How Does the Gasol / Shaq Trades Affect the Rockets

There's no doubt it helped us. Most of the analysts agree as well including Hollinger. Shaq really is a square peg in a round hole with them and his body is breaking down at an almost grant hill like pace. It's within the realm of possibility that neither Hill or Shaq are healthy for the playoffs. *massive* gamble on the part of Kerr.

 

Although it is true that he is old and slow, I think he can still hurt the Rockets. Im not sure if he still demands a double team but if Yao guards Shaq, who will guard Amare? I dont think our forwards can handle him..can they? im not sure sicne i only saw 1 PHX game this year.. (the steve francis game)

 

agree with you, the speed is not something that Rockets get especially fighting with Suns, So I think it's good news to hear about that...

 

Ummmm,

Hayes will make Amare a jump shooter. Then you bring in Landry to contest his jumper.

I definitely, this makes Phoenix so much weaker against us. You can't play him down the stretch at all, cuz he'll collect free throws like a magnet and he can't make them at an effective clip. We've got Deke to throw at him along with Yao. And I'm sorry, but Shaq has had trouble defending Yao now for a couple years. There's no way he's gonna improve, he's only going to be worse. And he's so much easier to defend now. He's simply going to be the weakside option off the Nash-Amare Pick n Roll. Marion has always been a mismatch for us when we play them and Marion has been a very effective defender against McGrady. We don't have to worry about that now. The way to defend Phoenix is to play the passing lanes and deny the pass from Nash. He can't outscore the opponent by himself. You deny the passing lanes and force the other guys to take quick, rushed shots because they are having trouble getting a shot off. Let Nash score 50. Who cares?

Shaq makes Phoenix so much more vulnerable to the Adelman Rockets.

 

This will look like a good trade until the playoffs. Phoenix was in a difficult position, because if you watched the game last night, they couldn't get a stop to save their lives.

Positives of Shaq
1. Will clog up the middle, people drive on Phoenix like autoban
2. Can get you at least 9 - 11 rebounds a game
3. High bball IQ to help them understand team defense

Negatives of Shaq
1. Poor free throw shooter, can't be in the game down the stretch. As a result, he will be unable to clog up the middle
2. Can't run or jump anymore
3. Chemistry and requiring the rock in the low post.

 

Shaq was incredible during those championship seasons, but his performance this year hasn't matched what his championship years. Phoenix isn't getting the healthier younger championship Shaq, but a slower older version.

 

1. They lost Marion's 10 boards a game.
2. For Shaq to get 10 boards, he's gotta play 30+ minutes. He can't do that. And if he does, Yao is gonna kill him.
3. Team what????!!?!?!!?! Look, Shaq only plays defense when he has to. He's gonna stand around out there worse than McGrady. He'll only defend in small spurts when the game is on the line and he has to. And if he is in there defending, that means they're going to the other end with him, where you can foul him and let him clank the freebies rather than having to run back and attempting to defend Marion on the break.