(OT) Shaq to Suns (WITH LINK)

dwestside · Post #21 » by **dwestside** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 7:56 am

If this turns out to be true, this is a pretty transaction crazy season, and a lot of fun actually ...

BillessuR6 · Post #22 » by **BillessuR6** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:06 am

That is crazy for PHO!

mudyez · Post #23 » by **mudyez** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 9:44 am

I like it...marion was their best parker-defender...shaq cant defend the pick and roll and the gamespeed will take a hit for the suns...not that I bothered about the suns but now I just love to meet them in the playoffs....as for miami: what better supportingduo than marion+haslem can wade dream of?...add a high draftpick and they are back on their way to contention!

OT: Plz take a look at the link in my sig...there are only 1 slot open in the 08-fanatsy-draft (starting after the Allstargame) and it would be a pity if you miss it!

bruno sundov · Post #24 » by **bruno sundov** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 12:03 pm

I say PHO did this because the lakers just landed Gasol. The thinking must be they are going to have beat a strong front line come playoff time and Marion wasn't going to help do that. Marion always disapearred come may.

I, as many don't see how shaq fits on offense. I do see it on D. How much D does Shaq really play though?

GuyClinch · Post #25 » by **GuyClinch** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 12:53 pm

This is where scouting pays off.. The Suns are betting that Shaq can still play but he has been underutilized in Miami and just needs some motivation. Whereas fans against this deal think he is done. Who is right? We will get to find out..

Pete

GuyClinch · Post #26 » by **GuyClinch** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 12:59 pm

Concering Bruno's point about the O.

The Suns run a high BBIQ motion half-court offense - when they are in the half-court which they believe Shaq can fit in. Obviously they are going to have to sacrifice some run and gun behaviour as Shaq can only be the trailer...

Pete

bruno sundov · Post #27 » by **bruno sundov** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:28 pm

GuyClinch wrote:Concering Bruno's point about the O.

The Suns run a high BBIQ motion half-court offense - when they are in the half-court which they believe Shaq can fit in. Obviously they are going to have to sacrifice some run and gun behaviour as Shaq can only be the trailer...

Pete

Yeah I see how he fits in the halfcourt set. How does fit in when they are pushing the ball up hard after a miss. I see how it works with Amare. He is usaully the trailer finsihing with a dunk or close jumper. But Shaq, He might be 5 seconds behind Amare by then they have either gotten a good high percentage shot or are setting the half court offense.

So by the time Shaq consistanly gets his positon and is able to have the ball it might be 14-17 left on the clock. I don't know. We will have to see how it works, I just think Shaq changes the whole dynamic of this team upside down.

Also Shaq needs the ball to be affective. The days of Shaq getting position right away then catching the ball, taking a high percentage shot are gone. He needs to get the ball pound it for a while try to get closer to the basket with the ball in his hands. All this time the ball has stopped moving and it's not in Nash's hands anymore.

I just think at best it is a stretch that it works.

eitanr · Post #28 » by **eitanr** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:34 pm

Atrocious for Phoenix...doesn't this deal sound eery similar to Vin Baker coming to Boston?

GuyClinch · Post #29 » by **GuyClinch** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:35 pm

Yeah I agree it's a really high risk deal. However the Suns stand basically NO chance of winning with their current roster IMHO. So they are taking a gamble..

I don't think it's a good deal at this point as Shaq looks done. But I thought the Pats would win the Superbowl and didn't think the Sox would be world champions (after watching them in the regular season) - so who knows..

Sports has an element of unpredictability. I also think the Suns are banking on the I HATE KOBE element of the deal. Shaq is only 35. If he could get in shape he could probably still play. Maybe his hatred of Kobe will be enough..

Pete

Post #30 » by **UGA Hayes** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:45 pm

Isn't Shaq seriously injured????

The Rondo Show · Post #31 » by **The Rondo Show** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:50 pm

Shaq is also clearly not "done", despite the claim that he is by many fans. He's nowhere near the player he once was, but we're still talking about a very good center who is still a very good post scorer and has a PER of 20. The big problem for him is staying healthy and his bloated contract, not whether he can be a very effective player when he's out there.

He also gives Phoenix a big man who can defend the Duncan's, Bynum's, Yao's, etc. without getting completely torched like Amare has been all year and Amare's defense should improve to below average or average (who is a big step up from atrocious) now that he is covering guys his size. I'm with Pete, I don't think the Suns could've won a title with Marion at PF and Amare at center this year. Teams like San Antonio and LA (and really all teams with an elite big man) would just dominate them inside.

I also don't think Shaq is the brutal fit for the Suns system that most do. It's not like you need 5 guys running all the time and Shaq getting out on the break. Barbosa, Bell, Hill, Amare and all the athletic guys who can run will be getting out on the fast break for Nash. Shaq will anchor their D and be a nice weapon in the halfcourt offense/post when a teams transition D is getting the job done and not allowing the Suns to run them out of the building.

Interesting and a bit of a risky move by the Suns, but I'm one of the few who likes it a lot.

Dogen · Post #32 » by **Dogen** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 2:15 pm

I guess I'm one of the few who like this trade. Yeah, it will change PHX's style to some degree, but they've got veteran players who can adjust.

Shaq
Amare
Hill
Bell
Nash

Diaw
Barbosa
Skinner

That's a good 8 man rotation, and I suppose if a couple of those guys were a few years younger/healthier we'd be penciling this team into the finals. But PHX is obviously aware that their time is now. SA is looking vulnerable, and other teams are starting to improve. Better go for it now---next year is just going to be tougher with LA, POR, and others very improved.

BillessuR6 · Post #33 » by **BillessuR6** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 2:26 pm

One thing noone talks about is Banks getting a lot of minutes in MIA and possibly starting since the heat don`t have a PG (outside of a crippled Williams). That is a great opportunity for him! Everybody will be able to see again that he can`t run a team...

And what this means for our board? A very happy Pete! His favourite player will finally get some minutes! :lol:

DorfonCeltics · Post #34 » by **DorfonCeltics** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:09 pm

Yeah, I actually like this trade for both teams. The Suns get a powerful center so they can compete with the best teams in the West and the Heat get a second fiddle to DWade and some cap flexibility. There will be a slight change in the way Pheonix plays but I think they'll be a much better defensive team.

Post #35 » by **UGA Hayes** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:08 pm

To me the whole thing is dependent on whether Shaq can play. In reality Shaq only has two years on his contract since he will be an awesome expiring contract after that and if we have learned anything this year expiring contracts are important. Nash/Hill probably doesn't have much left so they have to try to win this year. If Shaq can play he is going to benefit from the fact that Nash, Hill, and Diaw are all way above avg and willing passers.

Again it all depends on the degree of Shaq's injury which to this point I was under the impression was at least mildly disabling.

GreenMachine · Post #36 » by **GreenMachine** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:16 pm

If DA had just been smart and keapt Banks... We could have Shaq right now!

GuyClinch · Post #37 » by **GuyClinch** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:50 pm

One thing noone talks about is Banks getting a lot of minutes in MIA and possibly starting since the heat don`t have a PG (outside of a crippled Williams). That is a great opportunity for him! Everybody will be able to see again that he can`t run a team...

And what this means for our board? A very happy Pete! His favourite player will finally get some minutes!

Yeah. This trade is a win win. Phoenix MIGHT do something to stop the Lakers - which is something we should always be hoping for as the Lakers are now a powerhouse. And Marcus can earn himself some more minutes...perhaps. No guarantees though - poor D. West is having trouble getting consistent minutes in Seattle. How hurt is Williams?

Also maybe Ricky Davis can start to get things together over there...he has been a real disappointment. <g>Will Blount get motivated and step up? When does his contract run out?

Pete

John Locke · Post #38 » by **John Locke** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:57 pm

If Shaq can give them 25-30 minutes a night, in 65-70% of his old form, the Suns are in a good place. And imagine how they could shift gears when he goes out, and play uptempo ball. That's crazy. And they can go big with Shaq, Amare, Diaw, Hill and Nash. The can go small with Bell/barbosa instead of Shaq.

Add the fact that Shaq is a much better personality then Marion, and is the opposite in the sense that he doesn't fade in the playoffs.

For Miami they're shaking up what needs to be shaken up. To bad they have Mark Blount starting at center, haha.

Tenbomber · Post #39 » by **Tenbomber** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 6:07 pm

Bleeding Green wrote:Shaq is perfect. He can stay on the opposite side of the court and just receive long-distance passes from Nash for easy buckets all game long.

You dont have to pay a guy 20 mil a year to do that?

A tall man in a guerrilla suit could do that for far less..

Joebiscuit · Post #40 » by **Joebiscuit** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 6:09 pm

I cannot believe I am saying this but I am not sure that this makes the Suns that much better. Shaq has been injured the past 3 seasons. The suns play a run and gun offense. How effective can this be is shaq is lumbering up the court? It seems to me Marion is a better player for what suns need.