COURTSIDE.

Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong

Over the weekend, statistics expert Wayne Winston argued that Shaquille O'Neal hasn't been much of a factor for the Cavaliers so far. In fact, he noted with conviction that last season's Eastern Conference finalists are far more competitive when the Diesel's backside is firmly planted on the bench. It's actually not a novel proposition; critics have been lambasting the trade that landed the 15-time all-star from the get-go, their ammunition provided by year-on-year comparisons of key figures, including win-loss records. The mathematician's contention, however, also stems from extensive analysis of lineups employed by head coach Mike Brown in the …