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"if it works I'm a genius. If it doesn't I'm an idiot."
-Steve Kerr



did the Shaq trade worked or did it set the Suns back?

C: Fired.

Shaq's been good. He's been doing everything he was brought in to do and then some.

Either way you look at it - with Marion or Shaq - the Suns are going to have defensive liabilities somewhere on the court. That will hold them back until they can do something about it.

Shaq's at the point where his strengths aren't dominant enough to make up for his weaknesses. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but he used to be so incredible that the fact he couldn't defend the pick and roll didn't matter. The fact that he couldn't hit free throws worth a damn didn't matter. Because he was so physically dominant.

The Suns would have been better with Shawn Marion, and most have believed this from the start.

etopn23 wrote:Shaq's been good. He's been doing everything he was brought in to do and then some.

Either way you look at it - with Marion or Shaq - the Suns are going to have defensive liabilities somewhere on the court. That will hold them back until they can do something about it.

true, i think overall the suns are better with shaq.

He took a chance. It didn't work out. Maybe they wouldn't have gotten any further with Marion but that didn't warrant trading for Shaq. But on the other hand...IMO the Suns have one more year in which they can win this thing. If they don't do it next year I am pretty sure they gonna rebuild.

I don't think he is either. He took a gamble and it didn't work, but the Suns weren't going to win with Marion anyway. I think it was worth a try. Its not like Marion is a young promising player, he was only going to be in Phoenix one more year. Shaq's contract is the real price of the trade. They didn't mortgage their future, Amare is the only quality young player they have.

I willhonor his judgement, and he is a moron. Good luck with Girichuck.

He's neither. He made a bold move in trading for Shaq, but he also gave up a good defensive player in Marion. As a result, the Spurs are going to town on the Suns. Nash needs to step up. Oh wait, the series is already over...

any Suns fans calling for Kerrs head should STFU. There were all talking about winning the 'ship 2 weeks ago.

Like people above me have said, Shaq has done what he was asked to do. Its not his fault. What that team needs is a new coach who would care to play some D and use some of the bench players. Oh and maybe trade or draft a young pg too to back up Nash

lukeridenour wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



true, i think overall the suns are better with shaq.

Yeah, IMO the Suns have been better with Shaq. Amare has been phenomenal thanks to the pressure that Shaq takes off of him in the post. Shaq was good in the regular season and has had a great post season. When's the last time you can remember Shaq putting up back to back 4 block games? He's def. exerted his presence in the post when he's been on the court. The foul trouble he gets into sometimes is the only real setback I've seen.

The problem has been on the perimeter. Barbosa = trash, Hill = injured, Nash = inconsistent, Bell/Giri = ineffective. It's weird saying this but the post offense has been better than the perimeter offense for the Suns during this series.

Anyways, I think it's just a matter of gaining more experience with one another more than anything else. Maybe they'll click next season.

They should have traded for Camby, not O'Neal.

Duiz wrote:They should have traded for Camby, not O'Neal.

Was Camby available? I don't see Denver trading him for Marion. What else does Phoenix have in trading assets?

Not that Camby would have fixed their defense either. He can't guard Duncan or even Gasol. He'd rack up blocks, but Phoenix's defense would still be awful just like Denver's.

exkonvict wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Trading for one defensive player doesn't make up for Nash, Diaw, Barbosa, and Hill being unable to play any kind of defense.

again, true.

they should have traded for okafor. He would have been perfect for them. Though not sure if they had the pieces to do so

Duiz wrote:They should have traded for Camby, not O'Neal.

Trading for one defensive player doesn't make up for Nash, Diaw, Barbosa, and Hill being unable to play any kind of defense.

Basileus777 wrote:Not that Camby would have fixed their defense either. He can't guard Duncan or even Gasol. He'd rack up blocks, but Phoenix's defense would still be awful just like Denver's.

He can guard. <-- Notice the period

The reason why I say that, look at how many layups Shaquille gave up to all around. The paint defense would become much much better than with shaq.

Duiz wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



He can guard. <-- Notice the period

The reason why I say that, look at how many layups Shaquille gave up to all around. The paint defense would become much much better than with shaq.

Teams don't get alot of layups against Denver? Camby's defense is overrated. They would give up a few less points, but Camby would be raped by Duncan.

Phoenix's problem is their perimeter D. They have one quality defender on the perimeter, the rest of their wingmen are awful.

Basileus777 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Teams don't get alot of layups against Denver? Camby's defense is overrated. They would give up a few less points, but Camby would be raped by Duncan anyway.

True, but Denver doesn't know how to use him. Not that D'Antoni would make him Kareem, but it must be some better use. Also, for the low offense Suns, Camby would have been perfect. Just Dalembert or Przybillia would have been better than Shaq. But Steve Kerr is looking at the bottom line.

Or they could have, you know, kept the best defender on their team.