Analyzing the Phoenix Suns trade

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

The Phoenix Suns are OKAYING Shaq's Psychical away from completing a deal that would send the Big Diesal to the Phoenix Suns organization for disgruntled SF Shawn Marion and PG Marcus Banks. Understandably, many Phoenix Suns fans feel iffy about the move. I would like to clarify why Steve Kerr did this, and what makes it so good for the CURRENT Phoenix Suns style.


-Shaquille O'Neal has always been a good NBA passer, in both the half-court and full court. Imagine O'Neal securing the rebound, outletting it to Nash in the half-court to give it to Amare/Diaw for the easy layup and dunk. On the flip side of that, Nash has always been a notoriously pheneomonal 3pt shooter. His averages will skyrocket with both Amare and Shaq to create open space for him.

- A motivated Shaquille O'Neal dominates the post like no other. On days where Amare Stoudemiere is not feeling it, Shaquille O'Neal can easily get points in the paint and create difficulities for teams on the defensive end.

-Amare Stoudemiere's constantly improving jump shot allows him to benefit from a Shaquille O'Neal that again is a great passer. Look for Stoudemiere to exploit this and become a much better player.

-Boris Diaw needed an oppurtinity. He rebounds, he passes, he plays defense extremely well. Due to the Shaquille O'Neal trade, Boris Diaw does not have to duplicate Marion's numbers. His playmaking abilities alone will give teams problems as Steve Nash is not the only faciltator.

DEFENSIVELY:

One of the problems for the Phoenix Suns is despite how fast they run, it's incredibly tiring to run the other way back. Shaquille O'Neal, due to his great outletting ability does not have to run with the 4 other Suns. He can lay back in the paint, ready to patrol it. The Phoenix Suns have become ENERMOUSLY better on fast-break defense due to the trade.

Half Court defense you have two guys who are 6'11(at miniumn) and a versatile Boris Diaw defending the paint. The Phoenix Suns got dominated by Tim Duncan/Dirk Nowitski. With a helping partner(Shaq no less), Amare Stoudemiere will be able to thrive as a team defender.

Finally, every great NBA team has a good-to-great wing man defender and a good-to-great big man defender. With Boris Diaw and Raja Bell on the perimeter, and Shaq clogging the paint. The Phoenix Suns defense now looks legitimate.


The Phoenix Suns have lost nothing and have gained, when motivated the best center in the NBA period. They have numerous strengths and no weaknesses. They can now play fast break better AND half court offense better.

One will argue: "This is all if Shaq's motivated", rest assured he is. Because unless he's lying: He wants to win at least 5 championships. And if he stays motivated for the rest of his contract to the degree where he's still a presense inside the paint. He may challenge Bill Russell's 8 titles.

GO PHOENIX 08'!

[kevin44]

This trade will cost you guys the division and will end up costing you valueable playoff position. 4 or 5 seed if your lucky. Marion is one of the best all around players in the league. The only things he doesn't do well is shoot the 3.

[MJallday59]

Challenge Bill Rusell's titles???? See.... I was almost with you....I mean really i was...

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

I mean, it's a long shot that Phoenix stays that good for 3 years(And Shaq stays that motivated), But I really do think possibly for 2 years at most.

[SamBone]

WOW thats all I can say. Hope it works out for you guys. Should be awesome team

[Cash]

That post was good for a laugh.

[tsherkin]

He may challenge Bill Russell's 8 titles.

GO PHOENIX 08'!

Bill Russell doesn't have 8 titles.

He has 11.

He has one for every finger and then one more besides that.

And Shaq will have, at most, 5 titles. I hope he gets number 5 in Phoenix, that'd be awesome, but let's not be ridiculous; he's retiring when his current contract expires, I don't think there's really any question about that and he's certainly not playing long enough to make a bid for more titles beyond that unless Phoenix wins consecutive titles with him.

[Seattlesun]

-= original quote snipped =-



Bill Russell doesn't have 8 titles.

He has 11.

He has one for every finger and then one more besides that.

And Shaq will have, at most, 5 titles. I hope he gets number 5 in Phoenix, that'd be awesome, but let's not be ridiculous; he's retiring when his current contract expires, I don't think there's really any question about that and he's certainly not playing long enough to make a bid for more titles beyond that unless Phoenix wins consecutive titles with him.

remember how kareem's career was significantly lengthened by taking on much lesser role of defense and rebounding with far less offensive responsibility. i could see a similar situation developing here for shaq.

[eastsidecrossover]

so kevin44, when you are wrong, will you admit it? I do not think this team will fall that far down. I think they have a chance, especially in the playoffs this time. but we have to see if it is goign to work out. Around Shaq, this team is still an eleit team. question is, will shaq accept a lesser roll and fallow in the footsteps of Kareem and Wilt to win more.

[flanpaw42]

^^^^ i think shaq will be more than willing to accept a lesser role. he wanted a bigger role because the heat were losing and had lesser players. with the suns he doesnt have to do very much. lets face it shaq looks very highly on nash and amare. why wouldnt he accept a lesser role.

[tsherkin]

-= original quote snipped =-



remember how kareem's career was significantly lengthened by taking on much lesser role of defense and rebounding with far less offensive responsibility. i could see a similar situation developing here for shaq.

I still think Shaq will retire when his current contract is up but I think it may lead to another title to close out his career. I'd love if Shaq won #5 and then won #6 in his last year and retired on that note.

[Seattlesun]

^^^ YOU would love it? I cry just thinking about it...

[Sinistar6]

My take...

Great trade for Phoenix and Miami.

Kerr is trying to capitalize during Nash's MVP window (it can't be that much longer) A motivated O'Neal and its over. Although he has been tanking this season, he still is Shaq. Nash passing to Amare and Shaq... This deal also saves the Suns a million dollars.

Miami-Riley pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

[kevin44]

eastsidecrossover- If I am wrong I sure will. With Marion you guys were the best in the west, especially with the Spurs sucking. The Lakers would have challenged you guys with Gasol, but even if Shaq gets healthy he is not the same shaq that everyone remembers. I watched last nights game and was thinking if Shaq was on the team he would have fouled out before regulation and he can't keep up with a pace like that. The suns either get a easy layups by pushing the ball or shoot the three.

[kevin44]

Since I can't pm you, Eastsidecrossover, and the season is about over my prediction has come true. At least the Suns made the playoffs with Shaq, but if you still have your doubts about Marion's value just look at your current playoff position. Good luck in the playoffs.

[enigmatics]

Since I can't pm you, Eastsidecrossover, and the season is about over my prediction has come true. At least the Suns made the playoffs with Shaq, but if you still have your doubts about Marion's value just look at your current playoff position. Good luck in the playoffs.

Your comments about your "predictions" are so absurdly naive. In the first half of the season the Marion-involved Phoenix Suns feasted on arguably the league's easiest schedule, that's precisely why they had been the top spot in the Western Conference at that point. Yet at the same time, in the games they did play vs. the conference's best, they lost the majority of them. What good does it do you to have the best record, but you can't beat the best? Please enlighten us.

The trade was then made to be able to compete with the best and they've shown that they can now, but it depends on which squad walks out onto the court that night.

Do us a favor. When you make predictions - wait for the season to end. Flapping your gums about your predictions coming true are absolutely worthless as the year is not over.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Kevin44,

I've been a Suns fan since the beginning of the franchise and while I'll freely admit the Shaq trade cost us at least 3 or 4 wins...wins that would have given the Suns the #1 seed in the west (not a big prize)...the trade has no doubt given us a better chance to win it all.

The "Marion Suns" would have looked real sexy with 60 or 62 wins, but would have surely gone down due to their lack of rebounding...interior presence. Shaq may not take us to the promised land, but Marion and the Suns had virtually no chance because they had no rebounding and Amare was always in foul trouble.

The door for the run and gun Suns closed when the West got just that much stronger this year. Thank God! Kerr recognized this fact and made the bold move of acquiring Shaq. At least we have a chance.

[PHXfan85]

Way to bump old, irrelevent threads. Back to your cave troll!

[8/24]

I was one of the few Laker fans that did not like the Shaq trade to Phoenix (because it made them better for the stretch run). He may not be as dominant as in 2000- 2002, but he is still a force inside and the middle is no longer open for layup drills.

Phoenix is much better today than thy were with Marion. That said, next season could be a different story. Just look at Miami post championship.....Shaq can no longer play an 82 game season.

[Christine-In-AZ]

^^As a Laker fan you of course have no idea what it's like to be still waiting for just one friggin championship...over and over! At least with Shaq this year the Suns have a fighting chance.

In the next two years? I don't care, don't suit him up til February...start adding young talent and take our chances in the playoffs.

better than getting beat up yearly