Did SHAQ make a mistake bulking/chubbing up?

[Kobe 4 The Win]

Fact

Shaq's most dominant years were when he was near his heaviest. The 3 peat MVP Shaq was nearly 40 pounds heavier than when he went to Miami and lost all that weight. People forget how skinny he got in Miami.

Another Fact

It didn't matter how much Shaq weighed, he dominated everybody and was the always the biggest problem for the opposition.

Shaq NEVER had any major injuries in his whole career which is amazing consider his size and how great his footwork was. Shaq is smart and always showed up big in the playoffs, he knows how to pace himself. Look at Bill Russell, he says one of his biggest secrets to his success was to take 15 to 20 plays OFF per game, not even bothering to cross the half court line just to conserve his energy. I bet if he tried harder maybe he would have 22 rings instead of 11 right?

The revisionist history on this board about Shaq is really sad to read. People have no idea, no appreciation, it's like many of you never watched him play. Prime Shaq is the only person who you could say was >>> than a prime Jordan without getting laughed at. His effect on the court was unreal and he always made every single teammate better.

Hi Shaq.

Look homie, we all know you hated working out and constantly came into camp out of shape. lol. The cat's out of the bag so there's no sense in pretending. We read your book when you talked about how you would trick Pat Riley that you were working hard on the excercise bike. Don't be mad, you're still one of the best ever.

[East_Stone_Ya]

I guess it still makes sense since he's an underachiever. People would expect him to achieve more with his gift.

what exactly more would have Shaq needed to achieve then?

[Yung D-Will]

Shaq- From the moment he entered the league, 13 straight seasons averaging at least 21-10, on 55+% shooting.

[LBJFTW]

what exactly more would have Shaq needed to achieve then?

Nothing. He's a top 10 GOAT. This board makes me laugh with all the what if this what if that....who gives a damn. Life isn't about what could have been, it's about what is. It's not like you can go back and change it, so why even speculate in the first place when there are so many variables at play?

What if an NBA player dropped his shorts and took a shit in center court mid game? What if someone put it on their twitter account? Who cares?

[get these NETS]

shaq's early ears..nba used to marvel and bring up his ridiculously low body fat %

he was big strong quick and ridiculously agile


he half assed his way to ridiculous career statistically, anyway

Had Orlando management handled the situation better, I think he and Penny might have won a ring or 2.

shaq's "peak" coincided with the decline of the ewings,olajuwons, and robinsons also...

[SourPatchKids]

The shaqtus has never made a mistake in his life.

[AlphaWolf24]

Fact

Shaq's most dominant years were when he was near his heaviest. The 3 peat MVP Shaq was nearly 40 pounds heavier than when he went to Miami and lost all that weight. People forget how skinny he got in Miami.

Another Fact

It didn't matter how much Shaq weighed, he dominated everybody and was the always the biggest problem for the opposition.

Shaq NEVER had any major injuries in his whole career which is amazing consider his size and how great his footwork was. Shaq is smart and always showed up big in the playoffs, he knows how to pace himself. Look at Bill Russell, he says one of his biggest secrets to his success was to take 15 to 20 plays OFF per game, not even bothering to cross the half court line just to conserve his energy. I bet if he tried harder maybe he would have 22 rings instead of 11 right?

The revisionist history on this board about Shaq is really sad to read. People have no idea, no appreciation, it's like many of you never watched him play. Prime Shaq is the only person who you could say was >>> than a prime Jordan without getting laughed at. His effect on the court was unreal and he always made every single teammate better.

FACT: Shaq dominated when he had 21 year old Kobe Bryant breaking down the defense and scoring/drawing the defense and getting Shaq great interior shots....without Kobe, neverlooked the same

(Watchin "closeout games" on NBA TV this week) even in 2000, Kobe's defense was amazing in the Finals and WCFinals...to go along with his ability t get past his defender and draw a double team ( forgot how any easy shots he created for Shaq)


Shaq was Big and strong.....his work ethic left alot to be desired...he was a liability in the 4th quarters/crunchtime.

Kobe mde him a Dominant post season player...watching the cloeseout games again even further proves it.

[Freedom Kid7]

If Shaq doesn't bulk up, Shaq isn't Shaq. What made him dominant was that he was an obese wrecking ball on the court that could get to the basket without much difficulty.

So no, no mistake there.

[riseagainst]

FACT: Shaq dominated when he had 21 year old Kobe Bryant breaking down the defense and scoring/drawing the defense and getting Shaq great interior shots....without Kobe, neverlooked the same

(Watchin "closeout games" on NBA TV this week) even in 2000, Kobe's defense was amazing in the Finals and WCFinals...to go along with his ability t get past his defender and draw a double team ( forgot how any easy shots he created for Shaq)


Shaq was Big and strong.....his work ethic left alot to be desired...he was a liability in the 4th quarters/crunchtime.

Kobe mde him a Dominant post season player...watching the cloeseout games again even further proves it.

[westsideozzie]

Shaq was the most dominant player ever. In 2000-2003 when he weighed close to 370 and was still agile and athletic, he could not be stopped. Period. Those who say Kobe was the catalyst and reason the Lakers won those titles know nothing about basketball. Shaq could have won those three rings with Ray Allen or any other viable 2 guard. That being said., they should have lost to both Portland and Sacromento those years as well with bum ass biting MJ Kobe Bryant!

[riseagainst]

Shaq was the most dominant player ever. In 2000-2003 when he weighed close to 370 and was still agile and athletic, he could not be stopped. Period. Those who say Kobe was the catalyst and reason the Lakers won those titles know nothing about basketball. Shaq could have won those three rings with Ray Allen or any other viable 2 guard. That being said., they should have lost to both Portland and Sacromento those years as well with bum ass biting MJ Kobe Bryant!

not a kobe hater at all.

[ILLsmak]

Fact

Shaq's most dominant years were when he was near his heaviest. The 3 peat MVP Shaq was nearly 40 pounds heavier than when he went to Miami and lost all that weight. People forget how skinny he got in Miami.

Another Fact

It didn't matter how much Shaq weighed, he dominated everybody and was the always the biggest problem for the opposition.

Shaq NEVER had any major injuries in his whole career which is amazing consider his size and how great his footwork was. Shaq is smart and always showed up big in the playoffs, he knows how to pace himself. Look at Bill Russell, he says one of his biggest secrets to his success was to take 15 to 20 plays OFF per game, not even bothering to cross the half court line just to conserve his energy. I bet if he tried harder maybe he would have 22 rings instead of 11 right?

The revisionist history on this board about Shaq is really sad to read. People have no idea, no appreciation, it's like many of you never watched him play. Prime Shaq is the only person who you could say was >>> than a prime Jordan without getting laughed at. His effect on the court was unreal and he always made every single teammate better.

Well, let's be honest. What does it mean to take a play off? Taking a play off, to me, is when you are able to see something good is happening already. If it's a fast break, you see guys stay back all of the time if they are big men.

Once you've played ball enough you can tell if someone is going to need you or not. Think about it,if the player isn't going to pass you the ball and you're not going to get a rebound, why run in there?


As for Shaq, it's true he was most dominant at his heaviest. He also played the most minutes,didn't he?

Being able to block a shot at its apex is cool, but most of Shaq's game was horizontal opposed to vertical and let's not pretend Shaq wasn't crazy athletic anyway. It wasn't until his early 30s that he started to lose his athleticism and, because of his bulk, was able to play til he was almost 40.

It makes me think a lot of you guys didnt see Shaq play... only as an older man.

-Smak

[eliteballer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EefJHAWigvY&t=6m00s

Athleticism is something Shaq has never had an issue with....

[fatboy11]

By "bulking up", you mean "getting fat", correct?

[AlphaWolf24]

Shaq was the most dominant player ever. In 2000-2003 when he weighed close to 370 and was still agile and athletic, he could not be stopped. Period. Those who say Kobe was the catalyst and reason the Lakers won those titles know nothing about basketball. Shaq could have won those three rings with Ray Allen or any other viable 2 guard. That being said., they should have lost to both Portland and Sacromento those years as well with bum ass biting MJ Kobe Bryant!

Replace Shaq with a soft Euro center...= ..still 3 peatin