| A Hired Gun Now Shaq's Legacy? Authored by Brandon Hoffman - February 7, 2008 - 6:42 pm
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While falling short of "guaranteeing" a title in Phoenix, Shaquille O'Neal gave thanks to Pat Riley for allowing him to get his fifth and sixth rings in the Valley Of The Sun.
I saw a look in Shaq's eyes that I haven't seen since his championship season in Miami. That's a scary thought for the rest of the Western Conference. The mind is willing. The question is whether the body will follow.
Once again, the media has tugged on Superman's cape. Does The Diesel have enough left in the tank to make everyone "eat their words" yet again?
Will this stint in Phoenix define Shaq's legacy as much as his previous 4 rings have?
After all, this is the second time in 6 years that he's won an NBA championship, only to be shown the door 2 years later.
And why was he shown the door each time?
Because both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat chose to build around their superstar shooting guards. In large part because the man in the middle had become a shell of his former self.
"We simply looked at the big picture, where we are today, and we need to build around Dwyane," Riley said. "And everything we do now, moving forward is about building around Dwyane."
Isn't that what the Lakers chose to do with Kobe Bryant four years ago? The Lakers are now a legitimate NBA championship contender. Miami is a lottery team fighting to put together a competitive roster that can convince their franchise player to remain in South Beach.
Wasn't the future of his franchise one of Jerry Buss' primary concerns when choosing Kobe over Shaq?
Both the Lakers and Heat decided that the self-proclaimed "Most Dominant Ever" was no longer worth the investment due to his failure to remain committed to the game.
Shaq has become nothing more than a hired gun.
There doesn't appear to be too many tears shed in Miami over the loss of the man that delivered the franchise's only NBA championship.
Dwyane Wade went so far as to call Shaq out earlier this season for his lack of effort. After the Heat began the season 1-7, Wade said:
"Probably this year more so than any year I have been more vocal with Shaq, talking to him and trying to motivate him. But the main thing is Shaq has got to be self-motivated. He has got to be willing and ready to do it."
"Even though he is not getting the ball as much as he wants, we need him to help lead this team in other ways, whether it's rebounding the ball or passing the ball the way he knows how to pass," Wade said. "He's our leader, [along] with myself. When you hear about the Miami Heat, it's Shaq and D-Wade. A lot is on us to lead the team and we have got to find a way to do it."
When pressed to comment yesterday on the possibility of Shaq being sent to Phoenix Wade said:
"I don't have any reaction yet because I don't know the truth yet,'' Wade said Wednesday morning. "So until the truth comes out, I can't really react to it."
That doesn't sound like a player unwilling to part with the man who delivered him his one NBA championship? Where's the loyalty? Shouldn't he have vetoed the trade?
Didn't Pat Riley run this one by his franchise player? You bet he did and Wade did the right thing, he approved the trade. Just like a certain superstar guard in Los Angeles did 4 years earlier.
This is not what Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat organization had in mind when they traded for one of the 10 greatest players of all-time 4 years ago. They expected to be perennial contenders and play into June for the next 5 seasons. Not win one title, be swept in the first round the following season, and be a lottery team the season after that.
Unfortunately, Shaq let them down. Just like he let the Lakers down. Yes, he delivered one NBA championship to the Heat but was that ONE NBA championship worth a $100 million dollar investment and the possibility of losing their franchise player? Apparently not.
And yes, he delivered 3 NBA championships in Los Angeles but his lack of physical fitness and commitment tore apart that dynasty as much as his feud with Kobe Bryant did.
So this is what Shaquille O'Neal's career has come to.
Can the hired gun deliver one more time before riding off into the sunset or will he overstay his welcome once again? |
