Quote:
Originally Posted by Alcoholiday
You can't really say that shaq rode the coattails. How many rings did they win without shaq? They needed an inside force, and it seemed like shaq was the missing puzzle piece.
|
Without trying to completely hijack this thread, as the voice of the Heat on this forum I feel compelled to clear that statement up.
You cant say the lack of an inside presence was the reason the heat never won a ring before shaq got here. All those years when they had a championship team in the 90s and couldnt make it out of the east they had Zo. Zo was a multiple Defensive player of the year and in the top 5 in scoring of the league at the time so that argument is moot.
Again, before shaq when the team was pretty pathetic for a few years, a lotto pick at number 5 brought D-Wade. The heat made it to the playoffs that year and were taking down in a game 7. The next year shaq got there, they, lost in a game 7 in the East finals.
The next year shaqs numbers were dramatically down in all categories mainly GPs. Was shaq the missing peice? no. The year they were one game away from the finals, and the next year they won they had a completely re hauled roster. Riles got allot of flack when he added J will, Twan. Po Z and Payton. The missing piece of the puzzle was a vet point guard, SF, and a stronger bench.
Not saying shaq didnt have a role, but he was not the missing piece. It also didnt hurt that Wade averaged 34 a game in the finals, and over 42 at home in those three games.
.....and im spent