O’Neal Targeting Wednesday or Thursday for Phoenix Debut

[Andrew]

Shaquille O’Neal is expected back in Phoenix and available to practice on Sunday. That gives the Suns the Sunday shootaround and two full practices before Wednesday’s trip to Golden State, the first possible game in which he could play.

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said the Warriors game is the first “maybe,” with Thursday’s home game against Dallas a little more probable. Then the Suns have five days off (including the All-Star break) before a Feb. 20 showdown with the Lakers — and Shaq will definitely be ready.

 

[Roca Dolla]

i cant wait to see when nash throws an alley oop to shaq diesel!

 

[Andrew]

Both are on national tv too so I can see it, I just hope its Thursday because I have class on Wednesday night...

 

[Lynx280]

Both are on national tv too so I can see it, I just hope its Thursday because I have class on Wednesday night...

DUDE!!! raptorsnation.net - watch the game any time u want

 

[arwillan]

i'd rather have him play a little bit against GSW just to get the feel for being back in play shape. I really want him to be ready for Dallas, though. if he starts, that puts dirk on amare. mismatch anyone?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I cant WAIT to see amare pulverize dirk, and dampier v shaq is laughable at best. Hill should have zero problem with howard, and Bell can lock terry down no problem, and nash will get his vs harris. I wouldnt be surprised if Dallas forced us to play small ball most of the game, and wouldnt ya know we may have a slight chance of beating them that way too!

Shaq is officially the key to dominating Dallas.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Shaquille O’Neal is expected back in Phoenix and available to practice on Sunday. That gives the Suns the Sunday shootaround and two full practices before Wednesday’s trip to Golden State, the first possible game in which he could play.

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said the Warriors game is the first “maybe,” with Thursday’s home game against Dallas a little more probable. Then the Suns have five days off (including the All-Star break) before a Feb. 20 showdown with the Lakers — and Shaq will definitely be ready.

Heh I told you all this a couple days ago

 

[AceP]

Shaq + Haslem/Walker handled Dampier + Dirk quite well in 06 final. Shaq himself didn't score very much mainly because they always double him.

I have never seen Amare guard Dirk yet, can he handle that task? But I'm sure Dirk will have a tough time guarding Amare down low.

I'm very anxious to see the new Suns to take the Mavs head on.

 

[dodie53]

can Amare guard Dirk?
i hope so.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I dont think Amare will have to worry about Dirk driving as much, as long as he can put a hand in his face I dont see Dirk leading them to victory.

 

[BeeBeard]

I cant WAIT to see amare pulverize dirk, and dampier v shaq is laughable at best. Hill should have zero problem with howard, and Bell can lock terry down no problem, and nash will get his vs harris. I wouldnt be surprised if Dallas forced us to play small ball most of the game, and wouldnt ya know we may have a slight chance of beating them that way too!

Shaq is officially the key to dominating Dallas.

I still remember when Eric Dampier was making noise in the press like he was the new best center in the West, a real Shaq-stopper (This was before Shaq won yet another championship with Miami.) Shaq called him "Erica" Dampier, said he had nothing to prove, and then destroyed
the Mavericks the next time the two teams met.

 

[arwillan]

can Amare guard Dirk?
i hope so.

well amare is bigger than marion, and his post defense is actually better than dirk's post offense i hope amare's size will give dirk a lot of trouble.that being said, dallas will most likely turn into a jump shooting team and lose to us. man, it sure feels good to say that we will beat someone for once because they turned into a jump shooting team. another thing shaq will do is keep dampier off the offensive glass

 

[DeAnna]

I got my tickets to the Lakers game!
Wanna get there early and see if he talks to Kobe

 

[mojorizen7]

My expectations are that the Diesel is in full steam mode for the Laker game after the all-star break.
Hopefully after getting limited minutes against Dallas & a few more practices after that he'll be ready to wreak havoc along with Amare on that Laker frontline.
UNSHACKLED the SHAQTUS!!

 

[dodie53]

dirk will choke when it matters most.

 

[SpokaneCardfan]

DUDE!!! raptorsnation.net - watch the game any time u want

Dude, that web site is awesome. Just checking it out for the first time.Very good quality video feed.Thanks for the info.

 

[dodie53]

maybe shaq will play against GS.
i think it's on national television (espn)

 

[arwillan]

i hope you mean like 10 minutes in that game, otherwise he'll get run right off the court. the only use we have for him in that game is if we try and slow it down on them, because shaq could probably do well on the glass against them. either way, the warriors usually beat us at our own game because we can't match up with baron/ellis. now that we lost banks, we have nothing left to match them with at those spots. the warriors will beat us by 10+ easily. i pray we don't meet them in the first round.

 

[Darth Llama]

DUDE!!! raptorsnation.net - watch the game any time u want

Wow.. great site, thanks for the tip!

 

[Roger L]

i hope you mean like 10 minutes in that game, otherwise he'll get run right off the court. the only use we have for him in that game is if we try and slow it down on them, because shaq could probably do well on the glass against them. either way, the warriors usually beat us at our own game because we can't match up with baron/ellis. now that we lost banks, we have nothing left to match them with at those spots. the warriors will beat us by 10+ easily. i pray we don't meet them in the first round.

The only problem will be that driving to the hole means going through Shaq now

 

[arwillan]

The only problem will be that driving to the hole means going through Shaq now

but when the warriors start harrington at center (which they usually do against us), how will shaq keep with him on the perimeter? he won't. he will probably only be in when biedrins is in there.

 

[French Fries]

but when the warriors start harrington at center (which they usually do against us), how will shaq keep with him on the perimeter? he won't. he will probably only be in when biedrins is in there.

on a good day, shaq will send them to the bench with fouls. on bad days, it will be the other way around...

 

[BeeBeard]

but when the warriors start harrington at center (which they usually do against us), how will shaq keep with him on the perimeter? he won't. he will probably only be in when biedrins is in there.

Don't forget that defenses are not rigid and that there does not always have to be a 1-1 correspondence between one team's center and another on the offensive and defensive ends.

Probably, the Suns will have another player guard against perimeter shots in a defensive switch, the way the Lakers used to do, and the way the Heat used to do before they lost everybody who could actually guard the perimeter in the first place (Posey and Eddie Jones).

 

[da_suns_fan]

I don't think the Warriors would be the best team to start Shaq against.

Dallas (contrary to the old cliche that is still commonly used) is one of the slowest teams in the league in terms of pace. They like to play a half court game.

 

[mojorizen7]

I'd like to see SHAQ's 1st start against the Lakers after the break.