Shaq traded to Phx; Marion, banks to Miami

[YiYaoYue]

suns are going to become a changing offense... what that means is if they have shaq they start going half court... when shaq is out they start going fast paced... They going to basically put shaq in to stop the other teams big like a duncan, bynum, boozer. But guess what... those other guys will play more minutes than shaq and have better stamina so it will only slow them down a little. I can't imagine suns without marion.. that is the killer.. Shaq will help them a little, but losing marion is going to hurt them more than shaq will help them.

[amcoolio]

I told you before the season, I am a smarter GM than Kerr. Remember Kerr's column on yahoo before taking the job? Kerr didn't know anything about the NBA outside of what was on ESPN.

There is no way you can sit there with a straight face and tell me that I can't be as good a GM as Kerr. Who decided you have to be a former player or "someone in the know" to get a GM job anyway? I am way more in the know that a few of the GM's in this league.

[Das]

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How quickly one changes their views, eh?

Just yesterday, IISC, you were one to agree with a poster or two calling Wade no greater than the 15th best player in the league, and now this?

He did say in "The East" lol

[wilt]

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No personal offense intended but I remain shocked and appalled at how ignorant people truly are regarding how you actually operate a transition offense...

agreed. I do see the point that Marion will be missing as a finisher on the break and as an alley-oop target, but including Shaq means far less than people think for that break.
Think about it this way : If Stoudemire plays next to O

[scwarrior]

The suns aren't run and gun anymore. Does anyone here remember the first 2 years nash was on the team? it was break neck pace... last year with Amare and KT it was a bit different. But this year with Hill the suns are totally different. The year Amare was out and suns had KT was my favorite year -- it reminds me of golden state now.

yes, they utilize fastbreaks and 3s well, but they aren't quite the quick trigger/fastbreak team of old. Hill is more of a 2pt guy and while the record is good overall, the suns have sucked this year against WC elite teams. I kept thinking they needed a change... they just weren't as fun to watch anymore. The chemistry this season has been bad.

shaq may be old and slow, but think of the overall picture -- now we have amare and shaq down low. You can't double team either... Shaq has suffered a lot in his age because he STILL gets double teamed. Now he won't when Amare is in the game, or if he is it will be so easy to score. Shaq has learned to become a very effective passer. His numbers are going to go UP on the suns. The Heat had NO options this year, Shaq/Wade are swarmed. No Kapono to spread the floor.

Shaq also seems to get motivated by championship caliber teams. This year with the Heat he probably just wanted to hide, so embarrassing.

Everyone also forgets the Nash effect. Notice how people show up at the suns, and suddenly they seem a couple years younger (Hill) or better than they ever were (Raja Bell, Tim Thomas)?

Think of the WHOLE picture, Nash rejuvenating Shaq. I see at minimum 16/10 from Shaq, and with the inside combo of Amare/Shaq the suns will be even better. Amare plays his natural position. The suns become a 'normal' team, with their best chance to win.

Marion may have left next season, and dumping Banks with him makes shaq effectively a bit cheaper.

[hsb]

I hope PHX wins the title now so that Shaq can stick it to everybody and take 4 teams to the finals.

If Phoenix wins the title, Shaq may be the x-factor but no way is he taking any team to the 'ship now. Steve Nash and Amare are a lot better than Shaq at this point. Its weired to say, but Shaq is a role player on that team, at best.

I still don't understand this trade, if your going to trade Marion, maybe hold out on something else. Interior defense, imo, was the Suns greatest liability. Shaq will not improve it. If they meet the Spurs, Duncan will have a field day with all his arsenals of attack, let alone Shaq can easily get in foul trouble. By loosing Marion and gaining Shaq, I really think the Suns defense, in total, actually got worst. Can't wait to see Shaq play with Phoenix though.

Also, I've catched a good amount of Miami games now and then, and I think some people would be shocked how sporadically Shaq gets double teamed. Its not consistent like it used to be. But maybe some Miami posters can add some input on that.

[CaptainFanchini]

Run and gun small ball has not gotten the Suns to the NBA Finals and Steve Kerr the GM of the Suns sees that.

But it brought PHX from mediocrity to NBA top levels and WC finals ...

To not talk about Golden State before Nelson's smallball ...

[YiYaoYue]

I told you before the season, I am a smarter GM than Kerr. Remember Kerr's column on yahoo before taking the job? Kerr didn't know anything about the NBA outside of what was on ESPN.

There is no way you can sit there with a straight face and tell me that I can't be as good a GM as Kerr. Who decided you have to be a former player or "someone in the know" to get a GM job anyway? I am way more in the know that a few of the GM's in this league.

I'll come over and say "I told you so" if marion start tearing things up with wade in miami and they start moving close to playoff position.

I think you underrate marion... Big reason okafor for marion is bad is that one is younger and has more potential. If you put it into a push for playoffs perspective I think marion would have put charlotte right in position to make playoffs.

[canguy20m]

because of Shaq's health they might lose a couple more games during the regular season but if he's healthy in the playoffs, they are definitely a better title contender.

[scwarrior]

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But brought PHX from mediocrity to NBA top levels and WC finals ...

I don't think it was necessarily the style, but more Steve Nash. Nash can play at breakneck pace, or a bit slower. As he ages, it might be a good idea to slow the tempo a little.

the suns were losing to the 'true' run and gun teams like the warriors anyway.

[CaptainFanchini]

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I don't think it was necessarily the style, but more Steve Nash. Nash can play at breakneck pace, or a bit slower. As he ages, it might be a good idea to slow the tempo a little.

the suns were losing to the 'true' run and gun teams like the warriors anyway.

IMHO it's not just Nash, but also the style, the other players and the coach.

And anyway Nash "is part" of small ball: how was playing Dallas during the Nash times ? run and shot ... and this brought a mediocre team to the NBA top.

[Jules Winnfield]

I'm sick of hearing about steve nash. The guy just isn't a winner. First you give him Dirk and he sucks. Then you give him the most talented team in the league and he doesn't even get to the finals in 3 years. Now he needs Shaq?

And I gurantee you, if things go south, Suns fans and the media will blame Kerr instead of looking to what created such a desperation move in the first place (although, I think, they had a decent shot with some luck if they would've just stuck with Marion).

[TheKingOfVa360]

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How quickly one changes their views, eh?

Just yesterday, IISC, you were one to agree with a poster or two calling Wade no greater than the 15th best player in the league, and now this?

I never did such a thing. While I think Wade isn't what he is hyped up to be he is probably at Worst a top 12 player. You would think him leading the Heat to the worst record in the East would open up some homers eyes but they want to put all the blame on Shaq.

[JellosJigglin]

Thank God they didn't get Okafor. As a Laker fan I would fear Phoenix more if they had Okafor because he would give them a defensive presence and a rebounder. Shaq doesn't really scare anyone anymore.

[Flash3]

if they were looking for a defensive presence, why not go for Okafor?

[Harry Heinous]

From the Suns board:

Rumblings that it will fall through...keep an eye out.

This guy has been on the money so far. Oh crap...

[Flash3]

Shaq forgot how to cough?

[JoshB914]

The Suns are clueless. They could have had KG in the off season but refused to give up Amare. Now they have to make this desperation move to try and get some low post D. They know they can't match up with Duncan/Chandler/Gasol because Amare is so horrible defensively. They could have changed that on draft day but inexplicably refused to part with Amare in exchange for KG.

[YiYaoYue]

lol Shaq might not pass the physical... that is what falling through means...

[Jules Winnfield]

Hahahah if it does fall through, there's going to be a firesale for Marion. No way they can keep the guy now.