the celtics beating him and Lebron in the playoffs and then losing to the magic (with Hedo and Lewis making killing the Cavs slow ass power forwards which was the greatest difference in the series).

Then we have shaq with the Celtics.which we know he had multiple injuries.

So looking at his entire career I just don't see how he would have managed to get 4 more rings. Unless you say he should have won with a very young Lakers team and Dale Harris or that he should have gotten along with Riley taken a pay cut so he could stay in Miami. I just don't see all those rings when you have to factor in other competition, management and injuries.

People often get on shaq for his later years in LA for being out of shape but fail to realize that even the years he was out of shape he was taking the Lakers to the finals and winning rings. Also the reason the Lakers got rid of him was that buss didn't want to spend all that money on Kobe and Shaq. He knew Kobe was younger and was a better longer investment then picking shaq because he was not going to continue to spend to keep both of them.

IF SHAQ WAS STILL ON TOP OF HIS GAME, LAKERS WOULDA WON IN 03, 04, 05, 06 AND BEYOND... NO ONE WAS STOPPING THAT KOBE-SHAQ COMBO. FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HE WAS UNMOTIVATED BY 2003 AND LOST A STEP..ON TOP OF THAT, IF HE PUT HIS EGO ASIDE AND WAS WILLIN TO LET KOBE TAKE THE DRIVER SEAT WHEN IT WAS TIME, THEN THERES NO DOUBT THAT THEYD BE DESTINED FOR MORE RINGS. IF KOBE COULD WIN BACK TO BACK WIT PAU, KOBE-SHAQ COULDA WON AT LEAST 7 TOGETHER IF SHAQ PLAYED HIS PART=UNDERACHEIVER

 

[Lucky_Lefty]

We need a fukking movie. Phil's book the last season was a GREAT read with all the stories.

Gotta read his 2nd one and Shaq's book

Don't even waste your time on Shaq's book. A few interesting stories but other than that, shyt was wack

 

[T.he I.nformant]

Both these nikkas were some primadonnas

However my respect for Kobe went up a lil and down for Shaq after reading these excerpts

What a waste as far as Shaq; he definitely left some meat on the bone

 

[Edub]

I blame the head office..,Mitch and the Busses...Shaq was givin' the kind of authority and voice that was givin' to Magic...only prob. Was Magic was built for that kind of leadership role...Shaq is still a man-child todayadding the antics of Karl Malone (known childish bully) and Gary Peyton (all around comedic cut-up) this did nothing but elevate the tension that already existed. I can just visualize Gary and Karl at the fights that went down during practices, road trips etc.,...like sweet get back to get an eyeful of the dysfunction of the team that just smacked them each a year or two earlier...Shaq was the like the 9th wonder of the world when he came into the league...when the Lakers aquired him they probably just said hey buddy this is your franchise, thanks for coming, then Kobe becomes Jordan's son and its uh-oh...we got a diva CRISIS at hand

 

[Timeis$]

Never a Kobe Stan but I always saw Shaq being the main problem. Dude was always a sensitive cry baby that liked to dish it out but couldn't take it back.

The media back then liked to play this narrative that Shaq was a big lovable humble guy which was NOT the case. Dude was an a$$hole.

Even on Inside the NBA you can see how he truly is. It's like he's insecure about ANY type of criticism.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

WHEN U OPT TO EAT BIG MACS IN THE OFFSEASON AND GAIN WEIGHT EVERY YEAR INSTEAD OF TRAINING TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON .. WHEN U OPT TO GET SURGERY ON "COMPANY TIME" BECAUSE U "GOT INJURED ON COMPANY TIME"...THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF UNDERACHIEVING. YOU DONT UNDERSTAND, SHAQ'S CEILING WAS GOAT....THE FACT THAT HE WON 4 RINGS DOESNT MEAN HE DIDNT UNDERACHIEVE. HIS GAME FELL OFF BY 2003 AND HE HAD TO BE RE-MOTIVATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO GET BACK IN SHAPE (MIAMI, PHOENIX)...IMAGINE IF HE TOOK CARE OF HIMSELF LIKE KAREEM .. OR IF HE CARED ABOUT HIS GAME LIKE KOBE AND WORKED ON HIS FREE THROWS (THE ONE YEAR HE SHOT 63% FROM THE LINE WAS THE SAME YEAR HE WORKED WIT A SHOOTING COACH - NO COINCIDENCE). THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. THE GUY WAS A SLOUCH WHO HAS HALF AS MANY RINGS AS HE REALISTICALLY COULD, BOTTOM LINE.

Whole post is non sense

 

[Originalgangsta317]

So Kobe was that much of a ballhog? How do you win 5 titles hogging the ball? Moreover, last I checked shooters were suppose to shoot. Assist numbers aren't suppose to be as high in the Triangle as they'd be in a traditional offense and even still his assist numbers were good for a true shooting guard. When Kobe played point in a traditional offense his assist numbers shot up. How could that be if he's a ballhog? You can't spend basically your whole career being the facilitator on offense and be a ballhog that's some oxymoronic shyt. Face it, you have no idea what you're talking about and felt like bringing a shytty argument to the table.

His career is almost over, I think it's time these outdated bspn talking points go out the window.

When all your teammates say you need to pass the ball,that means your a hog bytch

 

[Sccit]

Whole post is non sense

THE PART ABOUT SHAQ EATING BIG MACS AND NOT STAYIN IN SHAPE IN THE OFFSEASON? OR THE PART ABOUT SHAQ HEALING ON COMPANY TIME INSTEAD OF DURING THE SUMMER?? NONSENSE?


LOL STOP POSTING

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

THE PART ABOUT SHAQ EATING BIG MACS AND NOT STAYIN IN SHAPE IN THE OFFSEASON? OR THE PART ABOUT SHAQ HEALING ON COMPANY TIME INSTEAD OF DURING THE SUMMER?? NONSENSE?


LOL STOP POSTING

You equating eating McDonalds twice a month to being lazy... You're the one who needs to stop posting.....

Shaq has had a personal chef since he's been in the league... No real drugs....doesn't really drink.... and does keep himself healthy for the most part........

Everything you stated was horse shyt

 

[Big Boss]

I hear you man. But I don't know how with Shaq not taking a pay cut. I believe the pay cut was more important than him being in shape. I think some of the things with Shaq is revisionist history. People like weed head Bill Walton dogged out Shaq in Orlando because he he didn't have go to post moves. But in LA he developed more post moves his fade away push shot and other moves.

Lets look at Shaqs career. His first season in the league Orlando is 41-41. He was in shape but his team was young and misses the playoffs. The magic draft penny in the off season and his team loses to indiana that season in the playoffs. Shaq was in shape that year too. But the team is still young and shaq dominates in the playoffs.

The next year shaq takes the magic to the finals. He basically matches Hakeem but the other players outside of penny come up short.

Next year his team gets swept by Jordan's 72-10 team. Shaq or Jesus himself wasn't beating that team.

Shaq then goes to LA where his team doesn't get to the finals until the 1999 - 2000 season. Shaq was the main man those season. But that team was young with lynch, Eddie Jones, Anthony Peeler and an even younger Kobe who was a bench player. Plus they had Dale Harris who was not a chamoionship coach. Until the Lakers got veterans like Glen Rice, Rick Fox and Horace Grant and Kobe became a young star and closer and Phil as the coach they didn't win a ring.

Also don't forget that the young Lakers ran into the Spurs with Duncan and Robinson (spurs were a veteran team with a young star in Duncan). Had two big men that shaq had to battle and coach Pop. Then he lost multiple times to Jazz team that went to the finals with arguably the second greatest PF and a top maybe 6 pg of all time. That jazz team was on a mission and took MJ bulls teams to 6 games both times.

Once Shaq got Phil and Kobe became a more exp player he won 3 rings in a row. The year they were going to 4 peat they were swept in the second round vs the Spurs. It is almost impossible to 4 peat and has only been done once. I don't even think Jordan's bulls could have done that because MJ even stated that at the end of each 3 peat he was totally mentally and physically drained. Jordan just retired each time so he was never able to come short in a 4 peat attempt.

After the spurs sweep the Laker reloaded and got Payton and Malone. They lost to the Pistons, but what folks forget is that karl Malone goes down in the western conference finals. Of course there is in fighting between Kobe and Shaq. Shaq dominates the series, some say there were times during the game that Kobe would not pass him the ball. The biggest issues that I have with the series is that with no Malone Rasheed Wallace dominates his position

Shaq gets traded to the heat and him and wade are injured during the conference finals vs the Pistons. Now if shaq is healthy does he defeat the pistons maybe. Was this because he wasnt in shape to start the season....could be. But that heat team does not beat the Spurs with a unhealthy Wade.

The next year the Heat win the championship. Then the following year wade dislocates his shoulder and the heat get swept. Now no matter how in shape shaq was he was not gonna beat the bulls because they were too young and without a healthy wade they had no one to score on the wing.

Now we know the 2007-2008 season was a cluster fukk with shaq out of shape. But wade also had issues with his knee and was shut down. In the spring of 2008 shaq was traded to the suns and played there until summer 2009. I just don't see how shaq was gonna win a ring with D'antoni. shyt even Lebron couldn't even take team fool to the finals (and he takes every scrub coach to the finals) with that dumb ass run and gun no defense team.

Then shaq goes to Cleveland and you see how that went with the celtics beating him and Lebron in the playoffs and then losing to the magic (with Hedo and Lewis making killing the Cavs slow ass power forwards which was the greatest difference in the series).

Then we have shaq with the Celtics.which we know he had multiple injuries.

So looking at his entire career I just don't see how he would have managed to get 4 more rings. Unless you say he should have won with a very young Lakers team and Dale Harris or that he should have gotten along with Riley taken a pay cut so he could stay in Miami. I just don't see all those rings when you have to factor in other competition, management and injuries.

People often get on shaq for his later years in LA for being out of shape but fail to realize that even the years he was out of shape he was taking the Lakers to the finals and winning rings. Also the reason the Lakers got rid of him was that buss didn't want to spend all that money on Kobe and Shaq. He knew Kobe was younger and was a better longer investment then picking shaq because he was not going to continue to spend to keep both of them.