My assessment of this situation

[Hat]

This is not foul proof, but here's a list of thoughts I've gathered in the last hour or so.

1.) Shaq is slow and big. Yes, true, but is a muscle in the key that many on this board have been clammering about. He will guard big guys, which we all know Amare can't do.

2.) Marion wasn't staying in Phoenix after this season. Too high of a contract and he wanted to go anyways. Might as well get something for him now then twiddle your thumbs come summer time.

3.) Banks gone. Enough said. Anyone else think DA was playing him so other teams would get a good look at him?

4.) Team can still run and gun, especially when Shaq sits. Team can still do fast breaks without Shaq down on the offensive end. Amare can get down the court pretty good.

5.) Rebounds!! C'mon, who's going to get an offensive rebound with Amare AND Shaw down on the low post??

6.) Good shooters around Shaq. You have Nash, Bell, Barbs, and Hill. DJ and Diaw aren't bad either when they are streaky.

7.) Sarver does have some balls after all!

 

[Hat]

One thing to also note, people are wondering about what happens to the "run and gun" offense? Well to be honest, I watch every game, and most the time the team is running a half-court offense and dishing it out to Amare down low or popping it out to Bell for 3. Isn't a run and gun like fastbreaks all the time? Most teams have adapted to the Suns style, and you can't be running that it all the time. Shaq will provide the Suns with 1 more scorer in a half-court offense.

 

[HooverDam]

2.) Marion wasn't staying in Phoenix after this season. Too high of a contract and he wanted to go anyways. Might as well get something for him now then twiddle your thumbs come summer time.

Who else was going to pay 17.5 million? Why would he opt out?

5.) Rebounds!! C'mon, who's going to get an offensive rebound with Amare AND Shaw down on the low post??

Fun fact: Shawn Marion gets more rebounds than Shaq!

 

[Hat]

Who else was going to pay 17.5 million? Why would he opt out?

Like I said, he was tired of "no respect" and the trade talks. I think he wanted 20 million as well.

Fun fact: Shawn Marion gets more rebounds than Shaq!

True, but Shaq's been injured lately, so his averages are going to go down. Plus he can guard Duncan and Bynum, something Marion couldn't do.

 

[arwillan]

One thing to also note, people are wondering about what happens to the "run and gun" offense? Well to be honest, I watch every game, and most the time the team is running a half-court offense and dishing it out to Amare down low or popping it out to Bell for 3. Isn't a run and gun like fastbreaks all the time? Most teams have adapted to the Suns style, and you can't be running that it all the time. Shaq will provide the Suns with 1 more scorer in a half-court offense.

many fast breaks have nash ahead of the back, marion/amare trailing, and 1-2 defenders back. nash breaks a little wide and gives the trailers a chance to catch up. he then either lobs it for a dunk or dribbles into the lane and drops it off for a dunk. so really as long as hill/amare/diaw still trail nash we have no issues with our fastbreak.

 

[Greg Popovich]

This sounds like a desperation move--but who knows--it might turn out to be brilliant if Shaq loses weight and does some rehab to get in shape by playoffs.

On the other hand--

Marion should be public enemy number 1 to Suns fans--if it is in fact true that the Suns could have had Kevin Garnett but for Marion exercising some kind of veto over the trade.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This sounds like a desperation move--but who knows--it might turn out to be brilliant if Shaq loses weight and does some rehab to get in shape by playoffs.

On the other hand--

Marion should be public enemy number 1 to Suns fans--if it is in fact true that the Suns could have had Kevin Garnett but for Marion exercising some kind of veto over the trade.

This has been widely disputed by those with insider info in the media. The deal was always Marion + the ATL pick. Once the Suns didn't get ATL's pick, the focus moved to Garnett for Amare in some way including Amare being moved for the #3 and an Atlanta player who would then be moved to Minnesota.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Which is why we heard:

Marion to Boston then Amare to Minnesota then Amare to Atlana...ect...

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Do we all get to make our own assessment thread? I thought that's what the other dozen threads about this was for. All our opinions seem to equally fit in the other threads without needing to announce our own thoughts in a personal thread...

 

[JCSunsfan]

Who else was going to pay 17.5 million? Why would he opt out?



Fun fact: Shawn Marion gets more rebounds than Shaq!

At the moment their rp48 are almost exactly the same. The big difference is that Shaq boxes out and rebounds by positioning rather than slashing for boards. This means that he keeps opponents from getting to the ball even when he doesn't get the board himself. The result is a better rebounding team.

Watch the tape of KT last year and youll see how much better we were at rebounding when he was on the floor holding down postion.

 

[Nitemare129]

At the moment their rp48 are almost exactly the same. The big difference is that Shaq boxes out and rebounds by positioning rather than slashing for boards. This means that he keeps opponents from getting to the ball even when he doesn't get the board himself. The result is a better rebounding team.

Watch the tape of KT last year and youll see how much better we were at rebounding when he was on the floor holding down postion.

After thinking about it for a minute I think the one player who benefits the most from this deal is Amare, and here's why:

1. With Shaq playing defense against the bigs this frees up Amare to help from the weak side which will result in more blocked shots.

2. With Shaq boxing out for rebounds against the bigger, stronger centers on the court that leaves Amare to battle for boards against PFs that were getting out jumped by Marion for boards. Amare can still jump out of the gym so imagine if he's free to get boards as opposed to fighting the centers all the time. His rebounding should go up 2 or 3 per game.

Of course I could just be rationalizing what I still think is a really bad move........but gotta look for that silver lining right?