Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:15 pm EST

Bill Walton and Shaquille O'Neal exchange zingers

By J.E. Skeets

I'm a little torn on this one.

On the one hand, Bill Walton sort of has a point. (Whoa, that felt weird to type.) Are we really supposed to believe that Shaquille O’Neal is all of a sudden healthy and ready to lead a team to a title just because he drank a 'lil cactus juice in the desert? That stuff must be awfully potent.

On the other hand ... well, yeah, good point, Shaq. Walton missed something close to like 350 games in his career. He really shouldn’t be the one commenting on other people’s injuries.

But hey, what do you think? Whose side are you on? Let's make teams and fight!

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31 Comments

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  1. Brian P
    1. Posted by Brian P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    im sorry your a joke of a writer. bill walton missed games on winning teams. his injuries were legit. whats goin on with shaq is on a losing team he cant play but gets traded and is healthy. all nba players do this now. look at gasol and his back its all the sudden great and he can play. whats the real topic. come on your a waste of internet space
  2. J.E. Skeets
    2. Posted by J.E. Skeets Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    I am internet space!!!!!!
    /dick smothers
  3. matty k
    3. Posted by matty k Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    Dear Brian P,
    If YOU'RE going to trash someone for being a poor writer, please know the difference between YOUR and YOU'RE. Also if you could complete a sentence that would be great, thanks.
    Anywho, I hope this ends up like Deion Sanders, Tim McCarver.
  4. matty k
    4. Posted by matty k Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    dear brian p,
    if you're going to trash someone for being a poor writer, please know the difference between your and you're. also if you could complete a sentence that would be great, thanks.
    anywho, i hope this ends up like deion sanders, tim mccarver.
  5. chillin
    5. Posted by chillin Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    Oh ok so a guy who is 7-2 325 lb. and averaged over 25 ppg and 11 boards and won 4 NBA titles is being criticized because he has missed some games in his like 15th season in the league by people who have never played the game? Bill Walton might be able to criticize the man (maybe), but any other NBA fan shouldn't be saying anything about the character of probably the best center ever.
  6. Phil M
    6. Posted by Phil M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    Chillin, Shaq isn't the best center ever. Maybe top-5, but not top-3.
    Brian P, Walton didn't have to play through injuries on losing teams....they were winning teams and you cannot compare today to back then because back then, they played for a living. Shaq already makes enough money to retire. Its a different issue.
    Bill Walton, with all due respect.....you could be right, but you could also be very wrong here. Let it play out and go from there.
    I doubt the Suns make it past the second round this year, even with a healthy shaq.
  7. Michaelc
    7. Posted by Michaelc Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Walton is right. Shaq was dogging it in Miami, isn't that obvious? I don't care who is the better center. Walton's got a pretty good resume, and dogging it on losing teams to get a buy-out or trade to a contender is not on it.
    Either Shaq is done or he let "motivation issues" get the better of him in Miami. Those are the options. Walton's injuries have nothing to do with that.
  8. Alan C
    8. Posted by Alan C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Shaq doesn't even try to answer Walton's questions, he immediately goes for the personal attack. Thats what people do when they have something to hide
  9. Ric R
    9. Posted by Ric R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    IMHO, both sides are guilty here. However, I watched a couple of games when Bill Walton was broadcasting... Oh boy, there was one stupid thing after another! I am glad, that someone called Walton on what he said!
  10. Frank
    10. Posted by Frank Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    So basically Shaq's response is that only Bill Russell, Kareem and Wilt (RIP) can criticize him?
  11. JMVandal (Formerly James M)
    11. Posted by JMVandal (Formerly James M) Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    I agree with Shaq. His resume speaks for itself. I wish the "Knick's broadcasting crew" would have snapped back at Walton last Sunday when he criticized them for discussing which numbers should be retired.
  12. jabbs
    12. Posted by jabbs Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Walton is the worst announce there is, if you ever really listen to him he talks bad about anyone when they are down but the minute they are doing great again he acts like he knew they were going to be doing great and that he is the players best friend, You watch if the suns win a championship, walton will be the first in line to jump on that bandwagon!!!!
  13. Dik Steele
    13. Posted by Dik Steele Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Walton is just playing the part of a scared Laker fan, instead of a non biased reporter. He has a personal stake in the Lakers winning a ring because of Junior. Why would any commentator want a player to remain on the injured list forever? Yes, lets not forget the miraculous improvement in Pau Gasol's back. The hysterical reaction of Laker fans to the Shaq trade is unbelievable.
  14. Howard M
    14. Posted by Howard M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    Hurricaine you are right on . But his comments have merit .But 99 out of 100 players or coaches for that matter , , would mail it in if they were in the situation that is the heat . BUT give Shaq credit he is crafty and down right sharp in his coconut, point Shaq !!
  15. scott s
    15. Posted by scott s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Chilin,
    Shaq is the best center ever? He's not even in the top 5.
    1. Wilt
    2. Russell
    3. Kareem
    4. Parrish
    5. Hakeem
  16. scott s
    16. Posted by scott s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Chilin,
    Shaq is the best center ever? He's not even in the top 5.
    1. Wilt
    2. Russell
    3. Kareem
    4. Parrish
    5. Hakeem
  17. bobby
    17. Posted by bobby Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    dude shaqs gone suck up in the desert cuz the man aint 30 yrs old no more he washed up and just wanna win another ring by leaching off the suns and then say in ya face kobe bryant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111
  18. kennydust
    18. Posted by kennydust Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    TWISM BABY!
    Shaq is an idiot, period.
  19. bubuli
    19. Posted by bubuli Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:31 pm EDT

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    desperation city in phoenix. i am disappointed with kerr. i thought he's a student of popovich. and d'antoni played along with him. all they need is to have that team play good defense. their fans shout it loud during games. defense! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!!!
  20. Kevin L
    20. Posted by Kevin L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    haha skeets said dick smoother.. keep writing skeets
  21. hans k
    21. Posted by hans k Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    We will see. All this speculation.. When he's healthy, he still is a dominant force in the paint.
  22. Ray Ray
    22. Posted by Ray Ray Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:30 pm EDT

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    smothers is close just one change Ewing is 5.
    wilt
    kareem
    russell
    shaq
    ewing or hakeem, not robinson
  23. Ray Ray
    23. Posted by Ray Ray Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:30 pm EDT

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    suns will be fine and either way i think they'll go as far as they would have reguardless of the deal. they both do things the other dont. when is a fastbreak 5 on 4 anyway. the other four should have no problem running.
  24. Daniel J
    24. Posted by Daniel J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    i think shaq's sense of humor is getting a little outdated.

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