Game 18 December 4, 2008: Suns @ Mavs

[JES12]

I think carlisle handles all the young guys quite good (and fair), something that couldnt be said about avery

[DDansby123]

Devin is like a half foot taller and plays better D. That's not even a close comparison.

Earl Boykins is closer

I think the point was: who needs Harris when you've got Barea?!

I do have to give Barea a lot of credit for his play over the past few games. I know he's still going to frustrate the hell out of me when he overdribbles and overpenetrates, but I hope he keeps this up and proves me wrong.

One more note, and this is really weird given what just happened, but I'd like to see Shaq on this Mavs team. 14 PPG and 8 RPG while shooting 58% from the field is pretty salty. And his contract is workable into a 2010 rebuilding plan. It'd be hard to match salaries, though, and I highly doubt Phoenix would trade him for anything we'd be willing to give up.

[GREEN8]

Know what's funny Barea starts in front of Green and gets 31 minutes. Give Gerald Green 31 minutes and we'll see what happens. You guys hated Barea now since he had a couple of good games you love him same with Gerald. WTF was he supposed to do in 1 minute?

[crucifixx]

Dude, chillax

[JES12]

One more note, and this is really weird given what just happened, but I'd like to see Shaq on this Mavs team. 14 PPG and 8 RPG while shooting 58% from the field is pretty salty. And his contract is workable into a 2010 rebuilding plan. It'd be hard to match salaries, though, and I highly doubt Phoenix would trade him for anything we'd be willing to give up.

If Shaq can't run with the Suns, what makes you think he will fit in here? Dampier runs the floor better than Shaq. If we went back to Devin Harris, then yeah, Damp + Stack for Shack saves Phoenix $9.5 mil and we upgrade, but with Kidd, we should not touch Shaq as he is one of many players that Kidd would have zero ability to make better and may even work to the old half court stuff that Avery liked.

[DDansby123]

If Shaq can't run with the Suns, what makes you think he will fit in here? Dampier runs the floor better than Shaq. If we went back to Devin Harris, then yeah, Damp + Stack for Shack saves Phoenix $9.5 mil and we upgrade, but with Kidd, we should not touch Shaq as he is one of many players that Kidd would have zero ability to make better and may even work to the old half court stuff that Avery liked.

Totally disagree. First, I don't see why one player, particularly a C, negates a team's ability to run a fast break. Second, Shaq can still get position down low for high-percentage shots, and a PG like Jason Kidd can get him the ball when he's open. Kidd's passing ability is still important in a halfcourt set, though he's obviously at his best on the break. IMO, Kidd's made Dampier better (much moreso than Harris did), so Kidd making Shaq better isn't a stretch at all.

[JES12]

Agree to disagree

I also think Dampier has always been and always will be better than Shaq at grabbing the board and starting the fast break with his passing ability (not assists, but starting the break). Shaq just can't do that.

[DDansby123]

Agree to disagree
I also think Dampier has always been and always will be better than Shaq at grabbing the board and starting the fast break with his passing ability (not assists, but starting the break). Shaq just can't do that.

Damp's passing is extremely underrated.