It’s bad enough being down 0-2 to the Mavericks. Now, the Heat have to listen to the self-proclaimed 2nd best center in the Western Conference reminding the world he’s not afraid of Shaquille O’Neal. From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Jeff Kaplan.
After Game 2, when Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop, along with a ferocious double-team, limited O’Neal to a career-playoff low five points on five shots, Dampier questioned the Heat’s insistence before the game that they simply needed to get O’Neal more touches to be successful.
”We went back and watched the game,” Dampier said. “I think he got 30 touches and 12 times he passed it out. How many more times does he want to touch the ball?
“Regardless of what they do, we are going to make the adjustments.”
It will be O’Neal and the Heat in need of adjusting for tonight’s must-win Game 3 at AmericanAirlines Arena. In the first two games, O’Neal has averaged 11 points, eight shot attempts and 6.5 rebounds.
Dampier has countered with averages of seven points on 5-of-7 shooting, 10 rebounds — including a playoff-high 13 total and four of the team’s nine offensive boards in Game 2 — and he has done it without getting into detrimental foul trouble.
As long as their numbers are similar, it’s bad news for the Heat. Dampier’s points are gravy; O’Neal’s are critical.
The Association’s Brett Edwards cites O’Neal’s postgame disappearing act Sunday night as a big disappointment ; “I love it when we get meltdowns from a player or coach, but Shaq wouldn’t give us the satisfaction.”
Washington’s 2002 draft selection Juan Carlos Navarro is supposedly interested in playing in the NBA, a development that Wizznutzz’ Daily Bacon correspondent Lamont Trellington is right on top of.
La Bomba has been described as a “poor man’s Juan Dixon,” which has everyone at the Wizznutzz HQ trembling with a healthy blend of excitement and nihilism. Let’s say La Bomba currently spends approximately 2 hours per day on washing and cleaning rituals and obsesses about his fears for about the same length of time. After the move to Washington, La Bomba may begin washing and cleaning approximately 4 hours per day, and his obsessive thoughts could increase at the same rate.