THE 2015 NBA PRE SEASON THREAD: BEST WISHES TO LAMAR ODOM

[Based Jesus]

No one is holding it against shaq that he didn't accomplish more. That's crazy.

We're just saying that with as much as he accomplished, he still could have accomplished more and that's really impressive.

 

[sea manup]

why didnt he start rapping again after leaving phil? 

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

 
No one is holding it against shaq that he didn't accomplish more. That's crazy.

We're just saying that with as much as he accomplished, he still could have accomplished more and that's really impressive.

Wait what you literally just contradicted yourself 

 

[mister friendly]

I feel like sports fans completely ignore the fact that athletes operate in reality too. When folks say "Shaq underachieved" it has some valid undertones but overall it's silly IMO

**** aint a video game. Folks put these dudes in a video game realm like they should only eat sleep and breathe basketball. Aint gonna happen.

Athletes aren't immune to human nature and other factors that every day people have to deal with too. After winning a few titles and getting MVP etc. you're generally not going to be as motivated as you were before you won your first title. We have rarely seen that in pro sports, the only guys above Shaq are the very best in human history

Not to mention outside of the factors you can control on your own, like fitness and practice, the external factors i.e. the S.A. Spurs and the competition are pretty solid barriers to 

Again, you could claim Shaq didn't achieve to his full potential but neither did 98% of all other pro athletes. And Shaq finished with 4 titles so....

Very well said

 

[Lovetohate3000]

No one is holding it against shaq that he didn't accomplish more. That's crazy.
We're just saying that with as much as he accomplished, he still could have accomplished more and that's really impressive.

agreed.

 

[Based Jesus]

 

 
No one is holding it against shaq that he didn't accomplish more. That's crazy.

We're just saying that with as much as he accomplished, he still could have accomplished more and that's really impressive.

Wait what you literally just contradicted yourself 

How? Did i call him a bum or anything? A waste of talent? No. I merely said he could've done more and that's impressive considering what he actually did.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

 
How? Did i call him a bum or anything? A waste of talent? No. I merely said he could've done more and that's impressive considering what he actually did.

I see, so when you say he underachieved it's more so of a round about compliment

 

[dmbrhs]

I feel like sports fans completely ignore the fact that athletes operate in reality too. When folks say "Shaq underachieved" it has some valid undertones but overall it's silly IMO

**** aint a video game. Folks put these dudes in a video game realm like they should only eat sleep and breathe basketball. Aint gonna happen.

Athletes aren't immune to human nature and other factors that every day people have to deal with too. After winning a few titles and getting MVP etc. you're generally not going to be as motivated as you were before you won your first title. We have rarely seen that in pro sports, the only guys above Shaq are the very best in human history

Not to mention outside of the factors you can control on your own, like fitness and practice, the external factors i.e. the S.A. Spurs and the competition are pretty solid barriers to 

Again, you could claim Shaq didn't achieve to his full potential but neither did 98% of all other pro athletes. And Shaq finished with 4 titles so....

The problem is that the word "underachieve" has very negative connotations, and really isn't fair. Use it to describe anyone, and it sounds like they are some sort of failure. The better term would be "left something on the table". I mean, you could say Jordan left a title or two on the table by taking years off during his career. But nobody would ever use the word "underachieve" to describe him. Shaq did actually reach his full potential as a player, but it didn't last very long (literally a couple years), thus he never quite reached his potential, career-wise (titles, MVPs, etc.).

 

[friscostylez]

Backhanded compliments

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

The problem is that the word "underachieve" has very negative connotations, and really isn't fair. Use it to describe anyone, and it sounds like they are some sort of failure. The better term would be "left something on the table". I mean, you could say Jordan left a title or two on the table by taking years off during his career. But nobody would ever use the word "underachieve" to describe him. Shaq did actually reach his full potential as a player, but it didn't last very long (literally a couple years), thus he never quite reached his potential, career-wise (titles, MVPs, etc.).

I get what you're saying but I still stick to my main thought that fans probably don't have realistic expectations. Again, you could say "he could have done more". I realize you're not calling him a bum but all I'm saying is it's easier said than done

It's probably extremely difficult to stay motivated at that inhuman level after you've won a few titles. Signed big contracts. Have an appetite like a dinosaur at that size. That's where I'm coming from more so, it's easy for us regular folk to say what a pro athlete should have or could have achieved 

 

[Based Jesus]

 

 
How? Did i call him a bum or anything? A waste of talent? No. I merely said he could've done more and that's impressive considering what he actually did.

I see, so when you say he underachieved it's more so of a round about compliment

Yeah pretty much. He was a talent that we'll never see again and with all that he did in his career he still had the potential to do more and that's saying something.

Backhanded compliments

More like a testament to his greatness

 

[everysingletime]

The problem is that the word "underachieve" has very negative connotations, and really isn't fair. Use it to describe anyone, and it sounds like they are some sort of failure. The better term would be "left something on the table".

Yea, pretty much this.

Let's say a climber had a goal to make it to the top of the mountain. If he fails to reach the summit, he 'underachieved.'

What Shaq did was he got to the summit. But he didn't do enough to stay on the mountain as long as he could've.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Yea, pretty much this.

Let's say a climber had a goal to make it to the top of the mountain. If he fails to reach the summit, he 'underachieved.'

What Shaq did was he got to the summit. But he didn't do enough to stay on the mountain as long as he could've.

Breh there's no need to compare it to a mountain climber. **** just isn't connecting at all 

Mountain climbers aren't competing with opponents. They don't have to depend on coaches and teammates. They don't have to compete every October through May etc. etc.

No hate

 

[everysingletime]

It doesn't have to be compared to only a mountain climber. I'm sure there are lots of other appropriate comparisons. Just happened to be the one that came to mind. You're taking it the wrong way. Lol

Point was that 'underachieved' is probably the wrong word, but it doesn't mean that Shaq had reached his complete potential.

 

[User 15002]

This discussion is revolving more around potential. Shaq's potential peak for his attributes was greater than he "achieved". But maybe that was the goal he set for himself. Just to get so high, for a short period of time and maybe he felt he had nothing left to prove. Not all are geared to max out their personal potential all the time.

 

[trueprada]

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

It doesn't have to be compared to only a mountain climber. I'm sure there are lots of other appropriate comparisons. Just happened to be the one that came to mind. You're taking it the wrong way. Lol

Point was that 'underachieved' is probably the wrong word, but it doesn't mean that Shaq had reached his complete potential.

I got you. I just feel like a lot of factors go into realizing "potential" and that it's pretty difficult if not impossible to play that game. It's easy for us to say he didn't reach his full potential

Everyone got their opinions so I'm not hating on it

 

[awwsome]

Team was killing, so fun to watch.

 

[trueprada]

yeap

that bounce pass 

 

[everysingletime]

Lol, interesting.

Apparently, one of Shaq's kids, as a hs freshman, is already 6'8, pretty nice and getting scholarship offers.

 

[trueprada]

yea been seeing that 

 

[awwsome]

Shaq son is a problem.

 

[everysingletime]

Apparently, dude has an inside and outside game. Interesting. I want to see highlights but no service at work and no youtube on the computer lol.

 

[pjdabullsfan]

Shaq son is a problem.

Yes dude is gonna be very good 

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

The problem is that the word "underachieve" has very negative connotations, and really isn't fair. Use it to describe anyone, and it sounds like they are some sort of failure. The better term would be "left something on the table". I mean, you could say Jordan left a title or two on the table by taking years off during his career. But nobody would ever use the word "underachieve" to describe him. Shaq did actually reach his full potential as a player, but it didn't last very long (literally a couple years), thus he never quite reached his potential, career-wise (titles, MVPs, etc.).

These two pages from Bill Simmons' book describe Shaq the best.

Gotta love it when dudes just parrot the blogs and the twitters and adopt other people's opinions as their own