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Shaquille O'Neal is taking a note from Phoenix Suns fan Alice Cooper as he approaches the 2008-09 season: No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Last year, O'Neal joined Phoenix in February in a trade with the Miami Heat. O'Neal said he tried not to rock the boat with a team that had the best record in the NBA. He just tried to find his place in the Suns' frenetic running game while providing the rebounding and defense they needed.

Now that the Suns have revamped their team, O'Neal looks to establish himself as the drill sergeant he always has been.

“Last year, I had to play it nice. There was some bad verbiage that came from the other organization about me,” O'Neal said about his war of words with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley following the trade. “I was showing everyone I was a nice guy. But yeah, I'm going to step up and take over.

“As far as vocal leadership, and getting everyone ready and knocking people out when they (mess) around, yeah, I got that.”

With O'Neal around for the preseason, it will afford him more time to jell with his teammates and to find a rhythm with each other in a new system. The Suns hired a new staff, led by head coach Terry Porter, who will emphasize more defense for the fast-paced Suns.

“We'll have a defensive structure and foundation as a result of having a year-long focus with Shaq in the fold,” Suns general manager Steve Kerr said.

Adjusting after trade

Last year, Kerr was heavily criticized for making the trade for O'Neal. The Suns had the best record in the NBA at the time, but gave up All-Star Shawn Marion. The Suns believed a large presence in the post was missing in their championship runs the last few years.

O'Neal averaged 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Suns. However, the Suns lost in the first round to defending champion San Antonio.

The defining game of the series was Game 1, when the Suns lost 117-115 in double overtime, thanks in part to a rare 3-pointer by Tim Duncan. He was 0 for 4 during the season from behind the 3-point line. The Suns had led by 16 points during the game.

After the Suns lost the series in five games, coach Mike D'Antoni left to coach the New York Knicks.

“(O'Neal) is such a major presence, literally and figuratively, that it was tough to put him in there on the fly,” Kerr said. “With that said, he played really well. All people can remember is that we lost in the first round.

“I get a lot of ‘Shaq didn't work out,'” Kerr said. “Well, I think he did. We played pretty well. We were really hot going into the playoffs. If we don't blow Game 1, who knows what happens? But the fact is, we lost, everything happened, Mike left, we got a new coach and a new staff, and we have a chance to get better.”
Different days than L.A.

But O'Neal admits he won't be the same dominant force that he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. He said his days of 27 points and 10 rebounds per game, which he averaged during the Lakers' three title runs in 2000-2002, are a thing of the past.

O'Neal accepts his role of providing a large presence in the paint and being a crucial part of the new defensive approach.

“I actually love playing defense,” O'Neal said. “I stepped away from defense when they started calling knick-knack fouls. When I first came in, I used to go get them a lot. Now with the flopping and all that, you got to take it easy. I like playing defense and playing my guy one-on-one.

“We'll see how the game is called, and if they let you play. If they do, I'll go looking to block shots, but it's vital I stay in the game. But I don't want to be, every game, on the bench with knick-knack fouls.”

O'Neal also wants to use his 16 seasons in the NBA to help guide All-NBA forward Amare Stoudemire and mold rookie center Robin Lopez.

“John Wooden told me a long time ago, the true definition of a great player is how you make your teammates around you better. I did that since Penny, since everyone,” O'Neal said. “He's (Amare) going to be the next one, so I'm trying to put him in position to play 15, 16 years.”

There also might be a sense of urgency for O'Neal, too. He was quoted last month as saying he has 735 days remaining in his career, referring to his contract ending in 2010.

“We got Shaq at a good time because he knows this is it,” Kerr said. “He knows that this is his last chance here the next two seasons to go out with a bang. So he's motivated and he's in good shape.”

The Diesel wrote:But I hope this doesn't mean he will start bad-mouthing people behind their backs like he did in Miami.

All i know is, when he's angry he's known to do certain things, like win championships.

For a guy with the name "The Diesel", you sure ride the big fella pretty hard haha

The Diesel wrote:I don't criticize him non-stop. Have I criticized him a lot recently? Absolutely. Because he deserves the criticism.

tsherkin,

You mentioned that Shaq won't be a chemistry problem, but a reporter who covers the Heat said recently that the chemistry on that team is much better now that Shaq is gone.

And I have a feeling he WILL complain about a lack of touches at one point; remember, he was complaining last year in Miami before he was traded and it seems he's in denial over his decline.

Seems like he still THINKS he can be a dominant player even though he has lost all of his athleticism which was such a huge part of his success in his younger days.