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

Actually, that's their best case scenario. The real (and likely) worst case scenario is that their defense goes to absolute crap, their offensive efficiency is severely impacted, and they struggle to make the playoffs or perhaps even become a lottery team. In this sort of WC scenario where 48 wins might not be sufficient for a playoff berth, the lottery isn't even out of the question anymore. This is a very high risk, medium reward move that is quite obviously reactionary and based more on panic than logic.

I really believe the Suns just shot themselves in the foot, big time.

 

bucher just said on espn news:

suns hope that shaq will fill thier need for a defensive presence along with moving amare to the 4. they hope shaq will accept the role of defensive presence/outlet passer in order to keep the offense running through nash.

doesn't sound like something shaq would be ok with. he's a really proud guy. i'd bet that he asks for more shots than they're willing to give him on the post.

 

Okafor, Gasol, and Dalembert would all make marginal differences. Shaq is the real deal. You don't think he's going to be motivated to get 1 more ring and add to his legacy? You don't think he still has at least a little ill will towards Kobe? How about PJ? It's easy to look washed up when you play for the worst team in the league and your not hungry and your sidekick (Wade) is injured. Now it's like he gets a free playoff berth thrown on his lap and you know he's going to tear it up. I know the rest of the Suns are dying for a ring especially Nash and G. Hill.

 

Makes for good debate. It wouldn't be fun if we all agreed on the topic. I firmly believe a motivated Shaq will push the Suns over the top.

 

The suns needed an inside presence, I agree. However shaq is not going to be able to contain anything defensively anymore(too slow), and he cannot play in their system offensively. He takes the ball away from nash which is a bad thing.

Gasol can't check duncan perfectly either, but he can do just as well as shaq can at this stage of their careers, and he on the other hand, is athletic enough to maintain their up tempo style while still providing a low post option.

So yes, I think gasol would have given them just as good of a chance at beating the spurs and winning the west.

 

Like I said earlier... Did he look that great in the finals 2yrs ago when he was in shape? Not really... Whats the difference now? The West?

 

Wow, Phoenix will downgrade themselves with Shaq. Now if we can only get the Mavs to trade away Harris for Jason brick Kidd they will be coming down to us instead of us going up to them.

 

i was doubtful that the rockets would make any major move before the deadline. then the following happened:

lakers get gasol
suns get shaq
warrios get webber
spurs get stoudamire
jazz get korver

dallas thinking about kidd with harris going to portland
nuggets thinking about artest
hornets trying to add bench depth

rockets looking to dump snyder for a te? give me a break.

DM needs to get to work.

 

You seem to think they are getting vintage shaq. The reason the heat sucked this year was shaq is washed up and couldn't dominate for his team with or without wade. It has more to do with shaq's decline that the heat are 9-37 than anything. he's not even a 2nd wheel anymore. His athleticism/quickness is shot, and without that he is nothing. He's also incredibly injury prone.

Putting a slow, plodding big guy who takes the ball away from nash and in dantoni's system is mixing oil and water. Gasol would have fit their offense better and the defensive impact is marginally different than shaq. Dalembert and Okafor could have done all the dirty work while being better defenders than shaq, yet athletic enough to thrive in an up tempo setting.

 

Have you ever played a pick-up basketball game where there's nobody else waiting on the court for the next game and everyone is not really playing their hardest and just half-assing it and it's kind of boring? Well that about sums up Shaq's season with the Heat so far.

and then have you ever played a pickup game where there's only one court and it starts getting crowded and everybody really wants to win and stay on the court so they don't lose and have to wait and sit out 3 or 4 games just to get back on the court?

The point I'm making is I agree Shaq has looked like garbage a lot this season because he's not hungry and he's half-assing it realizing the Heat wouldn't have even made it to the playoffs. However, if he really is motivated which I think he will be. This is a victory for the Suns.

 

Houston get Landry and Brooks (this 2 where not in expected to develop that quick and fit that well with the system)

We haven't see 100% of what Houston is able to do when all pieces are rolling together.

 

This move also seems to sound like they're getting ready to plant a boot in Mike D'Antoni's butt, as early as this summer.

Once this trade is completed, I think D'Antoni is as good as gone. There's no way he's going to be able to make this thing work well enough to even get past the first round of the playoffs. And once the Suns fail again, they'll have the perfect excuse to fire him and hire someone like Larry Brown -- since they seem to have decided once and for all that the high octane thing ain't gonna get them the rings they so sorely crave.

 

Rockets fire Gundy, bring in Adelman.
Suns fire D'Antoni, bring in Brown.
Up is down, left is right.
Whats next? Texas Tech is gonna run option next season?

 

Dude ... motivation is one thing. But no matter how motivated Shaq may be, he's still washed up and a shell of his former self. Plus, he can't play defense without racking up fouls, and now he's in an even worse situation considering his right hand man Amare is one of the 3 worst big men defenders in the league, and his point guard Nash can't stop penetration to save his life. And then to top that they lose their main team defender. He has zero range outside of 10 feet, and so his presence on the floor effectively turns Amare into a jump shooter and kills the effectiveness of the pick and roll. Shaq fits the Suns offense like a porpoise fits my living room decor. No matter how you try to spin this, it is hard to envision the Suns not getting worse BOTH offensively and defensively with this move. Even with a highly motivated Shaq.

 

You just agreed with my point by saying the whole high octane thing ain't gonna get them rings. You don't think a combo of the high octane/ half court with Shaq/presence in the middle is going to work either. What do you think would work?

 

OOPS.

I disagree with the experts that this is a bad trade. Shaq is still a force down low. He can give guys like Duncan problem and make the Suns a more legit halfcourt team for the playoffs.

And a team doesnt stop being a fastbreak team just because of one slow guy.

To replace Marion (who they have been trying to trader forever), they can play Diaw more, not to mention that Shaq is good for 15 points on 60% shooting.

 

I understand all that you are saying, but he was in massive decline before the heat went on that horrific losing skid and at that time they could have gotten back in the playoff race. I don't see shaq's best being that special anymore and that's just my take.

 

shawn marion was basically the ONLY reason they are not pathetic offensively.

who will guard tmac now? lebron? paul pierce? carmelo?

raja can guard lebron b/c they're the same size. he would get ABUSED by those guys i mentioned.

 

And the West starts to lick its chops...

 

guys, Morey is doing the best for our team. He's trying not to mess up our chemistry, or not to make it worse.