If you have been reading that blog for a while, you know I’m no fan of Shaq, championship or no championship. nowadays, Israel Gutierrez dipped his quill in the sarcasm inkwell and had me in stitches (and additionally, whoa, the Herald publishes an write-up critical of Shaq? Is it going to snow next?).

Seriously? So no part of 2-8 is considering Shaq is 35 with not good knees and slower feet and still tries to play the Antoine Walker slap-down defense even though he’s a foot taller than the guy driving at him? Is that too easy an explanation? Must be.

”You’re barking up that tree, the obvious, academic tree,” Riley said. “We’re 2-8, and it’s not his fault. And that’s where you’re trying to land. You’re trying to lay it there, and nobody

on that team is trying to lay it there. Everything I read is directed at him.”

Apparently, where the audience sees a giant, slow-moving target, Riley still just sees a giant. A giant that no one else has, and one that can still shoot with great efficiency as distant as his shots come within a foot or two of the basket. And possibly he sees a rather sensitive giant, which is why he backs off any obvious messages for the sake of the giant psyche.

Also, less apparently, Riley still has to pay the guy 20 million per season. And we all know what a baby Shaq can be. Riley doesn’t want a pouting 300-pound anchor on the bench and mouthing off to the paper.

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Original post by Alex