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Protecting LeBron, helping Cavs win title O'Neal's goals
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Jul 03, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: If Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard's ears were burning Thursday afternoon, it shouldn't have been a surprise. His name came up a couple of times during Shaquille O'Neal's introductory news conference with the Cavaliers.
O'Neal, the 7-foot-1, 325-pound goliath whom the Cavs acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns two weeks ago, isn't prepared to cede any crown to Howard, the big man most pro basketball observers consider to be the best center in the league.
''I'm still here. I'm a force to be reckoned. . . . He'll have to come take my spot,'' O'Neal said when asked about Howard.
If there were any doubts about the attitude O'Neal was bringing to Cleveland in the final year of a contract that will pay him $20 million this season, he summarily squashed them.
''I'm going to come in excellent shape, be ready to go,'' he said. ''Mike [Brown] and I had a brief conversation about what he expected from me. I'm the type of guy who doesn't really look at everyone else's expectations; I set my own a whole lot higher.''
Higher for the Cavs would be getting to the NBA Finals and winning. Last season, the Cavs, who had the best record in the league, looked as if they were breezing toward that goal before Howard and his team of sharpshooters pierced that dream.
''It takes teamwork. Obviously this team has that,'' O'Neal said when asked what it takes to attain that goal. ''As I said, this team was a damn good team before I came here.''
Sounding like a player in tune with Brown's philosophy, he said that the matchup problems that plagued the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals won't be a problem for the team again.
''Right now, we don't have any matchup issues. We will not have to double anybody,'' said Shaq, who has been a big part of four NBA championship teams. ''We will not have to double anybody. We will be playing teams straight up. Teams will have matchup issues with us.
''We will not have to double-team anybody,'' he added for a third time as he and Brown clasped hands playfully in a show of unity.
Although he averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds last season, O'Neal seemed out of place in the Suns' uptempo offense. He said he can play any style, but he'll probably be a better fit with the Cavs.
''I realize that big guys pretty much get the rebounds. So hopefully I can get rebounds and get it to Mo [Williams] and LeBron [James], as long as I get a
couple of dropoffs,'' he said. ''I'm not here to demand 40 or 50 shots — more like 30. I'm just here to help a damn good team get over the hump.''
That attitude will probably be key if O'Neal and James are going to be able to play together.
More often than not, two superstars don't mix in a locker room. Just ask Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
O'Neal said that isn't a problem, because he's never really thought of himself as a superstar.
''I can adapt to any situation,'' O'Neal said. ''It's LeBron's team, I'm not going to try to come change that. He's the captain. This is the time of my career when I can now fit in.''
He understands that he has a role on the team and he's perfectly willing to assume it. ''My job is to give [Zydrunas] Ilgauskas some comfort, give [Anderson] Varejao some comfort and we're all going to work together,'' O'Neal said. ''I'm now in the security business. My job is to protect the King.''
O'Neal might indeed feel that way, but he's not naive enough to believe that his arrival doesn't signal something more significant to Cavs fans, and he's keenly aware that means that expectations are raised.
''We definitely have all the pieces here, so there are no excuses,'' he said. ''Expectations are high and we want them to be high. . . . That's what motivates us and we'll be ready.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
INDEPENDENCE: If Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard's ears were burning Thursday afternoon, it shouldn't have been a surprise. His name came up a couple of times during Shaquille O'Neal's introductory news conference with the Cavaliers.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 07:19 AM, 07/03/2009
"protect the king"
Hhaha! Yes!
We will crack some skulls this year. I know we will be far more competitive against Orlando.
KOOKville, oh
Posted 09:55 AM, 07/03/2009
I think the other teams in the "east" know what this means. I was worried about KG coming back, or about Howard (who should only get better with age). I don't think we have to worry now. If we get another body, great, if we don't, I'm not concerned. Can't wait to see them play again. Go Cavs !!!
cuyahoga falls, OH
Posted 05:39 PM, 07/03/2009
I think it's a great trade will definitely be a plus I'm concerned about Z though.I hope Z and Shaq have talked. I also hope Brown won't forget hat Z has been on this team since being drafted and hopefully people don't forget that either. Did anybody else notice at the press conference how many white to black kids there were giving shaq his jersey. It was like 0 white boys to 3 black boys and then later when the kids came out again to throw jersey's into the crowd it was all black kids.
Toledo, Oh
Posted 07:01 AM, 07/04/2009
Whattaya expect Kojak? It's the National Brothas League.
Sagamore Hills, Oh
Posted 09:06 AM, 07/04/2009
We now have over $30Mil tied up in the Center position and we don't have a guy that can go 35 minutes a night. Also, Z usually was kept out of the final minutes for a defensive add. However, most teams that have Shaq do the same thing because the guy can't hit freebees. So, $30mil and we dont have a center that can play the last 2 minutes of the game. Danny needs to push a contract in front of McDyse before someone else does.
