37 year-old Shaq is not Superman

[Elmore Furth]

I know Shaq has a superman tatoo but he also has a 37 year-old body. The spirit is willing but the body fails. Phil Jackson, where is the Zen?

Expectations in Cleveland have been inflated following the pre-season acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal from Phoenix but last year's beaten Eastern Conference finalists have so far failed to find fluency with the 37-year-old in the team.
The Cavs lost 95-89 to the Boston Celtics on the opening night yesterday and their second defeat was inflicted despite LeBron James posting the 25th triple-double of his career (21 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists). Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors with 28 points while Chris Bosh added 21 points and 16 boards.
The Celtics added to their opening-night win with a typically strong defensive display to dominate the Charlotte Bobcats 92-59 in their home opener. Ray Allen led five Celtic scorers in double figures with 18 points.


Shaquille O'Neal fails to kick-start Cavaliers as they suffer second loss

[joeybee12]

1. With Shaq, the Cavs are no longer contenders...

...he slows them down...not a good fit, and, as you note, he's 37...he doesn't have one good year left...they're all behind him.

[JonLP24]

2. You don't write teams off after 3 games

The Cavaliers do have to figure out a way to incorporate him in to their offense without slowing him down and they will. He does provide defense against those big centers that Cleveland struggled with in the past but they will find a way to use him and not slow them down. You realize teams usually go 'big' or 'small' in a course of a game and the thing about Shaq and his size he helps other forwards because of his size attracting the defenders.

The reason you don't write off teams in 13 games is because the Phoenix Suns started 0-13 in '96-'97 and Boston's lovable Danny Ainge turned them around and made the playoffs.

[joeybee12]

3. didn't you mean to put "lovable" in quotes?

Eh, I'm writing them off!