Shaq resting strategy

[BC867]

How about the other point of view?

It is already being reported that the flagrant foul will be reduced from a '2' to a '1'. Shaq went for the ball, but didn't jump, so he hit nothing but body.

It wasn't a flagrant '2'. It was 300 lbs. in motion against a little guy who looked for contact the whole game.

As for Shaq's behavior after the ejection, look what it did for the Suns. It brought them a dimension of toughness we've never been known for.

Without him for the rest of the game, we handled the Pistons' inevitable run and still dominated the game and won.

Porter stayed big, even with bench players, and it worked. Shaq and Lopez had 21 points and 6 boards in 27 minutes combined.

This was playoff test #1 and we won with flying colors. I love it!

 

[TJ]

Dont forget Amundson. That block on Prince's hook shot was sick!

 

[Hat]

I was very disappointed to see shaq shove off Porter on the court. If the league doesn't fine him I'm willing to bet the franchise does.

No kidding. I feel bad for Porter, being a new coach and all, and having that lunkhead shove you around the court in front of everybody. Shaq needs to be fined by the franchise, that was inexcusable behavior. Like a damn little kid.

 

[shazaam6]

I disagree with all the punish Shaq opinions. He had a legit complaint against being tossed from an excellent game by some over-reactive refs decision.

He should be allowed to tell the refs they're wrong without everyone pulling on him. He shook off Porter's grab from behind without seeing it was Porter. Give the guy a break, he gets HACKED ON PURPOSE every game. He was close to getting the ball.

Stuckey will be upended again by anyone big enough to challenge his full speed, straight, attack the basket drives. He likes contact.

I like this team. No more kicking sand in our face, and the new concept called "defense" is actually working.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

After watching it a few more times, Im not 100% certain Shaq knew it was Porter grabbing his arm. He still was throwing a tantrum and should be fined, but I dont think he intended to directly disrespect porter.

 

[BC867]

Dont forget Amundson. That block on Prince's hook shot was sick!

Yup, that's exactly what I meant by "Porter stayed big, even with bench players, and it worked." -- Amundson - 6'9" 225, and good minutes for a developing Lopez.

I have to say it. What a difference from the Suns tradition of 3 Guards, a Small Forward and a Power Forward when the starters come out.

 

[Griffin]

Another set of back-to-backs with a home game against the Bucks tonight and then a road game vs. Lakers tomorrow. Milwaukee is 9-13. Lakers are 17-2. Shaq is needed vs. both of those teams, but you would think that if the Suns were keen on playing him only one game, it would be against the much tougher opponent and our division rivals Lakers and not the Bucks. Yet, according to Coro, the Suns may do just the opposite. Shaq is playing vs. the Bucks. Will he rest against the Lakers?

Last time Shaq received his rest, he played on three day rest against Dallas, went 1-6 from the floor, finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes, and the Suns lost by 15. The Suns also lost the game in which he rested, leaving them 0-2 during that back-to-back set.

I really hope the Suns do not hold him out against the Lakers, as that to me is no better than a forfeit. Even if we don't win that game with Shaq, at least we give ourselves our best chance.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Maybe discretion is the better part of valor on this one...although it is a puss move, it is basically admitting we have no chance against the Lakers.

 

[Mainstreet]

Another set of back-to-backs with a home game against the Bucks tonight and then a road game vs. Lakers tomorrow. Milwaukee is 9-13. Lakers are 17-2. Shaq is needed vs. both of those teams, but you would think that if the Suns were keen on playing him only one game, it would be against the much tougher opponent and our division rivals Lakers and not the Bucks. Yet, according to Coro, the Suns may do just the opposite. Shaq is playing vs. the Bucks. Will he rest against the Lakers?

Last time Shaq received his rest, he played on three day rest against Dallas, went 1-6 from the floor, finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes, and the Suns lost by 15. The Suns also lost the game in which he rested, leaving them 0-2 during that back-to-back set.

I really hope the Suns do not hold him out against the Lakers, as that to me is no better than a forfeit. Even if we don't win that game with Shaq, at least we give ourselves our best chance.

I totally agree. If Shaq does not play against the Lakers it almost seems like the Suns are conceding a loss to the Lakers.

 

[msdundee]

Maybe discretion is the better part of valor on this one...although it is a puss move, it is basically admitting we have no chance against the Lakers.

Someone on another thread did suggest the Suns may be taking the approach on the B2Bs that they need to take at least ONE of the two games. If that is in fact the "strategy," it would explain playing him tonight and letting him sit tomorrow. But it's a pretty sad mindset when you think about it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Maybe discretion is the better part of valor on this one...although it is a puss move, it is basically admitting we have no chance against the Lakers.

The Spurs used to do this (still do it seems) all the time against us and it worked. Their other players got hyped up and we seemed to lay an egg.

 

[DeAnna]

Makes sense. Even with Shaq rested and ready on Nov. 20, the Lakers rolled over the Suns in Phoenix. So why make a game against Milwaukee harder when having Shaq against the 17-2 Lakers may not go a long way toward tipping the scales.

No, it doesn't make sense to me. Basically conceding defeat. On the other hand, maybe they want to experiment with a smaller line up vs Lakers?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Or maybe with 2 days off previous Shaq plays both games and sits out the next one.

 

[Covert Rain]

I really really hate this strategy. I still think you can give Shaq a "light" night and play him in back to backs. If I had to pick, I would say rest him tonight and play him tomorrow. However, will it really matter against the Lakers??

 

[nashman]

Shaq needs to play both games you don't have to freakin hold the guy out every back to back of the season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. In certain B2B's he needs to play period. Really disliking Porters' rotations and decisions like this thus far.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Someone on another thread did suggest the Suns may be taking the approach on the B2Bs that they need to take at least ONE of the two games. If that is in fact the "strategy," it would explain playing him tonight and letting him sit tomorrow. But it's a pretty sad mindset when you think about it.

everything about this strategy, ESPECIALLY needing to play Shaq against an awful team and resting him against a good one because "we'll probably lose anyway" screams to me one thing: THIS TEAM ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO COMPETE. And if they're not good enough to compete, why are we wasting time and not getting as much as we can for guys who actually have value so we can start rebuilding.

just conceding games... i've never heard of a title winning/contending team doing that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Spurs used to do this (still do it seems) all the time against us and it worked. Their other players got hyped up and we seemed to lay an egg.

the Spurs don't rest healthy players against us. All of the time we've played them without their stars, those guys have gone on to miss games before and after we played them. In other words, the Spurs were resting their stars to try and get them healthy from injuries... we're resting our healthy guy to prevent him from getting injured. man, what a good plan it was to go into the season knowing that and doing nothing to get an adequate big man. kudos SarvKerr!

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

San Antonio phoned in tons of games during their last championship

we're not even sure shaq is resting tomorrow, so this is much ado about nothing.

 

[Cheesebeef]

San Antonio phoned in tons of games during their last championship

SA's guys were ACTUALLY injured. They weren't healthy and conceding games like we are. They also won 58 games, I don't see that happening here, do you?

 

[Covert Rain]

SA's guys were ACTUALLY injured. They weren't healthy and conceding games like we are. They also won 58 games, I don't see that happening here, do you?

Plus I don't remember Akeem or David Robinson regulary sitting out back to backs. I remember that sometimes they would get a rest but there wasn't this regulary planned back to back rest like Porter has going.

Honestly, if you can't manage your players minutes so you don't have to give Shaq a night off.....then your not much better then D'Antoni was at managing his players minutes.

 

[Hat]

Shaq needs to play both games you don't have to freakin hold the guy out every back to back of the season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. In certain B2B's he needs to play period. Really disliking Porters' rotations and decisions like this thus far.

Agreed. Shaq needs to play both. It's not going to hurt him playing 2 B2B's a couple times.