Good article fron Espn (yes, really, I pinched myself to death) on the Shaq trade

[DazedAndConfused]

The Suns needed a big-man like Andres Biedrens who would not slow down their running game. Instead they got the furthest thing from that.

[Mister Sinister]

I like Quiet Storm.

It's no Stone Buddha, but it's a of a lot better than Big Fundamental.

I'd suggest Black Bolt, but I'm afraid the comic book reference would be lost on too many people.

[ATRAIN]

I think the eulogies to the Suns up-tempo basketball are very premature. It's not like the Suns run a 5-man fast break.

Did they run with Kurt Thomas on the floor?

This was on the article under the picture as well and as far as I remember from the handful of games I have seen it was usually the case.

"While Steve Nash did the dishing, it was usually Shawn Marion out front on the Phoenix fast break"

[LakeShow]

It should be a Vbookie on how long it will be before Shaq says that, "He doesn't get the ball enough?"

Things to watch,

I can see this getting worse than Marions whining. If the Suns are winning with Shaq starting the break, everything may be ok BUT the minute they lose some games, I can see Shaq holding the ball and slowing it up so he can get down court. He's not going to like those quick shots if he's working hard on Defense.

How long before Shaq gets the coach fired? I think this is inevitable. The suns coach is not the coach for Shaq. He wont like him.

I wanted Shaq to retire because he was a s of hisself. I hated to see him embarrass hisself. He was looking quite pathetic most of the season. Now? Let him play out his contract in Phoenix, no need to retire, get the money Shaq!

[dbreiden83080]

A part of me feels Shaq is almost underserving of this one last shot at a ring. I will never deny his all time great status but this is a guy that has showed no loyalty whatsoever to any team he has ever played for. Orlando was not Hollywood enough for him so as soon as he could he fled to the glamour of LA and the Lakers. He wins his rings in LA and is part of a huge run and then he decides he hates Kobe and wants insane money to stay in LA when he is on the decline of his career. Gets shipped to Miami, plays well wins another ring but now that things have all gone downhill he whines and complains about management and makes it easy for the HEAT to trade him. He has bounced around so much, who the is ever retiring his jersey to the rafters?? Certainly not Bus and the Lakers with that fractured relationship. It is not a secret that he is a tough guy to coach, as you had better be a coach with rings if you want him to pay attention to you. I just don't like the guy and find him underserving of this oppurtunity.

[Strike]

The SUNS had no choice but to make a move. High risk. High reward to be sure.
Small ball/run & gun/D'Antonis 3 ring circus regular season offense wasn't going to win anything.
SPURS fan's know this as well as anyone.

I get the high risk part. But where's the high reward?

Maybe I'm blind but I just don't see it. This isn't the Shaq that carried the Lakers to a 3-peat. This isn't even the Shaq that gravy trained Dwayne Wade (and the refs) in '06! He's older, slower, less durable, and just as arrogant.

If he can stay healthy and actually WORK, then yes I can see the reward. But the risk in this case far outweighs it.

[remingtonbo2001]

If anything, having Shaq on your team will allow the Suns to run even MORE. The biggest key to being a running team is you must dominate the paint (on the defensive end) and get rebounds. With Shaq and Amare on the court, they can use those two to get key rebounds and start their fast break (with Amare joining the break)

And when the game slows down (which it will) in the playoffs, then the Suns can opt to go to Shaq more often in the half-court on offense. Even with his fading athletic ability, Shaq is still an excellent passer in the half court.

Good point. I'm really not sure how this trade will work out. The obvious question is Shaq's health. If he's healthy I can't imagine him not being productive in some manner. I'm curious exactly how D'Antoni will use him. Where will his spot in the rotation be? How many minutes a night?

[mardigan]

If anything, having Shaq on your team will allow the Suns to run even MORE. The biggest key to being a running team is you must dominate the paint (on the defensive end) and get rebounds. With Shaq and Amare on the court, they can use those two to get key rebounds and start their fast break (with Amare joining the break)

And when the game slows down (which it will) in the playoffs, then the Suns can opt to go to Shaq more often in the half-court on offense. Even with his fading athletic ability, Shaq is still an excellent passer in the half court.

Great post

[DazedAndConfused]

If Shaq is healthy.

How many people here honestly think Shaq will be able to keep up in PHX's system for the entire playoffs?

[ApolloCreed]

If Shaq is healthy.

How many people here honestly think Shaq will be able to keep up in PHX's system for the entire playoffs?

I believe. This is his whole life here. He's gotta want it more!

Eye of the tiger!

[dbreiden83080]

I believe. This is his whole life here. He's gotta want it more!

Eye of the tiger!

Giving us a little Rocky 3 and 4 i see.