O'Neal Adds Missing Dimension For Cavs

Shaq O'Neal has added a piece to the Cav's puzzle that has been missing for quite a while. For the first time in my memory they have a player who can play with his back to the basket and in fact command double teams from opposing defenses. Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been the Cavalier's primary center for many years. Although "Z" has made a valuable contribution over his career he clearly lacks low post scoring moves and is much more comfortable playing on the perimeter. Of course I realize Shaq isn't the player he was 5 or 10 years ago, however he still creates match-up problems because of his size and power. Few players in the league can match his strength down low. When the Cavs are on the defensive end of the floor opposing big men can no longer have their way in the paint as was apparent at times last year. It was difficult to watch Dwight Howard get so many uncontested dunks and lay-ups against the Cavs in last seasons play off series. O'Neal can't be pushed around like the finesse oriented Ilgauskas or under sized forwards like Anderson Varejao. At playoff time the game gets more physical and the officials tend to allow a little more bumping and banging. Hopefully that's when the addition off Shaq will pay dividends. I realize the addition of O'Neal is no guarantee of post season success but a healthy Shaq come spring time sure won't hurt.