Fortson is THE man!

korme · 01-09-2005, 06:37 PM

He's been getting pub for being such a workhorse for the upstart Sonics, and this just tops it off for me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1963217

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Shaquille O'Neal complained Monday that Danny Fortson flopped in the Sonics' 98-96 victory at Miami.

On Sunday, before the rematch in Seattle, Fortson had some harsh words for the big guy.


	How will Shaq react Sunday night against Danny Fortson and the Sonics?

"You know something? That is a cop-out," Fortson told The (Tacoma) News Tribune. "Write this down. If he can't go out and bang, if he can't get two or three feet underneath the basket, he is ineffective.

"My goal is to keep him out of the paint. That is not an easy task to do. That is easier said than done. But I am going to try to keep him out of the paint and see how good he is.

"I challenge him to take a jump hook. Take a couple jump shots. I bet you he can't do that. Of course he is going to complain about flopping because he has to be inside to score buckets. If he doesn't get inside to score buckets, he might as well give the ball to Dwyane Wade and move back."

In Monday's game, Fortson drew a foul from O'Neal while he was going to the basket in the first quarter. Sixty-nine seconds later, Fortson drew a charging call on O'Neal by flopping, sending O'Neal to the bench for the rest of the quarter.

"Bill Russell and Bill Walton would be ashamed to watch this game, big men flopping around like that," O'Neal said after the game.

"I don't even know what he is talking about," Fortson told the paper. "He is the big man. He's the one that wants to go out there and dunk on everybody, like he's been doing. I'm not going to feel sorry for him.

"He is the biggest man in the world and he's worried about guys flopping? That is kind of crazy, you know.

"One flop? I only got one flop? Besides that, who wouldn't flop against Shaq? But for the most part, Bill Walton and Bill Laimbeer and Charles Barkley would be proud of how I went head-to-head with him. Especially Charles Barkley. You know what I'm saying? For the most part I was in there battling with him."

O'Neal finished the game with 25 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks, but Fortson did a reasonably good job on the 7-foot-1 force. Fortson, who leads the league in technical fouls, had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the game and also didn't get into any personal arguments with O'Neal or bicker with the officials.

"I am going to play hard," Fortson told the paper. "It ain't going to be no different on Sunday. We are going to do the same thing, and it is going to be the same results. We are going to win the game if we play hard. I am going to try to stay focused like I was in Miami. It's no easy thing. It's a work in progress for me. But if I stay focused, it's like David and Goliath, I win again."

korme · 01-09-2005, 06:38 PM

That whole shpeel continues besides the part I bolded, I also like how he says Shaq is the biggest man in the world and he's not gonna feel sorry for him.

Vince · 01-09-2005, 06:40 PM

I loved Fortson when he was a Warrior.

stevew · 01-09-2005, 06:42 PM

It appears that Forston is trying to shed the "team cancer" label?

miami_fan · 01-09-2005, 06:43 PM

Umm so he gets credit for flopping?

korme · 01-10-2005, 03:11 AM

Who wouldn't flop against Shaq?

Pumpy Tudors · 01-10-2005, 10:53 AM

You know what? More power to Fortson. Ever since Shaq was in college, it's been pretty clear that most of his offensive game is shaking his butt around until he knocks down the defenders, and then he dunks. He's developed a jump hook since then, but we all know that that's not his primary shot. A lot of guys try to defend Shaq by letting themselves get backed down and backed down and backed down. Listen, if Shaq is going to throw his body around, maybe it's time some defenders threw their bodies around, too.

Shaq is arguably the most dominating player in the game, but Fortson's damn right about Shaq's offensive skills. There are a ton of guys in the NBA who flop. It looks ridiculous when Vlade Divac flops because Damon Stoudamire drove into the lane on him, but if Shaq's throwing his weight around, at least you can sell it. If nobody else in the league flopped and got away with it, then maybe Fortson is the bad guy. In this case, though, I don't think there is a bad guy. Shaq's playing his game, and Fortson's defending against it. I like it.

rkmsuf · 01-10-2005, 11:03 AM

He has to flop...Fortson is so small Shaq can just dunk over him like nerf hoop.

01-09-2005, 06:40 PM	#3
Vince Pro Starter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Willow Glen, CA	I loved Fortson when he was a Warrior. __________________ Every time a Dodger scores a run, an angel has its wings ripped off by a demon, and is forced to tearfully beg the demon to cauterize the wounds.The demon will refuse, and the sobbing angel will lie in a puddle of angel blood and feathers for eternity, wondering why the Dodgers are allowed to score runs.That’s not me talking: that’s science. McCoveyChronicles.com.

01-10-2005, 10:53 AM	#7
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	You know what? More power to Fortson. Ever since Shaq was in college, it's been pretty clear that most of his offensive game is shaking his butt around until he knocks down the defenders, and then he dunks. He's developed a jump hook since then, but we all know that that's not his primary shot. A lot of guys try to defend Shaq by letting themselves get backed down and backed down and backed down. Listen, if Shaq is going to throw his body around, maybe it's time some defenders threw their bodies around, too. Shaq is arguably the most dominating player in the game, but Fortson's damn right about Shaq's offensive skills. There are a ton of guys in the NBA who flop. It looks ridiculous when Vlade Divac flops because Damon Stoudamire drove into the lane on him, but if Shaq's throwing his weight around, at least you can sell it. If nobody else in the league flopped and got away with it, then maybe Fortson is the bad guy. In this case, though, I don't think there is a bad guy. Shaq's playing his game, and Fortson's defending against it. I like it. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

01-10-2005, 11:03 AM	#8
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	He has to flop...Fortson is so small Shaq can just dunk over him like nerf hoop. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

01-09-2005, 06:38 PM	#2
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	That whole shpeel continues besides the part I bolded, I also like how he says Shaq is the biggest man in the world and he's not gonna feel sorry for him.

01-09-2005, 06:42 PM	#4
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	It appears that Forston is trying to shed the "team cancer" label?

01-09-2005, 06:43 PM	#5
miami_fan Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Land O Lakes FL	Umm so he gets credit for flopping?

01-10-2005, 03:11 AM	#6
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	Who wouldn't flop against Shaq?

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