shaq to the suns?

[Bruce]

well, in some negative way, Popovich thinks this is an overly lopsided deal:
http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/f ... urs-coach/
Maybe, he wishes somehow that he could have turned Udrih into a front court mate for Duncan. Haha. Better luck next time Pop. I think the talks about the Gasol trade is on another thread.

Getting on the topic of the Shaq-Marion trade. I think it is silly on Steve Kerr's part, for breaking up a team that in sitting on top of the west, simply because he thinks that is the only way the Suns can make a trip to the finals. If the Suns does not do well from here on, look for Kerr back on TV. What i've always thought though is the reason why the Suns does not go far in the playoffs, is the same reason they are successful in the regular season. The Suns high octane, fast paced offense (great as it is) it wears on its players. That is why at seasons end, the Suns is plagued with injury. Throw in a once dominat center plagued with injury. I just hope there's still a spot on TV for Kerr next season.

[Bruce]

Suns do get a stop whether it be off of a rebound or a block that the resulting outlet pass & fast break usually is a 3 on 2 or 3 on 1 or a 2 on 1 fast break so the big guys get left behin danyways.

yep exactly

the trade also netted the suns back the boris diaw from a few years ago

well, an integral part of that is a shawn marion that can sprint down from halfcourt to make a basket in less than 5 secs. And shawn marion is gone!

[[Q]]

Suns do get a stop whether it be off of a rebound or a block that the resulting outlet pass & fast break usually is a 3 on 2 or 3 on 1 or a 2 on 1 fast break so the big guys get left behin danyways.

yep exactly

the trade also netted the suns back the boris diaw from a few years ago

well, an integral part of that is a shawn marion that can sprint down from halfcourt to make a basket in less than 5 secs. And shawn marion is gone!

yup that's the big counterargument there... they lose the extra man on the fast break that usually finishes for them.

[Andrew]

O'Neal winded but otherwise fine in first practice with Suns

This part might be good news though:

O'Neal does not expect to be the star.

"I'm a historian of the game, so I understand that on this team I'm probably a big role player, and I have no problem with that," O'Neal said. "I did my thing in my prime, and it's Amare's prime right now. I think it's my job to get him to the next level. Toward the end of my career, I have no problem coming here and just fitting in and just helping these guys get to the next level."

He compares his job to the role of an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the "Showtime" Lakers teams of Magic Johnson and James Worthy.

"Kareem was fortunate enough to have those style of players around him toward the end of his career, and I sort of feel like him now," O'Neal said. "I'm no idiot. I'm not going to come in here trying to take over and take 30 shots. I'm going to fit in very nicely -- rebound, outlet to Steve, get some easy buckets, play some defense. That's all we need to do."

That's been one of the criticisms of Shaq since the trade, the assertion that he believes he's still a dominant star. If he's willing to be a role player and can stay healthy, that's encouraging for the Suns.

[Jackal]

Shaq may come off as a bumbling idiot to a lot of people, but let's face it, he's got understanding of how the game works. He's not as successful as he is solely based on the fact that he's huge. If that was the case, every 7 foot guy would clog his arteries and try to back down their opponents in the post.

Then again, a lot of people just don't want to believe that so I'll just shutup and go back to being nonexsistant.

[Andrew]

I think it was more a question of ego rather than intelligence but up until the last couple of years, it was difficult to argue that Shaq still didn't have "it", even if his numbers were down. Perhaps it was simply a matter of taking some of his remarks out of context or a generalisation of star athletes as egotistical and unable to accept they're no longer in their prime. In any event, if Shaq seems himself in that role he's unlikely to disrupt team chemistry.

The only questions pertain to whether his conditioning will allow him to succeed in the Suns' offense and whether his various ailments will allow him to go the distance. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Sauru]

people worry too much about the suns ability to run imo. the suns still have enough weapons to run with but no team can run the entire game. sometimes you are forced to play half court offense and thats when shaq will help you. no matter how far shaq drops from what he once you cant just leave him, and he can still move people around. just having him on the court will free up other players.

imo its not the run that would worry me, it is he freethrow shooting. if the suns are in a close game he becomes worthless to them really at the end. they got him pretty much for the playoff run, i think we can all agree on that. in the playoffs hitting your freethrows is extremely important and if he is missing them all then the suns are gonna lose

[Andrew]

That's very true. His poor free throw shooting stands out even more these days now that he doesn't have the mobility to utilise his size as effectively as he once did so he's not making up for the missed free throws by finishing as often as he used to. I imagine Don Nelson in particular will have no qualms about going to Hack-a-Shaq right up until there's two minutes left in the fourth so that would be more of a concern against the Warriors, especially if Webber's in the game since Golden State would likely only have four players running the floor more often than not.

[Lakers'fan]

Oh man...i've never seen this video before...Bynum OWNED Shaq!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuzx7-Pj ... re=related

[shadowgrin]

You forgot to mention that Shaq owned Bynum before Bynum owned Shaq.
I consider that equal, no ownage present.

[Sauru]

just to point out, every single player who has ever played the game of basketball(for real) has been owned at one time or another

[Andrew]

just to point out, every single player who has ever played the game of basketball(for real) has been owned at one time or another

Particularly as they've aged and up-and-coming talent has had an easier time hanging with them.

[Sauru]

yeah, i dont know how many times people brought up iverson crossing over jordan, i mean it clearly means he is the better player of all time

[Andrew]

That's a good example of that line of thinking. There's a certain significance to plays like that of course but they do tend to get blown out of proportion.