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Small Pre-game article from Pistons writer
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2008/02/pistons_gear_up_for_shaq_suns.html
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Pistons gear up for Shaq, Suns
by A. Sherrod Blakely Sunday February 24, 2008, 12:28 AM
PHOENIX -- When the Phoenix Suns traded for Shaquille O'Neal earlier this month, Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups was among those shocked by the move.
For years, Phoenix has been the embodiment of the Western Conference's uptempo, run-and-gun style.
Adding O'Neal, who moves about as quick as a melting polar ice cap these days, seemed a radical departure for them.
It seems the Suns are now thinking what Billups and most of the elite teams in the East figured out a while ago.
"I think teams have conceded that that run-and-gun style is cool, but in the thick of things, you gotta be able to play halfcourt basketball if you're serious about winning a championship," said Billups, who cited the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Pau Gasol as another example to strengthen his point. "In the playoffs, you have to be able to execute in the half court. We've seen that run-and-gun stuff will only take you so far in the playoffs."
Phoenix still gets up and down the court with sprinter-like speed compared to the rest of the league, and often looks to score early in the shot clock. The addition of O'Neal might take away from that a bit.
But even with a slower big man in the middle whose game is on the decline, the future Hall of Fame center still has a post presence that can cause problems at both ends of the floor. In addition, O'Neal at center also frees up All-star Amare Stoudemire to play his more natural power forward position.
"It's going to be interesting to see how they incorporate him into their style of play," said Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations.
The Pistons will be one of the first to see this new-look Phoenix squad, as they begin their four-game West coast trip with a nationally televised afternoon matchup today with the Suns.
Making matters worse for the Pistons is the fact that they're down one big man after Thursday's trade which sent 7-foot center Primoz Brezec to Toronto for Juan Dixon, a 6-3 combo guard who had three points in his Pistons debut on Friday.
"Is there ever a good time to play Shaq?" said Pistons forward Jarvis Hayes. "Shaq is always a handful, no matter who you got."
In the past, the Pistons have used a bevy of big men to wear O'Neal down. Saunders said the team's approach to dealing with O'Neal probably won't be all that different, despite having one less big man.
"We'll play him pretty much the same way," Saunders said. "He's not the focal point of the offense in Phoenix, like he was in Miami. So we'll have to wait and see how he is, and what we have to do."
Added Hayes: "They're still able to get up and down the floor, and can run with the best of them," he said. "I'm kind of excited about this because this is definitely a different kind of Phoenix team than what we're used to playing."
On the road again
With six of the next seven games on the road Friday's win over Milwaukee was a huge plus for the Pistons heading into yet another brutal stretch of their schedule. "You never want to go away from home for a long time with the taste of losing in your mouth," Hayes said. "Hopefully we can keep doing the things we did (Friday night) out West and get a few more wins."
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http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2008/02/pistons_gear_up_for_shaq_suns.html
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Pistons gear up for Shaq, Suns
by A. Sherrod Blakely Sunday February 24, 2008, 12:28 AM
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AP PhotoThe Suns are hoping Shaquille O'Neal, right, is the missing piece to their championship puzzle.PHOENIX -- When the Phoenix Suns traded for Shaquille O'Neal earlier this month, Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups was among those shocked by the move.
For years, Phoenix has been the embodiment of the Western Conference's uptempo, run-and-gun style.
Adding O'Neal, who moves about as quick as a melting polar ice cap these days, seemed a radical departure for them.
It seems the Suns are now thinking what Billups and most of the elite teams in the East figured out a while ago.
"I think teams have conceded that that run-and-gun style is cool, but in the thick of things, you gotta be able to play halfcourt basketball if you're serious about winning a championship," said Billups, who cited the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Pau Gasol as another example to strengthen his point. "In the playoffs, you have to be able to execute in the half court. We've seen that run-and-gun stuff will only take you so far in the playoffs."
Phoenix still gets up and down the court with sprinter-like speed compared to the rest of the league, and often looks to score early in the shot clock. The addition of O'Neal might take away from that a bit.
But even with a slower big man in the middle whose game is on the decline, the future Hall of Fame center still has a post presence that can cause problems at both ends of the floor. In addition, O'Neal at center also frees up All-star Amare Stoudemire to play his more natural power forward position.
"It's going to be interesting to see how they incorporate him into their style of play," said Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations.
The Pistons will be one of the first to see this new-look Phoenix squad, as they begin their four-game West coast trip with a nationally televised afternoon matchup today with the Suns.
Making matters worse for the Pistons is the fact that they're down one big man after Thursday's trade which sent 7-foot center Primoz Brezec to Toronto for Juan Dixon, a 6-3 combo guard who had three points in his Pistons debut on Friday.
"Is there ever a good time to play Shaq?" said Pistons forward Jarvis Hayes. "Shaq is always a handful, no matter who you got."
In the past, the Pistons have used a bevy of big men to wear O'Neal down. Saunders said the team's approach to dealing with O'Neal probably won't be all that different, despite having one less big man.
"We'll play him pretty much the same way," Saunders said. "He's not the focal point of the offense in Phoenix, like he was in Miami. So we'll have to wait and see how he is, and what we have to do."
Added Hayes: "They're still able to get up and down the floor, and can run with the best of them," he said. "I'm kind of excited about this because this is definitely a different kind of Phoenix team than what we're used to playing."
On the road again
With six of the next seven games on the road Friday's win over Milwaukee was a huge plus for the Pistons heading into yet another brutal stretch of their schedule. "You never want to go away from home for a long time with the taste of losing in your mouth," Hayes said. "Hopefully we can keep doing the things we did (Friday night) out West and get a few more wins."
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