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Posted: **Fri Mar 7, 2008 9:07 pm**

I didn't see a thread on this

the article opens with this

"If it works, I'm a genius. If it doesn't, I'm a moron, I guess." -- Steve Kerr

and closes with this

"The stated purpose was to help the Suns once they got to the postseason, but nobody ever considered that it might prevent them from getting there."

and has some interesting points along the way - the whole thing is here - free insider preview

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/ ... uns-080307

so which is it, are the suns post trade struggles a transitional period that will work itself out, or are they showing, like many thought at the time, that the trade was doomed from the start.

Posted: **Fri Mar 7, 2008 9:11 pm**

Really good read. He makes a good point about pace in the playoffs. I like where he says that the Suns don't lose because teams play slower, they lose because the play teams that are better than them.

Posted: **Fri Mar 7, 2008 9:11 pm**

Pretty much what I was scared of.

The trigger to the trade was when the Spurs beat the Suns in a slow tempo game without Parker, scores were 87-85 I think.

Basically, the thought of Shaq getting doubled and then finding the open cutter or shooter in a slow down offense came to his mind.

But now, teams are out running the Suns to beat them... its ironic in a way.

Posted: **Fri Mar 7, 2008 9:13 pm**

thamadkant wrote:Pretty much what I was scared of.

The trigger to the trade was when the Spurs beat the Suns in a slow tempo game without Parker, scores were 87-85 I think.

Basically, the thought of Shaq getting doubled and then finding the open cutter or shooter in a slow down offense came to his mind.

But now, teams are out running the Suns to beat them... its ironic in a way.

Exactly, but teams don't necessarily have to play slow in the playoffs to attact your defense!

Posted: **Fri Mar 7, 2008 10:05 pm**

I think it's rather mind-boggling to think that the Suns front office actually made the common mistake of equating pace factor with defense, and ended up making a huge personnel decision on that basis.

I read that article earlier today. Hollinger really tore Steve Kerr a new one.

"Theory: The Suns will be better once they stop committing turnovers."
"Reality: The Suns are committing turnovers because they traded for them."

"Theory: The Suns can still run with Shaq."
"Reality: Opposing teams can run on Shaq."

"Theory: We can't truly gauge this trade until the playoffs."
"Reality: The Suns might not even make the playoffs."

Ouch.

One more thing: can you believe that Marion averaged a +/- of more than +10 over the past 3 1/2 years on a team with Nash and Amare? That is just amazing, regardless of what you think about the +/- stat.

Posted: **Sat Mar 8, 2008 1:17 am**

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Hollinger on suns

Hollinger on suns