Shaq Diesel in the Desert??

[jokerjkny]

dang,

i obviously dont watch sportscenter enough...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3235331

[santucci218]

they told him thats where the money was and he moved to the desert.

[gkbass13]

i think it was more about him not wanting to retire ina place that is rebuilding

[jokerjkny]

does this make the suns better? i'm on the fence about this one...

[gkbass13]

i think they are a better team with marion, but if the diesle is healthy in the playoffs they have a better chance of going deep. helps ina huge way with their half court offense.

[Spector_Ray]

He's old for an NBA player and very susceptible to injury. He won't last long and the Suns won't be any better, IMO.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by gkbass13

i think it was more about him not wanting to retire ina place that is rebuilding

Shaq had no choice. He was traded.

This makes a lot of sense for the Heat. They weren't going anywhere with Shaq and getting out from under his $20 million a year contract is huge. In two years they will still have Wade under contract and a ton of cap room. Maybe this year if Marion opts out of his deal, though I don't see him leaving $17 million on the table.

As for Shaq, we'll have to see. He's always had problems with motivation. He gets complacent, out of shape and drags his team down. Look at how he lost weight, refocused and won a title in Miami. I don't think he can still be a huge force, but if he can rebound, clog the lane and change/block a few shots and be a low post threat he definitely will give Phoenix an added dimension. I guarantee you that we will see everything he's got left in the tank for this season.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

He's old for an NBA player and very susceptible to injury. He won't last long and the Suns won't be any better, IMO.

In terms of their regular season play/record, I think you're right. But in the playoffs? I think he can (and probably will) make a big difference. When the game slows down and the Suns have to grind out points, having a post threat will add the dimension that they have needed in the postseason. Shaq's presence will also accomplish the same thing Nash's penetration does, namely drawing two defenders and opening up outside shots. And as broken down as he has looked, I still see him being able to score when needed.

I'm curious to see how deep in the playoffs the Suns go.

[Flabby1]

the suns run constantly, shaq's not even going to be on the offensive end of the court half the time. are they gonna change their offense completely so they can post shaq up? sure he'd be decent defender, assuming he'd ever be healthy enough to play.

[mattsk42]

I think this says it best. For better or worse, "he definitely will give Phoenix an added dimension."

They obviously will NOT run when he's on the floor. When he's OFF the floor, they can still run.

I'm still waiting to see him playing in a Suns jersey. That will be weird.

[mike_v_s]

It was a calculated risk for Phoenix and I think they did well. They were not getting it done as a run and gun team and simply were not able to play as well when an opponent was able to slow down the tempo. The Spurs beat them by beating them. Shaq gives the Suns the ability to stay in the game when it gets physical and slow. He adds to a team just by being a hunk of meat that has to be navigated around.

Mike

[cheezewiz]

HORRIBLE move by the Suns. Marion must have DEMANDED a trade and this was all the Suns could get. Shaq was a force in his day. It's not his day any more. He's old. He's fat. He's slow. He can't run any more. He's constantly injured. He plays completely the opposite of the "Suns way". If he's healthy at the end of the season, I'll kiss Maki's tushy while I'm dressed like a Korean Cheerleader.

[Dr. Cheese]

Shaq always coasted on his natural ability and was never good about conditioning. If he had worked at it, he could have dominated like Wilt Chamberlain. I think he is physically at a point in his life that he can no longer turn it on when he wants to anymore. If he is healthy, he will just be a big guy clogging up the middle. I think he could help the Suns, but only in spots because I don't think he can hang in their high octane offense.

BTW, I am no fan of Kobe Bryant, but I think we can see his criticism of Shaq more clearly now than when Shaq was first sent to Miami.

[StanFan]

I'd like to see the Suns be top dogs in the west, and I hope Shaq is the answer. I guess with their depth the Suns can afford to tinker with their lineup, but was this the right move for either team? I don't know. Shaq has the rings and playoff experience, but he was hardly ever a well conditioned athlete even in his prime as others have stated already. If Marion and Wade can gel next year, it's a steal of a deal for Miami.

[hbarcat]

Who?

What?





Oh.

[Spector_Ray]

Not to derail the thread, but I remember seeing his dad at Ft. Sam Houston when I was stationed there. I always wondered if they had to special order his uniforms. He was a big guy!

[burk48237]

Plus:
Shaq gives the Suns a good option in the low posts when the game slows down (not a great option anymore).

Shaq gives them a shot blocker and rebounder on the defensive end

Shaq brings winning playoff experience.

Shaq gives the Suns more fouls to give against other bigs

Shaq will get more easy baskets with Nash's passing

Minus:

Shaq's presence means the Suns now have two players with lousy defensive footwork in the low post.

Shaq means the Suns will now be worse ( hard to imagine) on pick and rolls especially against teams with good outside shooting big men, Utah, Detroit, Boston, and Dallas

The loss of Marion means the Suns lose their second best three point shooter and best wing forward on the fast break. He also was perhaps the Suns only adequate wing defender. They could actually be WORSE on defense with Shaq

The Suns now are saddled with two years at 20 mil each of a ridiculous contract for an aging player who has missed almost two thirds of his games in the last three seasons

My verdict, the Suns took a huge chance. I doubt it will pay off.

[Risen Ashes]

I think we got a steal. We get out of the 40 million in two years and get Marion...gives us room for new talent, bc well we NEED IT! I think this is the worse season I can recall as a Heat fan. At least the most pathetic one.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Plus:
Shaq gives the Suns a good option in the low posts when the game slows down (not a great option anymore).

Shaq gives them a shot blocker and rebounder on the defensive end

Shaq brings winning playoff experience.

Shaq gives the Suns more fouls to give against other bigs

Shaq will get more easy baskets with Nash's passing

I agree with everything here, but two more points worth mentioning.

The games always slow down in the playoffs. This has long been the knock on the Suns postseason chances. Also, Nash will get Shaq easy looks, but he'll do the same for everyone else, provided he can still establish deep post position and demand a double team, which I think he can.

Originally Posted by burk48237

Minus:

Shaq's presence means the Suns now have two players with lousy defensive footwork in the low post.

Shaq means the Suns will now be worse ( hard to imagine) on pick and rolls especially against teams with good outside shooting big men, Utah, Detroit, Boston, and Dallas

The loss of Marion means the Suns lose their second best three point shooter and best wing forward on the fast break. He also was perhaps the Suns only adequate wing defender. They could actually be WORSE on defense with Shaq

The Suns now are saddled with two years at 20 mil each of a ridiculous contract for an aging player who has missed almost two thirds of his games in the last three seasons

My verdict, the Suns took a huge chance. I doubt it will pay off.

Again, I agree for the most part. Especially about Shaq's being terrible against the screen and roll. There's a reason those Stockton/Malone Jazz teams used to sweep his Lakers.

As for Marion, I'm not sure when people's opinion of him got so high. He's been known to have been on the block for the last two years with no real interest. He's a tremendous rebounder for his size and a great finisher and spot up shooter, but he's not a complete player, let alone the guy that will save the Heat.

I think the Suns best perimeter defender is still Raja Bell. And Marion was a great shooter with the Suns, but so was Quentin Richardson. The Suns rotate in wings that can shoot seemingly on an annual basis. I think they'll be fine in the outside shooting department.

Shaq's contract is an albatross, but I'm sure the Suns are more than happy to pay it if it results in a title. A refocused Shaq might have just enough left in the tank to make that happen.

And if not, I believe his contract runs out at the same time Nash's does. They'll have enormous cap room to rebuild with.

[kserg]

Can't wait to watch one of their games...

They beat my sonics... but it was not on tv for me... and i don't think shaq played...


God my team sucks...