If Shaq Plays, Is He a Liar?

Let's face it, it has been on all of our minds.

I remember when we first traded for Shaq, members were joining our boards and screaming Shaq is a cancer and he will destroy our franchise. They were obviously siding with Kobe and whether or not it was self delusion - to deal with losing the most dominant center of his era (if not all time) - remains to be seen. Still, we were not inclined to believe them just because we gave up a lovable, young nucleus in Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant just for the chance at winning a title with Shaq.

So we win the title, everyone is excited and calling for a repeat. "Uno mas" was more than just a chant to get Zo to stick with it and play another season. Yet, everything quickly fell apart. Some attribute it to a team with too many injuries - the championship starting unit did not play but a handful of games together after that magical 2005-2006 season and it was shut down at the start of this season when it was apparent a change was needed.

But was Shaq really the problem all along?

I have contended in the past that the trade for Shaq may have been too high - it cost us a very good group of young players but it also cost us the coaching talent of Stan Van Gundy, who basically resigned because Shaq was tuning him out and undermining his authority as coach (Gary Payton, too).

I am glad to see that I am not the only one thinking this way. In fact, some even want to use this as a way to call out Shaq. Our friends over at Sportech started talking about this recently pointing out Bill Walton's rant on Shaq.



Basically, is Shaq's injury for real or conveniently timed? Regardless, paying a guy $20M a season and having him play basically every other game is not helping matters. The Heat, out of necessity, had to deal Shaq and move on. The guy has missed 115 games over the past three seasons! And without major surgery.

It is intriguing though to consider, if Shaq all of a sudden is playing for the Suns and scoring 20 a game and putting in effort on both ends of the floor, what should the Heat and its fans think? In Shaq's defense, the Heat didn't have enough consistent scorers around him (outside of Wade) to really warrant taking the punishment each night. He definitely is going to be rejuventated playing with Steve Nash and his haircut, the jet-like Leandro Barbosa and a tough guy like Raja Bell. Not to mention he has Amare Stoudamire at his back.

Why wouldn't Shaq change his tune? Could we really blame him?

Tell us how you feel. Burn us.