Shaq All-Star, originally uploaded by shaqattaq.net.
That's right, the Daddy. Number 45, after being 43rd on my list last year. How does the MDE (arguably) drop so low? Well, he's 37. He's teaming with the MDNow. And he stole Steve Nash's idea and got himself a TV show. After a renaissance of sorts last year, the Witnesses may think Shaq's poised for another strong year. Doubtful. Phoenix's physical training staff has resuscitated half a dozen careers, all that they've attempted except for Penny Hardaway who, unlike Grant Hill and Steve Nash un-wisely left the Suns. I really don't think Shaq's going to look pretty come the 2010 playoffs. Almost like that pink bikini bottom.
The Skinny: Shaq's an aging superstar. He's cultivated a reputation with the move to Cleveland as the Great Facilitator, helping young wing men achieve their due successes (and young blogging men their ingulgent capitalizations). The question going into this season is whether he's focused or not. "Hey Shaq, wanna host Monday Night Raw and bumrush the White House?" "Why not." He looked focused in Phoenix (say that three times fast), but not on bettering his team or supposed protege Ama're Stoudamire. I don't think the Lebron train can be stopped, but I also don't think Shaq will be the contributor he was even last year.
Why he's #45: Maybe he won't even contribute enough to be considered for a list like this at the end of the season. Still, you can't discount Shaq's presence or his abilities. He didn't look like he could jump two inches when the Heat got swept out of the playoffs, but that wasn't the case last year. Diesel can still play. He still has great footwork, when he remembers to execute. Hopefully, the Cavs coaching staff is smart enough to utilize him a bit more effectively than did Phoenix's. Why is he this high? Because you never know, and he could pull out all the stops and go gangbusters on the season.
56156683AB_DNA039485095, originally uploaded by shaqattaq.net.
I got a little sidetracked. The point is, Shaq could play very well this season. He's looked fairly fit strutting his stuff the last few months. Why, then, is he not higher on this list? Because you never know with Shaq. He could throw up a big, big brick this season and pull an Iverson next year after his current deal is up. If not for the Phoenix trainers, Shaq very well could've been out of the league by now.
