Jan 14 2009
Shaq’s Back, Kinda
After being traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns last season, many people declared that Shaquille O’Neal a lost cause in the NBA. Many wondered what Shaq had left to prove in the NBA, after being the Most Dominant Player for about 10 years.
He had proved everyone wrong before, when he won three straight championships with the Los Angeles Lakers after no one believed a center could lead a team to a championship. After that, his career was thought to be on the decline and was traded to Miami.
What did Shaq have left to prove there? Only that the Lakers were wrong, and he won a fourth championship and first for the Heat franchise. A year after that, the Heat decided to bet against O’Neal still having anything left in the tank and dumped him onto the Suns.
At that point, it seemed like even Shaq doubted himself, as the Suns put together a lack-luster performance in the Playoffs. This seemed to set-up the Final season for Shaq this year, in which he would come out for a few minutes a game just for a quick wave.
Maybe we are all wrong again, as of late O’Neal has been playing like he has got that swagger back in his step. Shaq is not going to be the Shaq that was on the Lakers, but he still can play and dominate from time to time which is great for the NBA.
Just last night against the Atlanta Hawks, Shaq put up another great game as he scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and 2 assists. This season Shaq is averaging 17.7 points per game with 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, which is astounding for being written off this year, another “told you so” moment for Shaquille O’Neal.
J.M.Saucedo
