Shaq to Nash: "I won't let you down."
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fordronken
Registered User
Wow. Just wow.
I just read this. If Shaq did indeed make that call to Steve that tells me a few things.
First he probably acknowledged what is being said about his game right now. Which probably also means he is willing to work hard and contribute.
Second, he recognizes Steve as the leader of this team and respects his thoughts and opinion.
Third, sounds like Shaq really wants another ring.
Calling Steve to say that is "class" IMO.
First he probably acknowledged what is being said about his game right now. Which probably also means he is willing to work hard and contribute.
Second, he recognizes Steve as the leader of this team and respects his thoughts and opinion.
Third, sounds like Shaq really wants another ring.
Calling Steve to say that is "class" IMO.
I won't cheer against anyone while they are wearing the purple and orange, so I hope the big Aristotle is true to his word. But at this point, I don't think its a matter of will power, I just don't believe he can physically do what he wants.
You better bet Shaq is excited about this trade.
Anybody who says Shaq doesn't have a helluva lot left hasn't watched the Heat this season. I watched the Heat a lot, and if I was a Heat fan (before the trade, and still), I was a lot more concerned about Dwayne Wade than Shaquille O'neal. The Heat certainly have fallen off considerably in the past month or so, but in the beginning of the season - right around the time Wade came back - the Heat seemed to be catching their stride. They were really close in a lot of games. But Wade hasn't been the same this season. He's leading the league in TO's by a large margin, and he has been especially poor in late-game situations.
If you want to know what Shaq is going to do for the Suns, watching some clips from this season when Penny Hardaway was still on the Heat. I know this sounds silly, but Penny knew how to get Shaq the basketball, and when Penny was being assertive, it was honestly laughable how easy it was for Shaq to score. Let me repeat, so there's no confusion: I'm talking about 93 year old Anfernee Hardaway, the guy that makes John McCain look young. He would catch the ball on the wing, not even take one dribble, throw the ball over the fronting defender, and Shaq would lay the ball up (or get fouled). It was incredibly easy. Sometimes, it didn't even seem like basketball.
Unfortunately, the Heat chose to surround Shaq with erratic, unintelligent players like Ricky Davis, Dorrel Wright, Daquen Cook, and Dwayne Wade. I'm not sure if they didn't know how to give Shaq the basketball, or if they downright didn't want to, but for whatever reason, they never did.
One thing you need to realize is that Shaq is shooting a career high in Field Goal percentage. Of course, this has a lot to do with the Heat relying on Shaq for a lot less, and thus he does not have to take a lot of the jump hooks and fadeaway... um I guess I'll call them jumpshots(?)... but it at least must let you know that, if you can get him the ball where he needs/wants it, he can still be extremely effective. Now, I don't pretend to be able to see the future, but I've always known Steve Nash to be a good passer. He's sorta good at getting his surrounding players the basketball where they want it, right?
Oh, and who's going to guard Amare??? Think about this: if you were an NBA head coach, would you want to play the Phoenix Suns? You can't double team Shaq, Amare, and Nash (actually, the Spurs could do that, but only if you count one of the referees as a Spurs player).
Anybody who says Shaq doesn't have a helluva lot left hasn't watched the Heat this season. I watched the Heat a lot, and if I was a Heat fan (before the trade, and still), I was a lot more concerned about Dwayne Wade than Shaquille O'neal. The Heat certainly have fallen off considerably in the past month or so, but in the beginning of the season - right around the time Wade came back - the Heat seemed to be catching their stride. They were really close in a lot of games. But Wade hasn't been the same this season. He's leading the league in TO's by a large margin, and he has been especially poor in late-game situations.
If you want to know what Shaq is going to do for the Suns, watching some clips from this season when Penny Hardaway was still on the Heat. I know this sounds silly, but Penny knew how to get Shaq the basketball, and when Penny was being assertive, it was honestly laughable how easy it was for Shaq to score. Let me repeat, so there's no confusion: I'm talking about 93 year old Anfernee Hardaway, the guy that makes John McCain look young. He would catch the ball on the wing, not even take one dribble, throw the ball over the fronting defender, and Shaq would lay the ball up (or get fouled). It was incredibly easy. Sometimes, it didn't even seem like basketball.
Unfortunately, the Heat chose to surround Shaq with erratic, unintelligent players like Ricky Davis, Dorrel Wright, Daquen Cook, and Dwayne Wade. I'm not sure if they didn't know how to give Shaq the basketball, or if they downright didn't want to, but for whatever reason, they never did.
One thing you need to realize is that Shaq is shooting a career high in Field Goal percentage. Of course, this has a lot to do with the Heat relying on Shaq for a lot less, and thus he does not have to take a lot of the jump hooks and fadeaway... um I guess I'll call them jumpshots(?)... but it at least must let you know that, if you can get him the ball where he needs/wants it, he can still be extremely effective. Now, I don't pretend to be able to see the future, but I've always known Steve Nash to be a good passer. He's sorta good at getting his surrounding players the basketball where they want it, right?
Oh, and who's going to guard Amare??? Think about this: if you were an NBA head coach, would you want to play the Phoenix Suns? You can't double team Shaq, Amare, and Nash (actually, the Spurs could do that, but only if you count one of the referees as a Spurs player).
scoutmasterdave
Board Certified Suns Fan
Honestly, if Steve Nash is cool with it, I'm cool with it. I have sorta liked the trade from the minute I heard about it, but I'm officially on board now.
Motivated Shaq + pumped up Steve - Amare defending centers - Marion's constant whining = a happy fan (and hopefully a title).
Motivated Shaq + pumped up Steve - Amare defending centers - Marion's constant whining = a happy fan (and hopefully a title).
Chainthroer
Registered
and who's going to guard Amare??? Think about this: if you were an NBA head coach, would you want to play the Phoenix Suns? You can't double team Shaq, Amare, and Nash (actually, the Spurs could do that, but only if you count one of the referees as a Spurs player).
Nice analysis Budden. I liked the funny at the end!
Nice analysis Budden. I liked the funny at the end!
This point is true. Riley was campaigning to get Shaq on the All Star team (to improve his trade value?) and Shaq said he does not deserve to be on the team at this point.
green machine
I rule at posting
This wouldn't shock me, as I think the coaching staff was honestly fed up with dealing with Marion's ego/sensitivity.
TucsonDevil
Good to be back!
Don't let us down Shaq... Keep thinking to yourself, "I need 6 rings, I need 6 rings."
You need to tie MJ.
You need to tie MJ.
That appears to be the case right? Man, to be a fly on the wall of that lockerroom.
phxrising
Registered
some more on this topic
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0206shaqlatest.html
Shaq to Nash: 'I will not let you down'
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 6, 2008 11:27 AM
Shaquille O'Neal is on his way to Phoenix, literally.
O'Neal's physical exam is the only prerequisite for Phoenix's acquisition of O'Neal for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to take place today. O'Neal is on a flight to the Valley this morning and is scheduled to arrive midday.
The expectation is that O'Neal will pass the physical and a trade call will be placed with the league to consummate the deal by the end of the day. O'Neal could even be in attendance at US Airways Center tonight for Phoenix's 7 p.m. game with New Orleans.
Although O'Neal has been out with a hip injury, there is a belief that he will pass the physical because he is in great condition and is said to be at 312 pounds (down from his listed 325 pounds) with low body fat.
He seems to be a motivated player too, having jumped on a plane this morning after talking to several of the Suns, such as Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire, on Tuesday night.
"I will not let you down," O'Neal told Nash on the phone.
O'Neal's soon-to-be former teammates are in Detroit today.
"Nothing has been completed," Heat coach and President Pat Riley told the Miami Herald today. "These things have backed up before."
The Herald, which broke the trade's news Tuesday, also quoted Heat star Dwyane Wade, saying, "I have no reaction because I don't know the truth. Until that time comes, this is the NBA. I'm not surprised at anything."
Phoenix will have to sign another player after completing the trade because it will be one man shy of the league's 13-man roster minimum. Richie Frahm would likely be a possibility because he spent training camp and preseason with the Suns and was recently with the Clippers.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0206shaqlatest.html
Shaq to Nash: 'I will not let you down'
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 6, 2008 11:27 AM
Shaquille O'Neal is on his way to Phoenix, literally.
O'Neal's physical exam is the only prerequisite for Phoenix's acquisition of O'Neal for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to take place today. O'Neal is on a flight to the Valley this morning and is scheduled to arrive midday.
The expectation is that O'Neal will pass the physical and a trade call will be placed with the league to consummate the deal by the end of the day. O'Neal could even be in attendance at US Airways Center tonight for Phoenix's 7 p.m. game with New Orleans.
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Although O'Neal has been out with a hip injury, there is a belief that he will pass the physical because he is in great condition and is said to be at 312 pounds (down from his listed 325 pounds) with low body fat.
He seems to be a motivated player too, having jumped on a plane this morning after talking to several of the Suns, such as Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire, on Tuesday night.
"I will not let you down," O'Neal told Nash on the phone.
O'Neal's soon-to-be former teammates are in Detroit today.
"Nothing has been completed," Heat coach and President Pat Riley told the Miami Herald today. "These things have backed up before."
The Herald, which broke the trade's news Tuesday, also quoted Heat star Dwyane Wade, saying, "I have no reaction because I don't know the truth. Until that time comes, this is the NBA. I'm not surprised at anything."
Phoenix will have to sign another player after completing the trade because it will be one man shy of the league's 13-man roster minimum. Richie Frahm would likely be a possibility because he spent training camp and preseason with the Suns and was recently with the Clippers.
Suns_fan69
Official ASFN Lurker
Like I said before, if they're going all in, I'd love to see them pick up a Cassell or Artest with the Thomas trade exception.
Cassell would be a great pick up, but it actually makes sense. If they do get him the Suns would be ancient, Hill, Nash, Cassell, Shaq, geez. The year 2000 called and its about to dump its pants.
Suns_fan69
Official ASFN Lurker
It'll probably make us the oldest team by far but in my mind the Shaq deal is an all or nothing shot for this year; as such, lets put another chamber in the round, so to speak.
I have been so caught up in work and the elections these last 6 months that I was shocked when I heard of this on the radio.
News like this hit me one other time before concerning the Suns and that was when we got Sir Charles. I can not believe it. I am pumped....
Now back to work....
News like this hit me one other time before concerning the Suns and that was when we got Sir Charles. I can not believe it. I am pumped....
Now back to work....
mojorizen7
ASFN Addict
Admittedly, I don't know how the trade exception works but aquiring R. Artest would be the icing on the cake.
Michael
The buzz is back!
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Anfernee Hardaway, anyone?
jbeecham
ASFN Addict
Frahm does nothing for me or the team. We need either a backup PG like Cassell or a SF/PF like Tim Thomas (would be nice if the guy could play defense though). With the way the Clippers season is going......both of those guys could be available and we have the $8 million trade exemption from the KT trade.
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