Game three of the NBA Finals is going to be played tonight, and with a win, the city of Dallas might as well board up because there is a 45% chance of riots should they take the series, followed by morning sunshine and a few scattered arrests.

The other thing that is for sure is that Shaq will miss the majority of his free throws. I have never really considered Shaq to be a great basketball player, more a freak of nature. He reiminds me of Jonah Lomu, a rugby player for the New Zealand All-Blacks. Jonah, like Shaq, is considered to be a dominating, and great player in his sport. Only thing is that Jonah can’t pass, can’t kick, his tackling is suspect, takes poor persuit angles, makes terrible decisons and is an all-around horrific rugby player. But put the ball in his hands, and he is sure to break about five tackles and move the ball half a field length. I have watched games where Jonah literally carries defenders in for a try… only to later make a bad pass right to the other team who walked in for an uncontested try.

Back to Shaq. He is the same. Not a great passer or ballhandler, he has no outside shot and cannot make a free throw to save his life (or his team). Great basketball players do not choke on the stripe, but freaks of nature do. He is killing his team, and it is hard for me to hear how great of a basketball player he is when he goes 2 for 16 from the free throw line during the NBA finals. They put it well on Mike and Mike In the Morning today:

“There’s certain things you cannot do. You can’t answer the question ‘honey do I look fat’ with a ‘yes,’ and you can’t shoot 2 for 16 at the line.”

Dirk Nowitski does not seem to have problems making free throws, and he is a giant as well. Mabye Shaq needs to start using Dirk’s trick, singing David Hasselhoff at the line to calm down. Well, mabye we all could use a litte Hasselhoff in our hearts, so here you are everyone… enjoy!