Feb

2

Riley Says Shaq Belongs On All-Star Team, Shaq Says No I Don’t

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000a321.jpg?

Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal could have made NBA history this month, but he says he does not deserve to. His coach Pat Riley however has a totally different perspective. O’Neal would have broken his three way tie, with Lakers legend Jerry West, and?former?Utah Jazz star Karl Malone, if he would have been picked to play in the NBA All-Star Game? to be held in New Orleans on February 17. All three men were selected for 14 consecutive All-Star squads. O’Neal was not voted in by the fans as a starter, and was not named Thursday as a reserve, which would have given him 15 consecutive appearances. Riley believes that his future member of the Basketball Hall of Fame should be on the?squad. Riley spoke with reporters on Friday. When the question was posed to Riley?if O’Neal should be on the team he responded??”I really think that the 12 most deserving players should get it. The most deserving should get it and I think the commissioner should always have the right, for somebody who has done so much for the league, for whatever reason, to add a 13th guy to come and be part of the whole thing.”

O’Neal however does not believe he has earned a spot on the team. A little while after reporters spoke with the Heat coach, O’Neal was asked about his coach’s comments. The Heat center said “I appreciate my coach for sticking up for me, but I don’t want to be handed anything. As the general of this squad, I wouldn’t deserve to be an All-Star. And if they gave me the spot, I wouldn’t take it, because I don’t want to be given anything.”

O’Neal has been suffering from a bruised left hip since December 22, when while chasing a loose ball, he banged into the scorers table. He has been active for almost two weeks. His first chance of playing would be February 6, when the Heat travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons. Miami has the worst record in the Association, as they are currently 9-36.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com



Comments

Leave a Reply