Tired of tired Shaq

Enough is enough. I am sick of hearing about the bruised thigh, the lack of lateral quickness. Blah, blah, blah. These are all excuses at this point.

Shaq, where is the champion that the Heat thought they were getting when they made that trade almost a season ago? Sure, we know - we got the #1 seed in the East and home court throughout the playoffs (until the Finals). But you seemed to appear when it didn't matter. Now that it does matter, where did you go?

Shaq dropped in a very lethargic performance in Game 4 against the Pistons. I am tired of hearing about his bruised thighs - people shouldn't talk publicly about a grown man's thighs anyway. That injury occured back in April. In APRIL.

Now, I am not going to be insensitive here. I am sure Shaq's injury is legit and that it is affecting his ability to play at his customary level of dominance. We know. But that isn't the point and in fact, that isn't going to create more points.

Shaq is a very large man. Groups of people disappear when they go behind him. He is so massive, he can actually cause an eclipse. Bruised thigh or not, Shaq, you can still box out. Do it. If you cant beat your man for the rebound, at least prevent him from getting anywhere near the rebound. Let Haslem and the others do the dirty work.

In 25 minutes in Game 4, Shaq had 12 points and 5 rebounds. He was 4-9 from the field. The efficiency is there for the offense, but the defensive intensity and ability to control the paint is not. 5 rebounds Shaq could find in his couch. I could get 5 rebounds. EJ had 10 himself.

In fact, for the series, Shaq has gone over 20 points only twice and eclipsed the double digits in rebounds once - during Game 3 with his 10 rebound performance.

Shaq's stats are down in almost every category this postseason run from his previous seasons. He is averaging 18.1 points per game and only 7.5 rebounds per contest. That is terrible by Shaq's standards. Elden Campbell could do that.

At a time of year when Shaq is supposed to be stepping up his game, he seems to only be stepping short. He isn't putting the energy and aggressiveness into getting good position in the paint like he can. Ben Wallace and anyone else the Pistons decide to throw at Shaq still have no chance to this point despite the fact that Shaq is injured. Or is he just tanking it?

That may work against the New Jerseys and Washingtons of the world, but not against the defending world champs. You have to knock them out, and right now Shaq is sissy-slapping. With one hand behind his back. His play is equivalent to using a b-b gun to shoot down a nuclear missle.

Shaq, if you want to prove that Dr. Buss was wrong, now is the time.

If you want to prove Kobe wrong, now is the time.

If you want to get that big money contract and prove everyone who doubts you are worth that kind of money, now is the time.

Enough of the tired Shaq. Enough of puttering around low on Diesel fuel. Just enough. Now is the time to reach down inside yourself and find that championship fire that you always talk about. Now is the time to rise to the occasion and lead this team to victory. Because as much as you say this is Dwyane Wade's team and as much as the media wants to believe that, this team is not going anywhere unless you start flexing your muscles and throwing Piston defenders around like you were on a wrestling mat.

If you need anymore motivation, think back to last year when these same Pistons took it to you and beat you. Now is the time to prove them wrong, too.