<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHILADELPHIA - When the Heat was winning a franchise-best 14 consecutive games from Dec. 6 to Jan. 1, there was no reason for players to find blame, send veiled messages or worry about the mind-set of others in the locker room. But 11 games -- and six losses -- later, the rose-tinted glasses are long gone, and frustration is oozing its way through the locker room as the Heat tries to figure out how it has gone from great to barely mediocre in a span of three weeks. The Heat lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 106-98 on Monday at the Wachovia Center as Allen Iverson scored 45 points with 11 assists, leading a Sixers team that scored 27 points in transition and shot 39 free throws. But it wasn't Iverson's 45 points or Samuel Dalembert's 11 rebounds, three blocks and three alley-oop finishes or Kyle Korver's 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals that the Heat was dissecting after the game.</div> Source
He didn't criticize Eddie Jones. He said guys are expected to hit the outside shot when they have an open shot due to a double team. He didn't call out any particular individual publicly, so let's not make it into something it's not.
Somebody needs to criticize somebody we have lost 6 of the past 11 games! I got my fingers crossed hoping for some type of trade to push this team in the right direction.
...And so it begins. Shaq needs to shut up and stop making things worse. It doesn't matter who the team is, it's a long season and every team will eventually hit a rut along the way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">He didn't criticize Eddie Jones. He said guys are expected to hit the outside shot when they have an open shot due to a double team. He didn't call out any particular individual publicly, so let's not make it into something it's not.</div> Well the article was titled 'Shaq criticizes Jones.' Let's face it, Shaq has not been a fan of Eddie Jones since they were both Lakers. He's been outspoken about his criticism of Jones, and it's obvious his latest rant is directed towards Jones. The latest lost to the 76ers left a bad taste in his mouth after Dalembert rejected one of his dunks, and Iverson couldn't be stopped, dropping 45 points on the Heat. I think Shaq should worry about his own game, and try to make more of an effort rebounding the ball and of course making his free throws. He actually got outrebounded by Eddie Jones 6 to 5, and Shaq shot 6 for 17 from the charity stripe in a close game.
If he's criticising the team about not hitting their outside looks, surely he'd be talking about Damon Jones? He has been a real funk lately and when you consider 80% of his FGs are from beyond the arc, that would seemingly make more sense.
Shaq should have been criticizing him earlier in the season. Eddie has played TERRIBLE this season for a player with a contract his size. Here's what Shaq said: 'We have to make `Flash' look good,'' O'Neal said of Wade. ``It doesn't matter if he's 100 percent or not. When he cuts in the lane and draws and kicks, you have to hit the shot. ``Some of the guys on this team have to take it personal. When your man leaves you to go double on somebody, you have to take it personal. Because other teams are hitting shots when we double, so you have to hit shots.'' Clearly, he is talking about Eddie Jones. He shouldn't be shooting at a career low FG% with Shaq and Wade on the floor giving him open looks. Same with Damon Jones lately. He has been cold from the 3 in the last two weeks.
This is classic Shaq, he has to cry out through the media against his teammates, instead of dealing with his frustrations in the locker room. Get used to it Heat fans. I especially enjoyed this part of the article. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But O'Neal's opinions certainly are not the consensus among the team. There are some in the organization that believe O'Neal could play with a more consistent effort, and that a more active O'Neal on both ends of the floor would help make up for any shooting woes. </div>
Shaq has been a moody leader his entire life. He keeps saying good things when his team is winning and when he's happy, but watch out when the team is losing because he's starting to point his fingers at everybody else except himself.
