Shaq to Phoenix

[rsavaj]

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Okur is soft, but he has three point range and he's 10 years younger than Shaq. That's why he can stay fresh while defending Duncan, but Shaq has condition problem.

Boozer prefers post moves, and they're different. But both Amare and Boozer are average defenders and Oberto can show bright performance when they forget him.

On the other hand Bowen is much better on defending Nash than defending Deron. And now we don't have to think Marion as well.

To be fair, I think Hill poses much more of an offensive threat than Marion did, as evidenced in the first game between the two of us.

I'm still skeptical that this will work......all we Suns fans can do now is

[Blame Rasho]

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To be fair, I think Hill poses much more of an offensive threat than Marion did, as evidenced in the first game between the two of us.

I'm still skeptical that this will work......all we Suns fans can do now is

Well with this trade it tells us that they honestly believe that Marion couldn't help them get to the next level. According to ESPN Coach D was the first to sign off on him and it was Kerr who was hesitant.

I don't know what was going on in the locker room but at the end of the day you know what you were going to get from Marion day in and day out. He was the cataylist for the PHX Suns system. With Shaq you don't know what he can give this team day in and day out. He is a gimpy player and the Suns aren't exactly a deep team. In the end of the day the Suns management and players might prove all of us doubters wrong and win a championship that they have not gotten in over 40 years. They might end up like Miami right now afterwards... but if you ask every Heat fan they would say that it was worth it swinging for the fences.

I am interested if Hill will get more mins or less mins after the trade.

[Ballings7]

difference being that okur and boozer dont attack the paint and draw fouls and test the defense

Boozer attacks the paint by facing up and driving, posting up, playing the pick and roll with Deron, cutting to the basket for easy scores. All are good for him. Does take a bunch of jumpers and is a very effective mid-range shooter, but he's one of the best and most skilled interior scorers in the whole league.

For a great example of this, see Boozer's playoff run last year. Aside from his play in general. He didn't go wild on Yao Ming and the Rockets defense being more of a jumpshooter, nor so against the Warriors and their lack of interior defense, and was a tough guard against the Spurs.

But he's more known for is his inside offensive game. Typically he's not thought of as a jumpshooting big man, rather than a mobile, strong, skilled post player.

and boozer prefers to shoot jumpers than make post moves

No, he does not.

You lack material on Utah/Boozer with this statement. He's really not more of a jumpshooter, he takes a handful of them, absolutely, but that's not what he does more than anything scoring-wise.

I can understand in possibly having limited access to the NBA in Austrailia, but, don't make these ignorant comments if so. Take into consideration how much you've seen and know about Boozer's game.

If anything, Boozer's balanced between taking jumpers and scoring inside. He's an all-around offensive player, including being a decent passer.

Go ask over at the Jazz board about Boozer's offensive attack if you don't believe me or tuncaboylu.

I am interested if Hill will get more mins or less mins after the trade.

I think it only increases, and will take on a bigger defensive role. You only have Barbosa/Tucker/Strawberry (for some time at SF) off the bench, and then Bell, who will play where Grant does (49% SF, 0.? at PF, and 5% at SG). Two of them rookies.

[rsavaj]

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Well with this trade it tells us that they honestly believe that Marion couldn't help them get to the next level. According to ESPN Coach D was the first to sign off on him and it was Kerr who was hesitant.

I don't know what was going on in the locker room but at the end of the day you know what you were going to get from Marion day in and day out. He was the cataylist for the PHX Suns system. With Shaq you don't know what he can give this team day in and day out. He is a gimpy player and the Suns aren't exactly a deep team. In the end of the day the Suns management and players might prove all of us doubters wrong and win a championship that they have not gotten in over 40 years. They might end up like Miami right now afterwards... but if you ask every Heat fan they would say that it was worth it swinging for the fences.

I am interested if Hill will get more mins or less mins after the trade.

I'm pretty sure Hill's going to get more mins. It seems like Hill+Diaw are going to have to step it up big time to fill the massive void left by Marion's departure. If last night's game vs NO is any indication, they're capable of doing just that.

[Blame Rasho]

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I'm pretty sure Hill's going to get more mins. It seems like Hill+Diaw are going to have to step it up big time to fill the massive void left by Marion's departure. If last night's game vs NO is any indication, they're capable of doing just that.

I think it would be in their best interest to not burn out Hill. You never know with a player with that many ankle injuries and it is better to be safe than sorry. Diaw should get some more PT time. He has proven he can handle it but for whatever reason he doesn't mesh with Amare and plays soft. Perhaps with Shaq on the floor that will be eliminated. He personally needs to step up in the rebounding dept more than anyone else on the Suns roster.

[Texas Longhorns]

Shaquille is goign to be a good matchup for the Spurs, an interesting one. Who will be guarding Shaq, not Timmy, but I think we can put Oberto on him so he can use his ability to exaggerate the contact given by Shaq thus, we getting the ball back and Shaq in foul trouble. That is if we play the Suns in the playoffs, We just need to worry about handling our business now to get 1 or 2 seed. I prefer 2 because of how much success it has had these past few years.

[Ballings7]

If last night's game vs NO is any indication, they're capable of doing just that.

Not quite for Diaw. In the 4th qtr and OT1, He was overpassing and passing up shots a lot, and rushed a couple he did take. D'Antoni took him out in OT1 after he passed up a shot, looked to pass, then rushed a hook shot. The Suns announcers were on him about it, as I've heard at times in the past, also.

He's still unreliable. He just needs to get a balanced mind-set offensively.

I think it would be in their best interest to not burn out Hill. You never know with a player with that many ankle injuries and it is better to be safe than sorry. Diaw should get some more PT time. He has proven he can handle it but for whatever reason he doesn't mesh with Amare and plays soft. Perhaps with Shaq on the floor that will be eliminated. He personally needs to step up in the rebounding dept more than anyone else on the Suns roster.

Yup.

However, I don't think Shaq coming in will help Diaw's aggressiveness. Considering the presence and role he's still going to be offensively. That seems to only favor him to pass more and differ.

Possibly if Shaq gets on him and tells him what he needs to do. Inspiring him to an extent.

[Donald Kaufman]

This is possibly the weirdest trade in history.

Doesn't really make much sense for the Suns, how does it make them better?

To make some sense out of it, I try and think about it if the roles were reversed. Say for example, the Suns were stuck with a soon-to-be 36 year old, broken down hasbeen and had the opportunity to trade for a 29 (? not sure) y.o. versatile, very decent defensive player in Marion. If I were a Suns fan, I'd be excited about that transaction.

Aren't the Suns run and gun? Shaq doesn't run and he hasn't gunned since about 2003.

[SD2042]

I have to consider this trade dumb from the Suns perspective. Shaq is 35 going on 36 by the time the playoffs will began. His injuries haven't allowed him to play on the court consistantly. He's missed too many games this season already. And considering his mobility. He will slowdown the Suns run and gun and may render then ineffective in the long run.

[nashill]

wow, 5 pages discussion about shaq in san antonio forum...i guess you are not worried at all..

[YiYaoYue]

I think marion did a really good job defending last year in the playoffs against duncan making it really close... i bet spurs are happy to see marion not gaurding duncan anymore... maybe my memory is incorrect. How has shaq guarded duncan?

[ray ray]

First of all, we don't need Shaq to be a dominate player, what we need from him is to be effective and to bring in some toughness. We all know that we are not getting Shaq from the 00-01 season but in MY opinion with a 50% Shaq in the playoffs we are much better than we were this yr with Marion. We have 2 players who can guard the post in Amare and Shaq and not many of you are mentioning how this trade is going to make Amare more of a dominate player.

Let me ask you guys a question, Who is Duncan going to guard? If he guards Shaq, Shaq can still over power anybody. If Duncan guards Amare I know that Amare is much quicker that Duncan and not to mention that this is going to open the lane becouse Amare can now hit the 15-18 ft jump shot consistantly. This is going to open up the lane for Barbosa, Nash and Hill to drive in when and if Duncan is guarding Amare.

I'm not saying that this is going to work either, but what impress me a lot from Shaq was his weigth (312 lbs) and his body fat (11%). Yes his numbers are down but let us not forget that he played about 20 games with out Dwyane Wade and beleive me when I say this, This current Suns team is better than the Heat team.

Oh yea, Shaq is motivated while Marion was not. Huge differance!

[Ballings7]

Nobody is expecting him or saying he needs to be dominant - becuase he won't be. Hasn't been consistently for a few years now.

We have 2 players who can guard the post in Amare and Shaq

Amare can't guard anybody, going to PF won't help him much other than he has less responsibility guarding the basket. Picks up fouls quite a bit, and will still. Doesn't pressure or make a noticable effort against his man. Doesn't rebound consistently well, thus isn't a "good" rebounder, but is above-average there. Effective shotblocker, but needs more discipline on going for blocks, because of being out of position on defense and for rebounds, when a block is missed in attempt.

Shaq's not the defender and rebounder he used to be, even two years ago with the Heat. When he was last motivated and best healthy. He's an erratic and limited defender/rebounder now, because of his age, declining game, lesser mobility. As well as motivational issues (which will be fine at first, but could well tail off eventually). He'll still be something defending and rebounding, and will clog the lane, but defense is not a solid part of his game anymore, or nearly what it used to be. A 16-year Miami radio host actually said defense and rebounding is a weakness for him now. Shaq also will get into foul trouble on a regular basis.

The key to it all and doing what he can bring, is his health.

[HarlemHeat37]

I think marion did a really good job defending last year in the playoffs against duncan making it really close... i bet spurs are happy to see marion not gaurding duncan anymore... maybe my memory is incorrect. How has shaq guarded duncan?

I don't remember this at all..the only effective defender at all vs. Duncan was Kurt Thomas..

[rsavaj]

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Yup.

However, I don't think Shaq coming in will help Diaw's aggressiveness. Considering the presence and role he's still going to be offensively. That seems to only favor him to pass more and differ.

Possibly if Shaq gets on him and tells him what he needs to do. Inspiring him to an extent.

I agree with pretty much everything that you and TDITM have said, but Diaw did play his best game in quite a while last night. His lack of aggression in the clutch ultimately cost the Suns a victory, but if he can keep up that aggressive mindset, I think that will help the Suns out a lot.

I actually did remark to my roommate today about how worried I was after watching Grant play last night. He was giving it 110%, going to the floor for loose balls, playing good, sometimes even great defense, exerting himself on offense....it just seems like he's trying to personally replace Shawn Marion, and I don't think that that is in the team's best interests in the regular season.

[Ballings7]

Yeah. Aside from Shaq, I think people are (naturally) overlooking how Marion gone possibly and will effect the Suns.

I think they might need to use the TE to go get another wing-player. Tucker (I'd guess he'll get a chance sometime)/Strawberry/Bell (part-time at SF) as the other bigger wing-players/SFs isn't that solid. Depends on that ownership, though.

[Blame Rasho]

wow, 5 pages discussion about shaq in san antonio forum...i guess you are not worried at all..

It pails in comparison to the amount of times that the Spurs are brought up on the Suns board...

[Magz50]

Let me ask you guys a question, Who is Duncan going to guard? If he guards Shaq, Shaq can still over power anybody. If Duncan guards Amare I know that Amare is much quicker that Duncan and not to mention that this is going to open the lane becouse Amare can now hit the 15-18 ft jump shot consistantly. This is going to open up the lane for Barbosa, Nash and Hill to drive in when and if Duncan is guarding Amare.

People forget this Spurs team was basically built to beat Shaq led teams. Spurs will just use Oberto/Elson/Horry to guard Shaq. it's not like Shaq has any speed or lift left either to easily score on them. Duncan can also play Shaq as well as anyone and we can always use Elson/Horry on Amare. Spurs are fine on D against the Suns frontline. It was much harder for us VS Marion, Amare front line as we didn't have any speed to keep up with Marion.

[mudyez]

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People forget this Spurs team was basically built to beat Shaq led teams. Spurs will just use Oberto/Elson/Horry to guard Shaq. it's not like Shaq has any speed or lift left either to easily score on them. Duncan can also play Shaq as well as anyone and we can always use Elson/Horry on Amare. Spurs are fine on D against the Suns frontline. It was much harder for us VS Marion, Amare front line as we didn't have any speed to keep up with Marion.

I dont fear shaq and would say too, that phoenix is easier to beat now, then before the trade,
BUT:
the kill-the-lakers team was the one with rasho and willis (+robinson) on it...we changed it to: kill the mavs (with oberto and elso) coz our bigs couldnt stay on the floor against smallball.

[NapoleonII]

Happily expecting for all of you to eat your words come May


So who is Timmy guarding? Amare? Because we all know what happened 3 years ago.