Shaquille O'Neal?

[mojorizen7]

Im talking about Marion, the key piece the Suns would be moving in this trade, remember? He's still a near All Star level player.

Gotcha.My bad.

You are saying the Suns don't scare anyone, so they should bring in a big guy who scares no one.

Yes thats what i'm saying. And yes,i believe that in the half-court game(where we struggle) Shaq will at the very least provide a defensive presence that Marion/Diaw cannot. ie; intimidation.

 

[mojorizen7]

Shaqs flying in for a physical tomorrow

Per whom?

 

[HooverDam]

Gotcha.My bad.
Yes thats what i'm saying. And yes,i believe that in the half-court game(where we struggle) Shaq will at the very least provide a defensive presence that Marion/Diaw cannot. ie; intimidation.

We've already established that Shaq isn't a great rebounder (especially considering his size and contract), and is too slow on defense and often guys just go around him, right? So whats his best attribute on defense? Probably shot blocking due to his size.

In your estimation, is this an area where the Suns are deficient?

 

[SirStefan32]

It's definitely a risk, but I would do it. I think we can all agree that this team isn't gonna win it all. So, why not gamble and give this a try? What's the worst that can happen?

 

[Proteus]

Ugh. This move reaks of complete panic by the Suns front office.

I don't see adding an old, slow, washed up Shaq as improving this team.

As of right now we'd play the Warriors in the first round and they would just run Shaq pretty much completely off the court like we did to him in Miami usually.

If we're gonna trade Marion, at this point I'd like to see us trade for Camby or Artest.

 

[mojorizen7]

We've already established that Shaq isn't a great rebounder (especially considering his size and contract), and is too slow on defense and often guys just go around him, right? So whats his best attribute on defense? Probably shot blocking due to his size.

In your estimation, is this an area where the Suns are deficient?

You can never have too many shot blockers.
His post defense could also keep Amare on the floor.
Whats his average? Like 7.9 reb per i think. I think he gets 3 offensive per also. I'd say thats worth a look.
My biggest concern with this proposal is his ability to stay healthy, not his ability to help us defensively.

 

[bko32]

For all the people touting Shaq's defensive abilities, take note:

In Shaq's entire career he's made the All-Defensive 2nd Team a total of 3 times. The last time being 5 years ago.

As for the All-Defensive 1st Team. Let's just say that everyone on this board has been elected for the 1st team as many times as Shaq.

Shaq is merely a big body that clogs the lane. At this point in his career he is a horrible defender and rebounder, especially for someone with his size and athleticism. Even in his prime, Shaq was, at best, a slightly above average defender and rebounder. Can you imagine opposing teams running the high pick and roll against Nash and Shaq? UGH!

 

[Covert Rain]

Shaqs flying in for a physical tomorrow

Please share source.

 

[mojorizen7]

Can you imagine opposing teams running the high pick and roll against Nash and Shaq? UGH!

With Stat instead of Diaw on the weak side help i can.

 

[Covert Rain]

Holy CRAP! It's Ric Bucher. He is reporting right now that Shaq is traveling to PHX for physical tommorrow morning.

 

[CaptainInsano]

This better be somewhat close to the deal I had in mind, or else this (combining it with the gasol trade) will officially go down as the most ridiculous and disgusting week in nba history.

A straight up shaq for marion is suicide. At the very VERY least swap the atl pick with miami's first.

 

[bko32]

With Stat instead of Diaw on the weak side help i can.

So Stat then becomes the main defensive player to guard the lane....which then leads to Stat getting in foul trouble. Isn't that what's been happening even without Shaq on the team?

 

[HooverDam]

With Stat instead of Diaw on the weak side help i can.

I don't know why I keep replying to you, because you repeatedly show some crazy moon 'understanding' of the game that makes me want to slam my head against the wall. But you realize that Shaq rebounds at a worse rate than Marion and does it for MORE money? Furthermore Shaq can cover ONE position on the floor, Marion can cover four. Shaq is a slug, he can't move horizontally at all, any guy with speed and good body control (i.e. Parker, Giniobili, Kobe, the guys the Suns need to stop) will go right around him.

The Suns are fine in the shot blocking department, they need good fundamental defense, good positioning, and good rebounding, Shaq offers approximately zero of them.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I am sorry but no way is this happening, no way. It is just insane. Everybody has lost their mind. The lakers trade has made a few people crazy in the media. This just can't happen. Unspeakable in words unless we bend miami over.

WTF is going on?

 

[BC867]

The Suns recent improvement in playing defense has put them in the middle of nowhere. It slows down their offense-only game (which does not excel in the post-season).

So now they are mediocre on offense (the magic of the previous three years is fading -- the NBA is catching up). And mediocre on defense.

Something has to happen.

Adapting to Shaq in mid-season. Not as traumatic as adapting to Kurt Thomas in Game 2 of the Spurs post-season series.

If we couldn't get Garnett and we couldn't get Gasol, I'll take Shaq for the finale of the Nash years.

The question is, is D'Antoni the coach to build confidence in a new image for the Suns, or will Shaq be window dressing with the game on the line?

I vote for anything that gets relief for Amare as the only big man with significant playing time on the Suns roster.

 

[Covert Rain]

Please oh please let Ric Bucher be talking out of his back side. He is actually saying Shaq is on his way for a physical in phoenix tomorrow morning.

Please let this be a big lets jump on a rumor for story crap that ESPN is famous for. PLEASE!!!!!

 

[bko32]

I don't know why I keep replying to you, because you repeatedly show some crazy moon 'understanding' of the game that makes me want to slam my head against the wall. But you realize that Shaq rebounds at a worse rate than Marion and does it for MORE money? Furthermore Shaq can cover ONE position on the floor, Marion can cover four. Shaq is a slug, he can't move horizontally at all, any guy with speed and good body control (i.e. Parker, Giniobili, Kobe, the guys the Suns need to stop) will go right around him.

The Suns are fine in the shot blocking department, they need good fundamental defense, good positioning, and good rebounding, Shaq offers approximately zero of them.

Give it up Hoover. Too many posters are still visualizing the Shaq of old, even though, the Shaq of old still wasn't all that great in fundamental defense, good positioning, etc, etc.

 

[Proteus]

Since when is Shaq that good on defense?

I don't see a mid year radical system change as working not to mention chemistry issues.

 

[HooverDam]

The Suns recent improvement in playing defense has put them in the middle of nowhere. It slows down their offense-only game (which does not excel in the post-season).

So now they are mediocre on offense (the magic of the previous three years is fading -- the NBA is catching up). And mediocre on defense.

Why do you say this garbage? What makes you think the offense slows down in the playoffs? Every conceivable statistic says the opposite, is the cliche machine just so ingrained in your mind that you can't accept their scoring is fine in the playoffs?

How are they now mediocre on offense? One bad offensive about against S.A.? They just put up 118 last night.

 

[CaptainInsano]

What if this is part of a 3 way deal? Have to hold onto hope here people!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Dave Burns has been ranting about this being possibly the stupidest thing the Suns could do and I agree.

Should this happen though, Shawn Marion's and Dan Marjele's careers in Phoenix will seem awfully identical. Both will be the third wheel on a team. Both will be needlessly blamed for their team's failures in the playoffs. Both will be traded for a slow, aging, frequently injured center. Both will play for Miami.

i just said the same thing to cheese. this smacks of majerle-williams all over again. but i'm for it. this team wasn't winning it, why not take a ridiculous flyer.

 

[Covert Rain]

i just said the same thing to cheese. this smacks of majerle-williams all over again. but i'm for it. this team wasn't winning it, why not take a ridiculous flyer.

Some people were remembering Majerle's departure through rose colored glasses. DM was one of my favorite players. I hated the trade. However, DM was NOT an at the same level as Marion when he left here. His shot had left him (form a consistency standpoint) and he was not playing good defense anymore.

The trade was still a bomb but Marion is arguably as good as ever right now.

 

[BirdMan21]

i just said the same thing to cheese. this smacks of majerle-williams all over again. but i'm for it. this team wasn't winning it, why not take a ridiculous flyer.

That is kinda where I am Ouchie. If, and that is a HUGE if, he can get healthy, I can really see how he could work in this offense. He could throw the outlet pass to start the break, and if we cant score on the fast break....by 4 seconds he will be down there to score. If they don't double him he will be able to score, if they do double him he is great at finding the open man. And one thing here is that he will in no way have to carry the team....and you know that Shaq has the mindset that he just wants to win. It will be interesting though, this is the trade that will make or break Kerr's legacy as a GM. If somehow this works out and we win a title this year, nobody will question this. We haven't won a title the past couple years (with some obvious bad luck), why not give it a shot with someone who will force teams to change how they play us.

 

[mojorizen7]

I don't know why I keep replying to you, because you repeatedly show some crazy moon 'understanding' of the game that makes me want to slam my head against the wall. But you realize that Shaq rebounds at a worse rate than Marion and does it for MORE money? Furthermore Shaq can cover ONE position on the floor, Marion can cover four. Shaq is a slug, he can't move horizontally at all, any guy with speed and good body control (i.e. Parker, Giniobili, Kobe, the guys the Suns need to stop) will go right around him.

The Suns are fine in the shot blocking department, they need good fundamental defense, good positioning, and good rebounding, Shaq offers approximately zero of them.

Then don't. You've been watching this team with rose colored glasses all year.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

We've already established that Shaq isn't a great rebounder (especially considering his size and contract), and is too slow on defense and often guys just go around him, right? So whats his best attribute on defense? Probably shot blocking due to his size.

In your estimation, is this an area where the Suns are deficient?

you think duncan is backing shaq down in the lane? i don't. that's all i need to know.