Payton, Jones, Wade, and Shaq certainly sounds like a finals capable team.

 

 

Just remember...there's only one ball and Payton, Antoine, J-Will and Shaq all will be "sharing" it....This smells like a long season.

Shaq is not gonna let any ball hogging happen, if anyone cries about it he will set them straight quickly......

 

When did Shaq become god? Gary,Atoine,J-willl share the ball NOW! Didn't work in LA, won't work here. It's rediculous to think everything chemistry wise and ball wise will be fine because the Heat have the all mighty Shaq!

First of all, JWill and Payton won't have any problems sharing the ball because they'll never be on the court at the same time. Payton will be his backup.

 

JWill took 9 SHOTS A GAME last year. He's a pass-first PG. We won't have anything to worry about in terms of selfishness by him.

 

Payton only took 9 shots a game last season as well. Off the bench, will it be that tough for him to take 3-4 less shots a game for the chance at a ring?

 

Walker took 15 shots a game last year when he was with a contender in the Celtics. Off the bench for 25-30 MPG, will it be that tough for him to take 3-4 less shots a game for the chance at a title?

 

Chemistry off the court has nothing to do with on-court performance. As long as we're winning, nobody will be complaining (and with our talent, we will be). Players aren't thinking about who they like or dislike when they step onto the court. They're just trying to win.

 

Also, the 2003-04 Lakers lost in the Finals because Malone was injured and they weren't deep enough. The team wasn't very talented outside of its starting 5. Slava Medvedenko couldn't hold a candle to Rasheed Wallace, and Payton was dominated in the series by Billups. Basically, the Lakers had only Kobe and Shaq to go to. Once Kobe started to struggle as well, the Lakers were done. The Pistons were too talented, with a strong starting 5 and a very good bench (guys like Corliss Williamson, Mehmet Okur, Lindsey Hunter, etc.). The difference with us is that we're a lot deeper and a lot more talented.

Payton is the worst signing EVER.

 

Team distraction by January and he is kicked off the team.

Isn't Payton here basically because Shaq convinced him to come?

 

I don't see why people think he'll be a distraction. Shaq asked him here. They've played together, and clearly they get along okay. What's the problem here?

Payton, Jones, Wade, and Shaq certainly sounds like a finals capable team.

 

 

Just remember...there's only one ball and Payton, Antoine, J-Will and Shaq all will be "sharing" it....This smells like a long season.

Shaq is not gonna let any ball hogging happen, if anyone cries about it he will set them straight quickly......

 

When did Shaq become god?

 

Well he has 3 rings and is one of the 3 greatest centers and 50 greatest players ever, that helps.

Payton is a 36* yr old BABY. He is gonna end up being a drama queen. I HOPE I am wrong. I HOPE you are right.

We are now officially the new Lakers.

Damn, some of you are coming off as whiners :plain. BE HAPPY A-HOLES, GEEZ.

We are now officially the new Lakers.

actually we are not.

Payton signs with Heat, says he brings `oomph'

 

9-time All-Star is latest to join retooled Heat

By Ira Winderman

Staff Writer

Posted September 23 2005

 

 

To Gary Payton, the Heat's star-laden roster remix is not about "oohs" and "ahhs."

 

It's about "oomph."

 

Shortly after signing a one-year contract for the $1.1 million veteran's minimum Thursday, the nine-time NBA All-Star reflected on the last time the Heat was on the court.

 

When asked why a team two minutes away from last June's NBA Finals would undertake such a drastic offseason overhaul, the 37-year-old point guard alluded to the disastrous final seconds of Game 7 against Detroit, when Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were hobbled and Damon Jones was fumbling away a season.

 

 

To Payton, that provided more than enough clarity behind the reasoning of Heat President Pat Riley to reload with a group of newcomers that also includes Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey.

 

"Pat has won championships, and he knows what to do to get that extra `oomph,'" Payton said. "I think that he felt like that extra `oomph' wasn't there and they needed some more athletes.

 

"I think Pat realized he didn't have that maturity. With Shaq getting hurt and Wade getting hurt, I think he needed someone who could make big shots and big plays. I think he went out and did that."

 

With the talent in place, the next issue could become one of maturity, whether players who were the show in other cities can become complements in South Florida.

 

For Payton, that figures to be especially challenging. Counting the regular season and playoffs, the 6-foot-4 defensive specialist has started 1,309 of his 1,315 NBA games. Now he arrives as the projected backup to Williams.

 

"When I come into camp, I'm going to try to help him," Payton said. "I'm not going to try to beat him up or beat him down.

 

"It's been very hard coming from where I come from, starting all my time. But right now it's not about that. It's about what we have to accomplish to get to a championship."

 

This will be the second time Payton chases a championship with O'Neal. The two advanced to the NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2004 but lost to the Pistons in five games.O'Neal recently prodded Riley to add Payton at a time when others in the organization were taken by the youthful potential of former Miami High standout Steve Blake.

 

"Shaq and I are very close, and he wanted me to come to the Los Angeles Lakers and he wanted me to come back down here," Payton said. "When he stepped up for me like that, it is hard to say no."

 

As was the case in Los Angeles, when the Lakers also added Karl Malone in the 2003 offseason, Payton said chemistry will be paramount.

 

"We're going to have to get together right away," he said. "I think that's what a lot of people are concerned about. What we have to do is just get cohesive very quickly."

 

great article. Payton is right on with what Riley's intentions were this offseason and it's good to hear that right off the bat he has said he fully accepts his backup role and everything. It might only be his word but I don't care, I'll take it.

We are now officially the new Lakers.

 

What exactly was wrong with the 2003-04 Lakers? They made it to the Finals and lost to a better team in the Pistons. Malone's injury was a big reason why they lost, not chemistry.

YOUR 2006 MIAMI HEAT LINEUP!!!!

 

pg-gary payton

sg-dwyane wade

sf-antoine walker

pf-udonis haslem

c-shaquiiiiiiiillle O'neaaallllll

YOUR 2006 MIAMI HEAT LINEUP!!!!

 

pg-gary payton

sg-dwyane wade

sf-antoine walker

pf-udonis haslem

c-shaquiiiiiiiillle O'neaaallllll

 

Williams will be the starter not Payton

YOUR 2006 MIAMI HEAT LINEUP!!!!

 

pg-gary payton

sg-dwyane wade

sf-antoine walker

pf-udonis haslem

c-shaquiiiiiiiillle O'neaaallllll

 

Not really. More like

 

PG-Williams

SG-Wade

SF-Posey

PF-Haslem

C-Shaq