shaq's success?

Question

Anyone else here think that Shaq would of never won a ring if he didn't have a star guard all the time? First it's Penny and they make it to the finals, Then Kobe and they win 3 rings, then wade and they win a ring. Coincendence or not?

Answer 1

Yea he cant do it by himself because the other team will triple team him, but i mean the guy is just human ok so he cant beat 5 guys by himself thats understandable, He was still the main reason why all his championship teams won. Except maybe with the Heat, he didnt do as much but his presence opened up lanes for Wade.

Answer 2

Anthony,

Just about every Championship team has not only one superstar, but three to take them to that level, along with some breaks along the way.

Shaq was MVP in all three Laker runs. But Kobe was the key when they had that amazing game 7 come back agains the Blazers (along with some key threes by Horry and Fisher).

Against the Kings, we needed Horry's huge three pointer. And Kobe was every bit as crucial (esp. in overtime) in the game 7 on the road win versus the Sacramento Kings.

When the Heat won their championship not only was Wade huge! But everyone forgets Alonzo's monster defense in game 6. In fact Alonzo might have been a bigger factor than Shaq in the Heat's Championship.

Let's not take away from Shaq but all the people give Shaq the credit to discredit Kobe's role in the Lakers championships. The Truth is both guy needed the other guys like: Horry, Fisher, Fox, B. Shaw, Glen Rice, etc.

Nickster

Answer 3

Ahhh Penny was not a star after he left. In fact he
got injured since there was no big man to protect him
from getting hit.
Kobe, well he has proven how much of a team player
he is, and now blames Jerry Buss and the GM, before
it was Shaq and Phil. I guess to call him great, it would
be followed by pain in the behind.
Wade was out towards the end of season and Shaq came
backa and Miami won like 80 percent of their games to make
the playoffs and get a good seed.

Do you think Michale jordan won his titles, since he could
not win by himself until Pipen got there?

The point is great players like MJ win titles, they do have
good players like Pipen.

So if you want to say Penny/Kobe/Wade are Shaq's Pipens
I buy that. But they did not win the finals MVP 3 times.
Or the League MVP for that matter.

Answer 4

Name me a player who has won a title without a 2nd allstar or a team of good role players?

Would Jordan have one without Pippen? Would Magic have won without Kareem? Larry without Parish or McHale? Duncan without Robinson/Parker/Ginobili? The list goes on and on.

I can't remember a team that won the championship without at least two players that were good. The Pistons won with 4 good playes (not great, but all good). But again, show me a team where there was just one superstar and 14 other losers.

I mean, you can make an argument that Shaq always had good (not great) power forward (Horace Grant in Orlando, Horry in LA, Haslem in Miami)...coincidence or not? Or how about a good coach? Phil in LA and Riley in Miami? Coincidence or not?