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Wrong.The Suns have gotten 375 pounds bigger
Shaq is at 325.
Other than that, the article is right on.
The Spurs have fallen behind the Suns if Shaq is rejuvinated like it seems, and they need to make a deal to counter pronto...
San Antonio Express-News
The Suns once scored, as a book le defined the system, in "seven seconds or less." Shaquille O'Neal can't stop burping after lunch in seven seconds or less.
That's why most in America are confused today. Did David Stern, ever trying to punish Phoenix, force the Suns to make this trade?
But tell that to Tim Duncan when Shaq elbows him in the neck in April. If Shaq can get his hip in shape — and that's a big if and a big hip — then the Suns have a chance to be something this spring besides adorable losers.
That's what Steve Kerr was thinking and, for him, it's a remarkable role change. He'd spent his playing career as the reasonable voice in the back of winning locker rooms, and he retired to become a glib announcer on TNT.
He's been diplomatic and funny his entire life without having to take a stand. And yet there he was, just a half-year into his job, gambling with both the best record and the most fun style in the Western Conference.
"I'm well aware that I'm on the line," Kerr said Wednesday, and he should be aware few of his peers would have made this trade. New general managers become unemployed ones over such boldness.
Still, other GMs know some of the details even as they question Kerr's sanity, and this begins with Shawn Marion. Somehow, the guy felt unappreciated, an unusual stand since he was also the highest paid Sun.
Marion earned his money with an efficient and well-rounded game. He's a better rebounder and defender than Shaq is now, and last week, he showed the same. Then, he finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Spurs.
But the Suns lost that game as they have every vital playoff series this decade, and one game likely didn't change Kerr's mind. In tough moments against the Spurs, Marion has rarely looked like the superstar both his paycheck and ego say he should be.
Marion had become a whiney irritant, and in his place comes a man who literally fills up a room. Shaq will make the Suns tougher, as well as more relaxed.
He can pass, too, which never hurts any offense. Shaq will also be the recipient, since he has never played with a point guard such as Steve Nash. When the Suns spread the floor, and defenders have no choice but to fly at 3-point shooters, Shaq will have space he hasn't seen since Los Angeles.
The Suns can run even if Shaq doesn't, since it's the rare fast break that uses five players. And if Shaq plays only 24 minutes, then that means the Suns can be their old selves for half a game.
Amare Stoudemire will be better next to Shaq, too. He was never going to be the post defender the Suns wanted him to be, and he showed that again last week when the Spurs beat the Suns.
That game restored belief in the Spurs, and it likely convinced Kerr he needed to do something. There was a sense that night the Spurs were deep into the heads of the Suns and that this wasn't going to change.
Knowing Kerr, he kept coming back to that. He could always win 55 games and keep his job, but would the Suns ever win a le this way?
Now his possibilities get better in the reloaded West. Shaq and Stoudemire will match up with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, as well as with Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas centers.
The Spurs will keep their edge, since they aren't remaking themselves in midseason. Still, as they've tried to get smaller these last few years, their rivals have gotten bigger.
The Suns have gotten 375 pounds bigger, and, for Duncan, this is familiar bulk. Over the years, no opponent has been as intertwined in his career as Shaq has been.
One or the other has won eight of the past nine les, and they've done this as opposites. While Duncan stayed in San Antonio in relative peace, Shaq kept flying to get away from something or someone — going from Florida to Los Angeles to Florida.
Now he comes back to the west. And if his health allows it, he will be pushing his way into the lane by spring, and his shiny head will be beaded with sweat, and his team will have a chance.
Make no mistake. Shaq isn't the same anymore.
And neither are the Suns.
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I agree with Buck, while everyone displays their "basketball knowledge" and puts this off as a horrible trade, i tend to think otherwise.
The spurs have shown they can slow phoenix down, and now when they do...phoenix will have an improved half court game as well as the ability to run when they need to.
Phoenix can also match up with the half court game of the mavs, and the celtics....
but the biggest reason for this trade was to be able to match up with Gasol/Bynum.
Phoenix is not relying on Shaq for offense or even defense, all they need is a presence in the half court game, and that's what they got...things have gotten very interesting in the west.
Wrong.The Suns have gotten 375 pounds bigger
Shaq is at 325.
Other than that, the article is right on.
The Spurs have fallen behind the Suns if Shaq is rejuvinated like it seems, and they need to make a deal to counter pronto...
I'm not going to say that the sky is falling and that we can't compete as you've tended to do in the past, i'm a little more of a man than that, but i do think some type of move before the deadline would be key.
Actually, Shaq is at 315, 10 pounds less than his reported weight. The guy's not fat, he's just dealing with injuries.
I dont need a scale or body mass index to look at someone and tell you they're fat....he's fat, you know it, and i know it.
Most ppl have the basketball knowledge of a peanut.
The initial shock of this trade caught everyone off guard and looking at how Shaq has been this season so far, the doubters have reason to their voice. This trade comes with a big fat IF, but having a few days to digest this trade i'm starting to agree with it. I'm very confident in the medical staff feeling they can get Shaq into shape enough to fit in this system.
As very few others have said, and 80% Shaq is better than most 100% players.
Exactly! So few want to see that and only see the injury. Time will tell, but this is the largest gamble in NBA history. Hopefully it works.
I believe at yesterdays presso, that Shaq weighed in at 324.
If Shaq is fat, then Tim Duncan is fat.
Shaq isn't fat right now. Hes just a big dude.
Tirico confirmed this saying he walked into the Miami locker room and looked fantastic.
It's not like Kerr is shooting blind while doing this either...he played with Shaq.
Everyone keeps acting like Nash won't be able to play in a half court offense as well...he can play in one, the Suns were the ones that couldn't...because they had a 200lb C...that's not their problem now.
Yeah I mean Shaq aint fat, hes just a big framed dude.
Hes way thinner than he was in 03. 03 you could tell he was fat and out of shape.
And BTW, in case someone hasn't said this...let me be the first to say Steve Kerr for doing this....not a nice way to repay the team that put two rings on your scrub ass finger.
Uh, so he shouldn't try all he can to win for the team he works for?let me be the first to say Steve Kerr for doing this....not a nice way to repay the team that put two rings on your scrub ass finger.
Genius
STFU TPark you spineless waffling turd.Uh, so he shouldn't try all he can to win for the team he works for?
Genius
Thats rich coming from you.
Many regard Shaq as the most dominant big man of the last decade.
It's astonishing that he's on his fourth team now.
Yeah, had the Heat addressed the againg team last offseason and they had been more compe ive. Shaq would've finished his career in Miami.
Him being on his 4th team is just by sheer chance.
TPark when the trade was first announced:what a joke Shaq is done
TPark now: why is everyone laughing about this trade, this is serious!
Lame
The Spurs need only to get his big ass in foul trouble and get him off the court. The key contributors on that team are Amare, Nash and Hill. Also remember D'Antoni only plays about 7 player in the playoffs anyway.
If it was that easy to do Shaq wouldn't have 4 rings. It's not like he's going to get benched for slagging on defense.
The key contributors on that team are Amare, Nash and Hill. Also remember D'Antoni only plays about 7 player in the playoffs anyway.
Call it a hunch, but I think if Shaq is healthy you can pretty much pencil him in as a key contributor.
Good move by Suns but time will tell. Regards, PDR
I admit, I'm curious to see how this 2008 version of "the Diesel" will help the Suns
Like you know the weights
j/k
Shaq's got the eye of the tiger.
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