Fakers at Suns 7:00 FSN AZ and ESPN

[FArting]

By MIKE VOTTA, STATS Senior Writer
Shaquille O'Neal loves giving himself nicknames, and now he's got a new one - "The Big Cactus." O'Neal will make his Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he helped lead to three straight NBA titles.
O'Neal was traded to the Suns on Feb. 6 in a deal that sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center has not played yet with his new team because of an injured hip, but is ready for Phoenix's first game after the All-Star break.
Now, the trick will be working his way into the Suns' up-tempo offense.
"I'm going to be looking to get out like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens," Shaq said on Tuesday.

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Some doubt the 35-year-old O'Neal - who has been known during his career as "The Diesel," "The Big Aristotle," "The Big Daddy," "Wilt Chamberneezy," and "The Real Deal" - will be able to keep up with his new teammates.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who coached Shaq to titles from 2000-02, is among the skeptics, saying Shaq's responsibilities will involve "taking the ball out of bounds and waiting for the other team to get back."
"He's a jokester, and that's funny, very funny," Shaq said without smiling. "Ha-ha. Very funny."
The Suns (37-16) -- who have a one-game lead over the Lakers (36-17) in the Pacific Division -- are convinced adding O'Neal could bring them their first NBA title.
"We're going to have to adjust slightly to his strengths," point guard Steve Nash said, "but you know where he's strong we've been weak, and that's having a big presence in the paint, taking up space and guarding the rim."
O'Neal is averaging a career-low 14.2 points in 32 games this season, and his streak of 14 straight All-Star selections also ended. He said that he doesn't plan on being the star on his new team, deferring instead to Nash and Amare Stoudemire.
"I'm more like a senior adviser so I don't like to come in here and try to take over," O'Neal said. "Just like your basic karate movie where the young guys come to the old guys with beards who have them do weird stuff to get to the other side. That's who I am, the old guy with a long beard."
Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said O'Neal will start against the Lakers, but play only about 20 minutes. After Wednesday, the Suns host Eastern Conference-leading Boston on Friday and Central Division-leading Detroit on Sunday.
"We don't have three cupcakes to start, but that's all right," Nash said. "We're going to learn a lot about ourselves and where we're going, and maybe that will give us a steeper learning curve to play against terrific teams."
The Suns won three of four heading into the break, including a 109-97 victory over Dallas on Thursday behnd 26 each from Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa.
Los Angeles resumed play after the All-Star break with its fifth straight win, 122-93 over Atlanta on Tuesday as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each had 23 points before sitting out the fourth quarter. The game was Gasol's first in Los Angeles since he was acquired in a trade with Memphis on Feb. 1.
Bryant dislocated his right pinkie earlier this month, but elected to forego surgery. He has averaged 30.4 points over his last five games.
Bryant was Shaq's teammate for seven seasons in Los Angeles and wasn't on the best of terms with O'Neal when he was traded to Miami in 2004. However, he insists that Wednesday's game is nothing special, aside from playoff implications.
"I do not care about that, for the last time," Bryant said. "Phoenix is at a level we're trying to get to. Even though they changed their team a little bit by trading Shawn (Marion), they're still one of the top teams in the league.
"So it's a big challenge for us, and I'm interested to see how we stack up."
Los Angeles has won two of three from the Suns this season including a 119-98 rout on Nov. 2 in Phoenix.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008022021

Fakers 107
Suns 114

Amare

 

[abomb]

Fakers. Clever.

I hope for a good game and the KB's robotic hand stays healthy.

The line is PHO -4.

 

[hafey]

I always wondered, what exactly are the Fakers, faking?

 

[BigRedRage]

I always wondered, what exactly are the Fakers, faking?

I use a different name for the fakers, it is innapropriate.

 

[Covert Rain]

Fakers. Clever.

I hope for a good game and the KB's robotic hand stays healthy.

The line is PHO -4.

I heard they replaced his hand a la Luke Skywalker from Empire Strikes back. His journey to the Dark Side is now complete.

 

[jbeecham]

I always wondered, what exactly are the Fakers, faking?

Injuries to pinkies???

 

[BeeBeard]

Injuries to pinkies???

Among other things. Derek Fisher hurting himself while flopping yesterday was Karmic justice at its finest.

 

[D-Dogg]

Among other things. Derek Fisher hurting himself while flopping yesterday was Karmic justice at its finest.

Having a 41 point lead in the 2nd quarter, was that Karmic too?

(fish wasn't hurt, btw.)

 

[abomb]

This thread will be 50+ posts by game time.

 

[BeeBeard]

Having a 41 point lead in the 2nd quarter, was that Karmic too?

(fish wasn't hurt, btw.)

No, that's called "embarrassing a terrible team." Almost everybody has beaten up on the Hawks at one time or another. Maybe we'll luck out, and one of the Hawks trolls will show up and argue with you that Atlanta isn't nearly as bad as we all claim. But I can't help you there. The Hawks are just awful, no two ways about it.

 

[abomb]

No, that's called "embarrassing a terrible team." Almost everybody has beaten up on the Hawks at one time or another. Maybe we'll luck out, and one of the Hawks trolls will show up and argue with you that Atlanta isn't nearly as bad as we all claim. But I can't help you there. The Hawks are just awful, no two ways about it.

But the Hawks are in the EC playoff hunt!!!

 

[nowagimp]

But the Hawks are in the EC playoff hunt!!!

So are the kiddless Nets!

 

[abomb]

So are the kiddless Nets!

Ha ha. Yeah. Now Harris isnt playing for another two weeks.

I heard a story yesterday about some EC GM saying how his team lost two in a row, but actually gained a game in the standings due to other teams losing!

 

[D-Dogg]

Ha ha. Yeah. Now Harris isnt playing for another two weeks.

I heard a story yesterday about some EC GM saying how his team lost two in a row, but actually gained a game in the standings due to other teams losing!

They should just fold the east, bring the 3-4 good/decent teams from there over to the West, split 'em up and make two new conferences out of it.

The east is a travishamockery.

 

[BeeBeard]

They should just fold the east, bring the 3-4 good/decent teams from there over to the West, split 'em up and make two new conferences out of it.

The east is a travishamockery.

I liked Reggie Miller's idea of just taking the best 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

If that would mean there were seasons where it's 13 teams in the West and just 3 teams from the East, well then so be it.

 

[abomb]

They should just fold the east, bring the 3-4 good/decent teams from there over to the West, split 'em up and make two new conferences out of it.

The east is a travishamockery.

Cosign.

I like the idea of 1-16 with division winners getting some perks. The only drawback I have heard so far would be a situation where Portland and Miami play each other in the first round (travel).

 

[D-Dogg]

I liked Reggie Miller's idea of just taking the best 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

If that would mean there were seasons where it's 13 teams in the West and just 3 teams from the East, well then so be it.

It just might be the only time I applaud that Feringi Reggie Miller. Great idea.

 

[D-Dogg]

Cosign.

I like the idea of 1-16 with division winners getting some perks. The only drawback I have heard so far would be a situation where Portland and Miami play each other in the first round (travel).

They spread these things out so long these days that travel isn't an issue. Come on, it's a what, 6-7 hour flight from tip to tip? Ooooh. Give 'em an extra day of rest.

 

[abomb]

I liked Reggie Miller's idea of just taking the best 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

If that would mean there were seasons where it's 13 teams in the West and just 3 teams from the East, well then so be it.

Check this out (based on current standings);

1 - Boston*		41	10	0.804
2 - Detroit*		39	14	0.736
3 - New Orleans*	36	15	0.706
4 - Phoenix*		37	16	0.698
5 - San Antonio		35	17	0.673
6 - LA Lakers		36	17	0.679
7 - Dallas		35	18	0.66
8 - Utah*		35	19	0.648
9 - Houston		33	20	0.623
10 - Denver		33	20	0.623
11 - Orlando*		34	21	0.618
12 - Golden State	32	21	0.604
13 - Toronto		28	23	0.549
14 - Cleveland		29	24	0.547
15 - Portland		28	25	0.528
16 - Washington		25	28	0.472
---------------------------------------------------
*Sacramento	24	28	0.462
*Atlanta	21	29	0.42

* is division winner

How would you guys handle those?

 

[Covert Rain]

I liked Reggie Miller's idea of just taking the best 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

If that would mean there were seasons where it's 13 teams in the West and just 3 teams from the East, well then so be it.

I liked his idea as well of reseeding after the 1st round. Although, it does create a problem for division winners. I mean what's the point of winning the division then.

Maybe, create a 2 Wild Cards spots for the next 2 teams with the best records???? Then seed the entire playoffs after the 1st round based on overall record of teams left.

 

[BeeBeard]

Check this out (based on current standings);

1 - Boston*    41    10    0.804
2 - Detroit*    39    14    0.736
3 - New Orleans*    36    15    0.706
4 - Phoenix*    37    16    0.698
5 - San Antonio    35    17    0.673
6 - LA Lakers    36    17    0.679
7 - Dallas        35    18    0.66
8 - Utah*        35    19    0.648
9 - Houston    33    20    0.623
10 - Denver        33    20    0.623
11 - Orlando*    34    21    0.618
12 - Golden State    32    21    0.604
13 - Toronto    28    23    0.549
14 - Cleveland    29    24    0.547
15 - Portland    28    25    0.528
16 - Washington    25    28    0.472
---------------------------------------------------
*Sacramento    24    28    0.462
*Atlanta    21    29    0.42

* is division winner

How would you guys handle those?

I would be fine with that, personally, but looking at that lists brings to light a serious problem with Reggie's idea. I mean, where's the incentive for Portland, Houston, Golden State, etc. to play hard during the regular season, when all they have to do to ensure a playoff spot is get a better record than the Washington Wizards? Combining teams in that fashion would just turn the Western Conference into the East. There would be a lot of ugly, meaningless basketball getting played. (ick!)

 

[da_suns_fan]

I think the NBA should change its schedule and playoffs system to increase division rivalries.

1) Every team plays its division opponents 8 times for 32 games. The other 50 games are against the other 25 teams in the league (one at home and one away). This would make division rivalries bigger and actually meaningful.

2) Division winniners make the playoffs and two wild card teams (regardless of conference). 8 teams total.

 

[Bufalay]

Cosign.

I like the idea of 1-16 with division winners getting some perks. The only drawback I have heard so far would be a situation where Portland and Miami play each other in the first round (travel).

When you say travel do you mean it would be a problem having Miami in the playoffs because Shawn Marion travels so much?

 

[JS22]

I would be fine with that, personally, but looking at that lists brings to light a serious problem with Reggie's idea. I mean, where's the incentive for Portland, Houston, Golden State, etc. to play hard during the regular season, when all they have to do to ensure a playoff spot is get a better record than the Washington Wizards? Combining teams in that fashion would just turn the Western Conference into the East. There would be a lot of ugly, meaningless basketball getting played. (ick!)

Lower the qualifying teams to 10-12. Of course, the NBA money machine wouldn't go for this. 16 teams has always been too much IMO.

 

[Louis]

Lakers 115
Suns 107

Kobe Bean Bryant