It was a close game with the Boston Celtics but the Miami Heat’s disastrous early season continues. The final score was 91-92, with Dwyane Wade back in the lineup. It is not a slow transition back into playing. In the Boston game, Dwyane Wade put in thirty eight minutes.
The pressure is clearly on Shaquille O’Neal. Dwyane Wade is calling out to Shaq, through the media:
“…”Probably this year more so than any year I have been more vocal with Shaq, talking to him and trying to motivate him,” Wade told reporters on Thursday. “But the main thing is Shaq has got to be self-motivated. He has got to be willing and ready to do it.””
link: Wade calls on Shaq to lead Heat out of tailspin
That is so close to saying that motivational issues are in play. There are some suggestions that Shaq should be traded and that the Miami Heat start rebuilding now. Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy on ESPN, has an evil suggestion:
“…only one thing could ignite Shaq’s career at this point: The Lakers appeasing Kobe by making a panic offer for Shaq (Andrew Bynum, Vlad Radmanovic and Kwame Brown’s expiring contract), followed by Shaq and Kobe joining forces again on a suddenly intriguing Lakers team.”
link: Part 2: Top grade now goes to the C’s
Intriguing? Can you imagine Shaq and Kobe back together again? Even the thought of that suggestion has to make you smile…
Catherine Forsythe
[tag]nba, dwyane wade, shaquille o’neal, trade, miami heat, l.a. lakers, bill simmons[/tag]