[Miami Herald] Shaq-Marion Deal In Works (UPDATE: Done Deal)

I'm not going to say you're right or wrong because there's really no solid way to determine that.

I will say that the Spurs totally shut down a complete Suns team in game 6. I remember that game. I also will say that Bruce Bowen got away with a lot of fouls on Steve Nash...and they were really a lot...legit reaches and hand slaps that lead to steals but were complete hacks.

So while losing the pivotal game 5 w/o Amare and Diaw sucks big time...there was no guarantee that the series was going the Suns way even if those guys played. I hate that Stern suspended them...freakin that's not the spirit of the law...

Anyhow, if I were the Suns GM, it's not like I'd be completely 100% confident in this team this year in terms of going all the way. Kurt Thomas is gone and he was very productive for stretches....Grant Hill has helped...but still, I would have been uneasy. Would I have done the trade?...not sure...but I wouldn't be fooled into thinking that the Suns were the team to beat.

 

Just because you need to make a move doesn't make any move you make a good one. As people have commented, this looks pretty bad from a "fit" standpoint for numerous reasons. Even if Shaq is given a jolt from this trade, he won't be able to play like he did in his prime. He just can't anymore.

Phoenix gave up their only stud on defense and got back a big who hasn't played hard on defense in years. Amare and Shaq both have a rep for dogging it on that end.

Also, Amare+Marion as your 4-5 was a deadly combo since no one could matchup with both of them. Yao became a massive liability on D when he faced them. Now you have Shaq forcing Amare to the 4 where he faces quicker defenders making him less effective. Also, Shaq can't draw defenders away from the basket - a crucial Suns advantage that opened up the lanes for Amare, Marion, and Nash to slash to the hole. Now a help defender will always be nearby to challenge them.

I honestly think Starver did this with the hope of cashing in the Shaq revenue bump. If he did it to win now, I think they've made a big mistake.

Evan

 

How do the Suns play Amare and Shaq at the same time? Is Amare going to play further from the rim now?

 

Nash and Marion will be fine without each other because both were fine before they became teammates. The real question is how much gas Shaq has left in the tank.

 

This is a move to counter the Lakers get Pau Gasol. The Lakers were very competitive to the Suns with lesser rosters in their last 2 playoffs meetings. The Lakers beat the Suns twice already this season. The Suns beat the Lakers in their last meeting with Bynum absence. Now, the Lakers get Gasol, the chance for the Suns get pass the Lakers is dropping.

Steve Kerr knows that. Steve Kerr also knows Phil Jackson is a BIG "match-up" problem for Mike D'Antoni or most coaches. It's a desperate move for the Suns. Steve Kerr basically says: "F__k it. We cant beat the Lakers and Nash is 34. Let's give it a go at Shaq! WTH!".

 

WOW . . major plus for the heat, so all heat fans should be pretty much excited, wade now has a supa reliable "small big guy" to go to that will prettym uhc get the job done, but playoff picture is totally out for the heat . . and suns, I don't know what to say, be sad? . . well not really, this trade will definitely change shaq's outlook on basketball, as we all should think right? . . well if that's right . . the suns have a chance in the playoffs . . cuz they are not gettin to the finals without a "dominant" center . . this is all just thoughts in my head, because I and perhaps all of us shouldn't care at all . . we just gotta hope we get past the first round this season, and hoping mer make a push for finals . .

which reminds me, this is a pretty interesting article you guys should read - - > rockets . . CHAMPIONSHIP . . lol

and yes, I agree with forchette, we need so somehow get a good on D, very physical shooter, MILLER!

you all think we will somehow get mike miller?

 

Suns are gonna drop like a bomb in a few years..

 

Magically? They've been legit championship contenders for a while. It wouldn't require magic for them to get to win it all. Just a little luck (most teams that win a championship need that).

 

Agree. As in, luck = one less hip check in playoffs last year. It was that close.

Marion gives them rebounds, running, spot-up 3's, etc. Shaq no longer requires double-team, so he won't even free up the shooters, and as many have said, he'll clog up the middle for barbosa and nash. Such a bizarre idea.

Look forward to Wade with Matrix though.

 

Seriously guys, you're talking about the suns being WORSE on defense? They can't get any worse. It's not like Marion was patrolling the lane like D.Howard or something.

 

Shaq will get pnr'd to death.

 

I don't think luck would get them past the Lakers, Mavs, or the Spurs this year. Especially the Lakers.

Bottomline is that Suns lineup had their chances to win in the postseason and now the matchups in this upcoming playoffs didn't look favorable if they kept it intact.

But it remains to be seen if Shaq is the correct trade.

 

Yes, they can. Marion was not patrolling the paint, but he did get in a lot of passing lanes and cause a lot of deflections and steals. He was also their swiss army knife type defender who could guard anyone from point guards to power forwards. And up until now, the Suns were actually a decent defensive team, ranking #11 in the league in defensive efficiency and #7 in opposing eFG%. As I've shown earlier, Shawn Marion was a big part of that defense.

Yes, they can and will get a lot worse.

 

Marion was a pretty good perimeter defender to such an extent they put him on PGs that torched Nash. Raja Bell is over the hill. Therefore, their perimeter defense will suffer. At the same time, it will be more difficult to score inside against them if Shaq is up to par.

 

Sure couldn't stop Odom in the playoffs even a little bit.

 

Sorry guys, but I’m failing to see how Marion will be missed much when it comes to winning in the postseason. I preface this by saying I think Amare, Hill, Barbosa, Shaq and the shooters can pick up his scoring. So it comes down to how was Marion making a defensive impact in the postseason.

Last year and in 05 they were knocked out by SA. Can Marion hold any of the big three? Nope….

In 06 they were knocked out by the Mavs. Can Marion contain Dirk or Howard? Nope…

In the last two playoff runs Odom has given him fits. He surely can’t contain Gasol or Bynum, so he isn’t making a huge defensive impact here either.

LA won playoff games by dominating the paint. SA beat em twice by dominating the paint. Same with Dallas. See the trend….

 

It's funny that I'm defending Shawn Marion, a guy that I've always said thinks way too highly of himself.

People, what if Shaq remains injury prone and doesn't perform well? This is a realistic possibility! Marion is a VERY productive and versatile player who logs 35+ mins/game in D'Antoni's tight-as-a-drum rotation. He doesn't demand the ball and his only real flaw is he shoots too many 3 pointers.

Shaq has been a shell of player much of this season. He's like an old car that needs a major repair every month. From game to game you just don't know what he'll give you. Who will Marion's minutes go to, Shaq? Will creaky old Grant Hill be asked to play more than his 30+ mins/game?

The guy that must step up and become a man is Diaw. If he does not, the Suns are cooked even if Shaq plays decent and only misses a few games. Amare is the one that hinders Diaw, not Marion.

Based on their hard luck history over the last 35 years or so I've watched them, this will not work out for the Suns.

 

The best chance the Suns had to win was in 04-05 season when they had Joe Johnson and Qrich with all their current pieces.

The trade was pressure from the owner to cut salary and that this will be the last season IMO. Its apparent that run n gun doesnt work in the playoffs.

They are going to miss Shawn Marion and he really thinks hes a superstar LOLOL.

Shaq is over the hill and goes to a fast paced offense that spells trouble.

Lakers vs Suns just got reeeaaalllyyyyy interesting (entertainment purpose only)

 

This trade still doesn't make sense to me. I know they want a defensive presence but he has to be on the court to be that presence. On top of that, we are talking about a guy that has hip problems and you want him to run and gun in Phoenix?

What are they honestly thinking in this deal? There has to be something we don't know because it's one of those deals that a blind person can see isn't gonna work.