Add Shaquille “Big Jealousy” O’Neal and Quentin ” the Heat didn’t want my talents on South Beach” Richardson to the list of Miami Heat haters.
When asked about the Heat and what he thinks of their potential for future success, O’Neal replied by saying, “‘They got a great 1-2″. As everybody knows, the Heat brought in Chris Bosh originally to complete the trifecta of Wade, Bosh, and LeBron James. O’Neal however purposely fails to recognize Bosh as a key member of Miami possibly due to the prior comments that Shaq has made about Chris in the past.
After a Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns game last season where O’Neal had dropped 45 points, Bosh had criticized the officiating claiming that Shaq was camping in the lane and should have been called for a number of three-second violations. O’Neal responded the adult way by blasting Bosh and calling him names as any 35 year old would do.
“I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that’s strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men,” O’Neal said. “I’m going to do the same thing (in their next meeting) I did before — make him quit. Make ’em quit and complain. It’s what I do.”
That’s pretty funny amongst middle and high schoolers, but why is Shaquille O’Neal, a former MVP and four-time NBA champion, calling out a 26 year old that’s made the playoffs twice. Much like Kevin Garnett does, Shaq possibly uses his mouth more than ever to compensate for his lack of game as he grows older and more brittle. O’Neal is coming off a career worst season with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he averaged 12 points and seven rebounds.
O’Neal recently signed with the Boston Celtics and is expected to share time with former Jermaine O’Neal and Kendrick Perkins.
Former Heat forward Quentin Richardson also had something negative to say about the Heat when asked what he thinks of the team. “Bleep the Heat…with all due respect,” he said. “I don’t spend my time and my days thinking about them,” Richardson continued. “We got to focus on ourselves. We got enough to worry about.”
Yikes. Only a few months removed from leaving the team and already cursing Miami? Quentin was the sole reliable three-point shooter last season for the Heat as he averaged nine points and five rebounds, while hitting two three-pointers per game on a career high 40% shooting. Q-Rich is expected to be the starter at small forward for the Orlando Magic next season as he joins a lineup that is notorious for it’s lethal three-point shooters.
Is it just coincidence that two former Heaters would blast the team to this magnitude? Possibly not due to the overall criticism from current players, former players, and NBA analysts from across the country. As far as any of us have heard, there hasn’t been any sign of cockiness or ego’s from any of the new or old players on the team and are being attacked for the sole reason of being the new NBA powerhouse.
All it provides is motivation to an already motivated team. O’Neal and Richardson are on two of the Heat’s rivals in the Eastern Conference and will become household names as Miami will be expected to play the Magic and Celtics in the postseason on the road to the main goal of the NBA finals. This talk only calls for motivation and a much more entertaining season than it was already panned out to be.