Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  118 responses

Shaq: Still Not a Dwight Howard Fan

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Last night, Dwight Howard (19/11) won the statistical battle over Shaquille O’Neal, but it was O’Neal who ended up winning the war, as the Cavs convincingly beat Orlando yet again.

Afterward, Shaq let the world in on his feelings toward the Magic center (and the silly nickname, “Superman”. Let’s just say that he wasn’t in a complimentary mood.

The Plain Dealer reports:

“When I was coming up and there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon], I never doubled anybody,” O’Neal said. “You tell me who the real Superman is. Don’t compare me to nobody. I’d rather not be mentioned. I’m offended. You’re all giving away titles, it’s crazy.”

“I don’t consider it manning up until you play me straight up,” O’Neal said. “Don’t let them double-team me and make it a him vs. me thing. Eighteen years straight — Hakeem, Ewing, Rik Smits, [Tim] Duncan, [David] Robinson, the best of the best, straight up. I never doubled nobody. Nor have I ever asked for double-team. If you want to bang and push, let’s bang and push.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time Shaq has gone after Howard, who he perceives as an undeserving media darling.

Howard has been smart not to get into a verbal sparing match with O’Neal — a fight neither he or anyone else can win — and it’s pretty obvious that Shaq is using all this barking as motivational and psychological ploys for the battles that lay ahead between Cleveland and Orlando.

Here’s to hoping that Dwight doesn’t end up crying over Shaq’s criticism this time around.

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  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Wait, defensive 3 seconds would make it EASIER for centers to score. What are you talking about Dma?

  • Alvin

    im glad someone agrees lol

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    I agree 100%, Alvin.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Also, like said before, Rik Smits needs to be mentioned as one of the best centers in the game. At least top 25. He’s one of the most underrated players of the 90′s.

  • therighttoremainsalient

    dma – hakeem is the all time leader of blocked shots, he would be the best centre in the league by a country mile if he was 30 today. When Dikembe was playing 3 years ago and he was (39???) he was the 4th best centre in the league immediately when Yao got injured.

  • Shem

    im sure noones questioning who was a better player throughout their first 5 years, but some of you are right.. its not up to dwight whether orlando double teams or not. SHAQ really cant talk, dwight is a better player right now and if it was rasho nesterovic guarding him and they decided to double this wouldnt be here. By the way i dont think shaq can score on a consistent basis against dwight but i do love the big fella

  • Alvin

    I think a lot of centers, and power forwards today, truly lack that middle linebacker type toughness and grit that we love about true big men. There is no big in today’s game, with the exception of Duncan and Shaq, that i can say would toughen up against guys such as Ewing or Zo.

  • http://none The Philosopher

    Howard’s been in the League for a while now. One might think that by now he would be a legit 20 – 25ppg. He may get slightly better in the years to come. But offensively, he still relies on his atheletic acumen. And I’m not entirely convinced he has the “killer instinct”. Plus, his team isn’t iclined to throw him the ball like that. Olajuwon at 24 was consistently dominant against the so called best. And Olajuwon peaked late. And truth be told, Howard is playing against lower level centers as compared to the NBA’s golden age of centers. (Except for Yao). And Duncan if he’s considered a center.

  • clos1881

    Shaq was more of a juggernaut then a superman. To me Dwights physical attributes are closer to supermans, and Shaq also had the luxury of playing with another top 10 player his entire career (penny kobe wade nash lebron).

  • OneStep

    I hate to admit it but the big man is right. Dwight just isn’t there yet. I’ve said it before but he needs to find a couple of go to moves because right now he’s barely got one. He’s like an amped up Ben Wallace at this point in his career and that’s simply not good enough to be considered super-anything.

  • WOODY

    Shaq doesn’t have to score against Howard. Others do that. He has to keep Howard from scoring and get him in foul trouble. Check and check. Shaq is also in Howard’s head which works well for the Cavs.

  • Dunkathon jr

    The big Diesel is almost out of gas, so he’s taking shots at anyone and everyone. If he doesn’t like that people call Howard “Superman” then how about this, “The Hybrid”. Cleaner and more efficient than your old diesel engine and runs at half the cost. If fatty Shaq shaq wants to talk crap then he should expect to hear it. He acts like it wasn’t Kobe putting the ball in his hands all those years. Lakers to take it all, Bron-Bron and the Big Suck Diesel can enjoy the finals from wherever it is that they hold their daily “we rule” fest. Shame it won’t mean anything.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    For the record, the Rockets made Horace Grant guard The Dream in the Finals to protect Shaq from fouls. Just so folks know. And when Shaq could have guarded players like Chris Webber, Duncan and Wallace, he deferred to other players to save fouls.
    So, what did we learn?
    Shaq is a liar.

  • http://slamonline.com dmonz

    Dwight is starting to develop a jumpshot .. something Shaq never had and WIll never have

  • 76ersboy

    dwight gets double teamed everytime he steps on the court. THe only reason people are on shaqs side is cause he’s old. I mean really who has more superman qualities. shaq is puttin on some pounds dwight is a machine! its much easier for shaq to score cause he doubles everyones weight. Plus shaqs making a big deal out of it, dwight just chills

  • 76ersboy

    T-MONEY: the games changed. How is dwight gonna average 20 a game getting doubled everyplay? i mean look at wilt. His averages were godly. But i bet you put him and lebron on the same court both at their primes. lebron would make him look like a high school center.

  • 76ersboy

    AND shaq was always with another star. Dwight is the star of orlando. I bet if dwight played wit kobe they’d look better than shaq and kobe

  • Jalepino Sausage

    Obviously none of you bi*ches know what it’s like playing against a versatile 7.4′ 300+ cat. ShAQ DOES. + he is right, D12 nottin but a pu$$y. STEP UP KID !! Dwight can’t touch Superman. it had to be said

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