Shaq: Dwight couldn't handle LA

[HammerDown]

"It was expected," Shaq said. "We've all been in LA, and not a whole lot of people can handle being under the bright lights. Everybody wants to do it, but when you get there, there are certain pressures. I think it was a safe move for him to go to a little town like Houston. That's right, little town. I said it."

Shaquille O'Neal blasts Dwight Howard, says Los Angeles spotlight was too big - ESPN

 

[TexasMan]

Never seen a little town with 5 million people in it.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

I agree with the big man!

 

[RobToxin]

All I remember is that "little town" sweeping Shaq's fat ass right out of the 95 NBA Finals.

 

[TexasMan]

All I remember is that "little town" sweeping Shaq's fat ass right out of the 95 NBA Finals.

He still mad

 

[MarkOU]

Obviously he means the bright lights of a p..orno shoot. Other than that media pressure depends on be player, no the city. Shaq is a retard.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Howard couldnt even handle of Kobe. No one in Houston will be as hard on him like Kobe was. LA and Kobe scared his ass off.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Shaq being a douche here.

So sick of retired players taking cheap shots at current players, be positive people. Shaq, you are better than this.

I do think Shaq usually means to be helpful but this is a cheap shot which is weird considering I do not care what he says I doubt he likes Kobe.

 

[JDM]

Obviously he means the bright lights of a p..orno shoot. Other than that media pressure depends on be player, no the city. Shaq is a retard.

I strongly disagree. The player has a big role in how much attention they get, but so does where they play. Not every team gets covered equally.

 

[RobToxin]

Howard couldnt even handle of Kobe. No one in Houston will be as hard on him like Kobe was. LA and Kobe scared his ass off.

Neither could Shaq. That's why he ran to Miami.

 

[Flauge]

LA didnt scare Dwight. La fans are getting borderline retarded right now. Dwight didnt stay in LA for two reasons. 1. Kobe runs the team. 2. The coach sucks. Neither of those two things are changing.

It wasnt the pressure in LA. This is stupid. Like somehow it was the pressure of LA that led to them sucking this year. Howard doesnt want to be #2. Howard wants a coach.

3 days ago LA had banners on the staples center and billboards across the city. Today they say they dont want him. Sour grapes.

 

[Flauge]

I strongly disagree. The player has a big role in how much attention they get, but so does where they play. Not every team gets covered equally.

this is true. teams definitely get covered differently. but houston will get covered a ton more now that dwight is there. miami is the most covered team in the league right now... the lights are a little brighter in south beach than hollywood these days.

 

[MarkOU]

I strongly disagree. The player has a big role in how much attention they get, but so does where they play. Not every team gets covered equally.

So Lebron had no pressure in Cleveland?

I don't buy it. Pressure comes to the player. Maybe a bench guy gets more pressure due to the team but Howard is a big name. He will get pressure wherever.

LA fans and homers will support you though in order to justify themselves. How could a big time player reject LA? Ooh the humanity.

 

[starbigd]

So Lebron had no pressure in Cleveland?

I don't buy it. Pressure comes to the player. Maybe a bench guy gets more pressure due to the team but Howard is a big name. He will get pressure wherever.

LA fans and homers will support you though in order to justify themselves. How could a big time player reject LA? Ooh the humanity.

LOL THIS

Every player that turns them down "just can't handle it!!!!!"

I don't think their fanbase can stand the thought that people can turn down the Lakers........I mean EVERYONE MUST want to play there, right?

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Pressure does come to the player but the player can minimize it.

In one case we have LBJ in cleveland where it was dumped on him but he was still very active in the media (and said some stupid shit). The pressure only grew and a LOT was due to him being the best in the world and with out a Rang yet, MJ went through the exact same shit. We loved MJ because his GM was smart enough to hire PJ and get Pippen. LBJ had to assemble his own team, the coach keeps getting better. He is what the media has created but he has shut it down this year. He is in hardly any commercials and didn't have a phone through the playoffs this year.

In the other case we have Durant, the anti hero. We barely talk about OKC and Durant. 2 Reasons, he lost in the finals and doesn't buy into all that media bullshit hype. He would never have an ESPN hour show even for charity, he would just silently donate the money. He is the anti hero, he is the dark night. I wish LBJ could steal his PR guy...or mom.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

LA didnt scare Dwight. La fans are getting borderline retarded right now. Dwight didnt stay in LA for two reasons. 1. Kobe runs the team. 2. The coach sucks. Neither of those two things are changing.

It wasnt the pressure in LA. This is stupid. Like somehow it was the pressure of LA that led to them sucking this year. Howard doesnt want to be #2. Howard wants a coach.

3 days ago LA had banners on the staples center and billboards across the city. Today they say they dont want him. Sour grapes.

You see, if you pay attention, it was Lakers front office who put those banners up and LA fans hated them. So there's no flip flopping going on. The majority of people in LA either didnt care if he left, or wanted him to leave. We wouldve been happy he stayed, but you rarely seen or heard a fan begging him to stay.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

LOL THIS

Every player that turns them down "just can't handle it!!!!!"

I don't think their fanbase can stand the thought that people can turn down the Lakers........I mean EVERYONE MUST want to play there, right?

Our chances are greater than any other team. Dont get carried away because of this one time.

 

[JDM]

So Lebron had no pressure in Cleveland?

I don't buy it. Pressure comes to the player. Maybe a bench guy gets more pressure due to the team but Howard is a big name. He will get pressure wherever.

LA fans and homers will support you though in order to justify themselves. How could a big time player reject LA? Ooh the humanity.

He would have more pressure in Boston or LA than he did in Cleveland or Miami. I clearly stated the player brings pressure as well, but the city plays a solid role.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

this is true. teams definitely get covered differently. but houston will get covered a ton more now that dwight is there. miami is the most covered team in the league right now... the lights are a little brighter in south beach than hollywood these days.

The Lakers were the most covered team in the league. From the beginning of Mike Brown getting fired to the end when Kobe got hurt. There was drama in Laker Land all year from injuries, howard vs mike D, howard vs kobe, mike d system, jim buss vs phil, will lakers make playoffs, etc. Media love drama, and the Lakers had the most of it. I can only remember the Heat start getting serious media attention, when they went on their win streak.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Our chances are greater than any other team. Dont get carried away because of this one time.

Long term of course it goes LA, NYK (inexplicably), Boston...but right now, it is MFK MIAMI BABY!!!

He would have more pressure in Boston or LA than he did in Cleveland or Miami. I clearly stated the player brings pressure as well, but the city plays a solid role.

I know what you are saying, and my the logical side says yes this is true, but the reality part of my wonders how could it have been possible?