Random, Crazy Idea: What if we brought Shaq off the bench?

[rsavaj]

This might belong in the "Ideas to Improve" thread, but at phxsuns.net they have a spirited discussion going on about whether or not Shaq off the bench would be a good idea.

http://phxsuns.net/showthread.php?t=559

I, for one, think it would be an idea worth trying. A user named "Doctor G" sums up my feelings nicely:

I'm taking this for what it is, a flat out rumor. But it is intriuging. First; Shaq would have to be onboard 110% (and maybe even the one to suggest it). Secondly; Amare continues at PF and you slide Diaw over to the 5, which is where he played his best ball in the 05 season. This would allow Diaw to use his post skills, the ones we only see glimpses of this yr, but were a huge part of his arsenal in 05.

With the 2nd unit, you now have Shaq playing against 2nd tier players of which he should own, while continuing to get into better game shape. LB would have to be deemed the backup PG, since it's the only option I could see D'Antoni going with. On a good note, he has seemed to work well with Shaq at times. Maybe it could grow into something. Play him alongside Giricek, and you have 2 outside shooting threats which would help space the floor and allow Shaq room to operate down low or kick it back out for what should be a wide open 3.

This would provide us two things we dearly need, the ability to get some wins under our belts, and allow Shaq to become more familiar with the offense and get better conditioned. I actually like the idea a lot. This is rumorville, but it's still nice to dream. Especially onsidering the current state of affairs.

What do you guys think?

Nash
Bell
Hill
Amare
Diaw

Strawberry
Barbosa
Giriceck/LJ
Skinner
Shaq

Cheerleaders: Marks/Pike/Tucker

^^That looks like a great second unit with a mixture of perimeter O(Barbs/Gordan/LJ), D(DJ/LJ), interior O(Shaq) and D(Skinner).

[jlove_26]

I like the idea....However, I don't see it happening.

Reasons:
1. Shaq was brought in to help Amare with interior Defense, rebounding and to make it harder for teams to double team with both on the floor together.
2. Shaq is being paid $20 mil and isn't going to come in off the bench.
3. Shaq needs to play most of the game with Amare and Nash to be a complete team.
4. The foul troubles of both Shaq and Amare have gone down since the trade, except for one game, so far. Keeping them on the floor together keeps that aspect going.

[Melon Yellow]

We need Shaq to start because of what you said, it helps their fouls to stay lower than what it would be if they were not together. I think that the point of the big guy is to be on the Duncan's and Pau's of the West. If he comes off the bench, he might not always be on them. What's the point of having him if we're not going to utilize him correctly?

[rsavaj]

I like the idea....However, I don't see it happening.

Reasons:
1. Shaq was brought in to help Amare with interior Defense, rebounding and to make it harder for teams to double team with both on the floor together.
2. Shaq is being paid $20 mil and isn't going to come in off the bench.
3. Shaq needs to play most of the game with Amare and Nash to be a complete team.
4. The foul troubles of both Shaq and Amare have gone down since the trade, except for one game, so far. Keeping them on the floor together keeps that aspect going.

I agree with points 1 and 4, and you're probably right about point 2, but I think that management would be lame if they simply dismissed the idea because of Shaq's salary. As far as point 3, I really haven't seen Amare/Shaq/Nash gelling well at all so far.

[rsavaj]

And I'm not suggesting this as a permanent thing, just until Shaq gets into better "PHX SUNS" shape. Whatever it takes to get a W, you know?

[Melon Yellow]

Yeah, I wouldn't keep a guy on the bench just because of his salary, but then again it might feel like a waste of money. Plus, who says Shaq agrees and goes along with it. The last thing we want to do is create a rift with Shaq. That will not be a good thing. I say lets keep it how it is, give them some time, and then go from there.

[-SDU-]

LMAO - i sent this email to TASTIC this morning

Terrible thought here but

[eastsidecrossover]

Some good thoughts. I had to think of this before I came out and said that would never work. Well, I still think you need to start shaq, but maybe you bring Diaw in early to get him going and be somewhat aggressive. But having Diaw in when Nash is off is probably a good idea, to have him the focal point of the offense, especially when DJ or barbs is handling PG duties. Whatever you can do to get barbs to get that ball out of his hands, I am happy with that. He should score, but the longer he has the ball, the stupider he gets I think. Shaq should then get most of his touches and shot attempts during this time I think.

DA needs to be creative in what this team does due to all of the elements at stake. By using shaq and nash the right way, it allows us to play to our strengths if our players will grow some balls, and if DA would try to coach and think outside of the box and figure this out.

DA has to figure this out, and stick with a deeper rotation too.

[mkot]

I kinda touched on the idea of bringing Shaq off the bench when the trade happened. I've thought about putting the slower guys on the bench for more of a half-court/slowdown offense revolving around DJ, Bell, Hill and Shaq. But it was just an random idea that I threw out. Realistically, I don't think it might work. Even if we do it, I don't think it's a good idea. The sole purpose of trading for Shaq is to move Amare back to PF and keep him out of foul trouble. If we bring Shaq off the bench and play half-court while he's there, that's still go against our old philosophy of 'run-n-gun for 48 minutes'. And Amare still have to bang the opposing 5.

Again, I don't think Shaq slows down our run-and gun game. And even with Shawn, the 7 second or less baskets are hard to come by unless it's a steal or turnover that leads to easy baskets thanks to Shawn. The key for running game is to have younger, quicker players at the one, two and three positions, not the PF, and NOT the center. When the Showtime Lakers fast-break, most of the points are generated by the guards (Magic, Scott..) and the SF. It's rare to see the AC Green or Rambis to finish on the break. And Amare is faster than Green, Rambis or Thompson.

Keep Shaq in the starting lineup and hope for getting a balance with Shaq where we slow the game down with him, and really push the pace when he's not on the floor. The ball needs to spread around. We've come to rely too much on Nash finding/creating open shots and I really believe it's on Mike at this point. We have guys capable of making plays without needing Nash to set them up. We need to really mix it up and run some plays, rather than just rely on pick and rolls. We have Shaq in the low post, we have Hill, we have Amare to play high-low. Don't kill Nash for 40 minutes dribbling around like a mad man trying to create everything while others just standing and watching. There's no movement, and the spacing sucks, defenses can scheme to stop Nash all the time now because of it. Heck, even let Hill and Amare play the pick and roll just give teams a different look.

We need to swing the ball around. Let other guys make some plays. Let them feed Shaq, re-balance the floor and try and make the defense really work and move. We used to be great at it but since the trade we completely went away from it it seems. We were always great at spreading the ball, not just Nash creating everything. Nash would start alot of things, but everybody was moving, passing and cutting. We can still do it with Shaq, sure the spacing and angles are different, hopefully they can figure it out soon.

The defense I don't know, we're really lacking it right now. We should first stop showing on the pick and roll. That should be a good start...Shaq never liked showing on the pick and roll anyway and even though he made an attempt to the past few games he wasn't showing all the way which is even worse. Either show or don't show, but don't get caught in no mans land where you're not turning the guard back or defending the basket.

[GoDogGo]

Figuring out the mins has to be the toughest thing. Nash with Barbs is great for the O when they are clicking, but horrible on the D.

If Shaq starts, he needs to get the ball real low near the hoop. The other team fouls him almost automatically when he gets it there. Get their bigs in foul trouble. Then pull Shaq out, and let Nash and Stat work their screen and rolls, or Diaw doing the same thing. Never end the quarter with Shaq, or Barbs at point. If Nash is not out there to end the quarter, let Hill run point. We have him trying the Marion experiment anyways.

Skinner needs to get some mins, and DJ needs more time at the point.
I think Bell or DJ should be on the court at all times. If Bell comes out, DJ comes in. On the quick guard combos, we should try some Bell and DJ together, and run the O through Hill or Diaw to rest Nash.
Might as well try something new. DJ, Bell, Hill, Diaw, Amare or Shaq when Nash is resting for the last mins of the quarter. Strat the 2nd and 4th with Barbs.
I am really just reaching now.

[jlove_26]

-= original quote snipped =-



I agree with points 1 and 4, and you're probably right about point 2, but I think that management would be lame if they simply dismissed the idea because of Shaq's salary. As far as point 3, I really haven't seen Amare/Shaq/Nash gelling well at all so far.

Exactly, that's why he needs to be on the floor when they are, so they CAN gel before the playoffs start.