Shaquille O’Neal has called out Robin Lopez after the Suns 129-109 loss to the Portland Trailblazers. Here are Shaq’s comments:

“Put somebody on their (expletive) back,” O’Neal said. “Don’t let nobody oopsey-doopsey layup on you, then be laughing at you. You ever see me get dunked on? No. Because I put (expletives) on their back. Period.

“That’s what I told him. If he’s going to be a big man, be a big man. Don’t be out there (expletive) around. Lay somebody on their (expletive) back. Wilt (Chamberlain) told me that. Bill Russell told me that. Hakeem (Olajuwon) told me that. All the great big men told me that.

“You lay someone on their (expletive) back. That’s what I told him. I don’t give a (expletive) who likes it. As a big man, that’s what you’ve got to do. Can’t let people do oopsey-doopsey layups on you, laugh at you.

“Do something. Either block it or lay them on their back. Period. That’s what you’ve got to do as a big man. Don’t flop. Lay them on their (expletive) back. That’s what I was taught and that’s what I’m trying to teach him, instead of being out there like a (expletive) loose tree, blowing in the wind.”

First and foremost, i definitely understand Shaq’s frustration in this situation. This will be the 1st time in Shaq’s illustrious career that he will not be participating in the postseason. Secondly, the way Nate McMillan handled his personel was nothing but classless. I typically will cut Nate McMillan some slack; after all his son does play for my alma mater: Arizona State. However, in this case what he did was extremely unnecessary. The Suns were down 30 points to the Blazers to begin the 4th quarter and Alvin Gentry conceded the loss by emptying his bench (hence Robin Lopez being in). Nate McMillan apparently felt the need to embarrass this 2nd unit by keeping his starters in the game until only 3 minutes were left. The Blazers were hitting ridiculous fade-away 3’s and spinning layups; the worst part of this was the players were visibly laughing at the Suns.

Steve Kerr still to this day insists that Robin Lopez was a solid choice in the draft. My main problem from the beginning was the simple fact that Robin was not that good in college! Granted he would only be a junior at Stanford and his size (7′0″ and 255 lbs) is an asset most teams covet. Looking at his college statistics in his sophomore year, he average 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.  These numbers are mediocre at best and I think he may have been a case of riding on the coattails of his brother’s (Brooks Lopez) success.

I certainly do hope that Robin heeds Shaq’s advice and starts making his presence at least felt down low. Robin at this point in his career jumps for every pump fake, and opposing guards are eating him alive once they penetrate. My advice to Robin Lopez would to be a sponge around Shaq as much as possible. It is very likely that Shaq won’t be around next season and the Suns will desparately need a low-post presence for the future.