Diesel Running on Fumes
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by user BigPPup
Last night Shaquille O'Neal began his sixth tour of duty (hard to believe he’s been around that long) in the NBA Finals, but this time around it’s a little different for the Diesel. In his previous trips the Big Daddy’s teams have rode on his broad shoulders all the way to and through the finals. Three of those previous five trips O’Neal have been able to come through with a championship for his teammates. The two failed attempts where due to extraordinary circumstances where the Daddy and company simply ran up against a better team, (see Houston Rockets, 1995 and Detroit Pistons, 2004).
This year, it is different. In the past Shaq has been a dominate performer who was capable of putting up 30 plus points, and snagging 12 plus rebounds a game for every game of the series. The Diesel was always able to shift into an extra gear come playoff time to lift his team.
After watching last nights game, I am seriously beginning to doubt that the Diesel is capable of finding that extra gear anymore.
Ever since his escape from L.A. there have been discussions that O’Neal is too old, and too out of shape to be the force he once was. Much like Shaq, the same was said when Michael Jordan tried his comeback with the Washington Wizards. “39 aint 29” and now at age 34 Shaq is finding that out first hand.
But this is all stuff we knew; we just always felt O’Neal could overcome his age, and fatiguing body because of the addition of Dwayne Wade into his life. Flash provided Flash a legitimate option he could defer to when in need. Wade is a growing star who can produce 30 points a game and take it over in his own right. That’s exactly what Shaquille needed someone who could take the pressure off him. That was the formula the Heat rode to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and it brought them to the NBA Finals this season, but it will not be enough to get them over that final hump. The Miami Heat needs a dose of the old Shaquille O’Neal.
In the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat has met a formidable opponent. The Mavericks are a team that matches up well with the Heat, and is capable of doing a lot of things better than the Heat. Dallas has outstanding guard play from the back court. We all saw what Jason Terry is capable of doing. In Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas has a 7 foot 2/3 man who can do almost anything. Josh Howard is another capable swing man for the Mavs. This post season they have proven the ability to play breakneck fast break basketball as they did against the Phoenix Suns, and they played slow down half court offense against the San Antonio Spurs. On paper, the Mavericks are too much for the Heat to handle (as seen last night) except for at one position, center.
The Miami Heat needs the Diesel. He is the difference maker; Dallas like most every team over the past fourteen seasons has an answer for him. Diop and Dampier are solid seven footers, but there is no way they can contain the Shaquille O’Neal of old, and that’s what the Miami Heat needs the Shaq of yesteryear. There was a time (2001) when Shaquille threw one of the best 7 foot defenders (Dikembe Mutombo) all around the court and buried him in the NBA Finals. If Miami wants to win a championship they need that sort of performance out of the Diesel.
In game 1 Shaquille O’Neal had a solid performance putting up 17 pts, and brought down 7 rebounds. This would be a respectable showing for the average center, but not for the Diesel, and especially when his team holds the edge at that position. The center position is the one point of contention that the Miami Heat can dominate at, and they must dominate that position or be run out the building. Game 1 proved that Shaq cannot defer to Wade. He needs to be the Diesel of old. He calls himself the LTC (last true center) now its time to play like it, or this will be his last true chance at a title.
Date
Fri 06/09/06, 11:41 am EST
