It appears that Chris Bosh just can’t catch a break. He can’t get love from no one in the league. Not even the The ‘Big Diesel’.
In Shaquille O’Neal’s debut as an NBA Analyst on TNT Tuesday , he announced the release of the NBA 2011-12 Schedule. During the segment, he also discussed the NBA finals and how Dallas was able to beat Miami for the title. However, O’Neal spoke highly of the Miami Heat, stating “they’ve got a lot of great players, the `Big 2.’ They will be back,” he said from Louisiana during the broadcast.
But wait…’Big 2′? I could have sworn ever since Bosh, Wade and James teamed up in Miami, they’ve been referred to as the “Big 3”. Perhaps O’Neal just had a case of “first day on the job jitters” and had made a mistake.
But not quite. When Shaquille O’Neal was called out on-air about referring to the the ‘Big 3’ as the ‘Big 2’, he simply laughed off the notion that he was being controversial. Then went on to say “Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, you know, they’re great players, they’re probably the greatest backcourt ever assembled … and you know, they’re going to get back. They’re going to get back. They play well, they went through a lot, they put a lot of pressure on themselves. That’s how they like it. And they will be back.”
Interesting. I can’t help but wonder why Shaq is so quick to dismiss Bosh. Perhaps it’s simply the fact Wade and James are his former teammates, so he is more supportive. Or maybe deep down he thinks if he had some years left in him, he could be the one to complete the ‘Big 3’.
Either way, the fact he tried to deny the obvious controversy in his statement is laughable in itself. I wonder if he would find it controversial if someone made the statement that Kobe was the sole force behind his three consecutive championship rings.
Probably wouldn’t laugh that off, now would you ‘Big Diesel’?