Three games after the trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the desert with lofty goals and high expectations, the Phoenix Suns are a modest 1-2.
But I think that it is too early to say that this trade was a bust.
However, I felt then as I do now that trading one All-Star for a former All-Star wouldn't work as well because the Suns would have to change their philosophy.
The Suns will still run-and-gun when the break is there; contrary to popular belief Shaq is needed to get the rebound and ignite the fast break but not be a part of it.
O'Neal was the most dominant center in the game when motivated and healthy. O'Neal is closing in on the end of his career and age, years of championship caliber play, and injuries have taken their toll, and have reduced him to really a shell of his former self.
He can be a dominant post player that requires a double team and allows Amare Stoudemire space to do damage for 15 to 20 minutes a game at best.
What O’Neal is not is a good defensive player and rebounder—two reasons why Phoenix wanted him and traded away Shawn Marion.
Marion was the Suns best defensive player and rebounder, and usually played defense on the opponent’s best guards or small forwards.
Marion's contract and surly attitude in the locker room were big factors in the trade as well. Taking a closer look at the trade I felt that GM Steve Kerr was going to be praised or considered the goat and fired based on this deal.
The Suns realized that playing small ball, as exciting as it is, wasn't going to get them to the NBA Finals. I applaud GM Steve Kerr for making a huge decision and doing the deal to acquire Shaq that looks bad right now—but the Suns do have about 30 games to right the ship and prove all the naysayers wrong.
The Suns also need to figure out what type of team they're going to be at this time. There is no confidence or cohesion at this point as they're clearly trying to find their way and mesh. Several players are adjusting to new roles and Shaq is working on getting and remaining healthy and mastering the offense.
What is not being talked about is fact that since the trade, Steve Nash has averaged fewer assists per game.
This can't be blamed on Shaq; but this team that had a number of three-point shooters on the roster now has been reduced to Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell. As long as Raja Bell doesn't have to play defense on the best perimeter player, as well as avoid taking a knockout blow from a big teammate, the odds of success are in his favor.
Speaking of the defense; it is nonexistent and teams have recently been shooting over 50 percent from the field on them. Grant Hill and Barbosa have got to be major contributors both offensively and defensively.
The word out of Phoenix has been "patience," "we'll rally and get this thing together," and "once I master the offense we'll be fine."
The good news is the Suns will be a playoff team. However, the bad news is their lack of defense has been a problem for a while and is cause for concern.
12 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
Defense looked good against the Celtics...
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Jeff Little about 1 year ago
Well everyones defense looks good when the other team is on the road playing a back to back game and missing shots. That game was really a strange game and didn't the Suns go about 12 minutes without scoring a point and still win the game? A very bad night for your Celtic.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
You want rebounds and defense? Pick up Ron Artest.
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Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago
Its easy to go 1-2 in Shaqs first 3 games when they are against the Lakers, Celtics, and Pistons.
They should have 3 fairly easy wins in their next 4 games, as they will be matched up with Memphis, Philadelphia, and Portland.
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danny kempton about 1 year ago
but with the acquisition of shaq werent they supposed to be able to beat the teams like the lakers, celtics, and pistons???? not to be able to beat teams they have already beat
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tophatal about 1 year ago
With this Suns' team as it now stands one has to be worried because in some respects nothing much has really changed with regards to their play. Their Achilles' heel will and always will be their lack of defensive play. And come the post season they'll be stretched by the more resolute teams that can play on both ends of the floor.
This is going to be a 'one' shot deal for the Suns. A loss in any of the round priot to the Conference Finals would deemed a season of failure on their path. And they'll have to go back to the drawing board and rethink their dtrategy all over again.
tophatal ..............
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Layman Analyst about 1 year ago
This trade still has a chance of working out. They just need to figure out how to incorporate Shaq in the half court offense. High pick and rolls are not his forte on offense. Sometimes they are just going to need to go down to him on the post, because that is where he can be most productive. This is going to take away Nash's assists, but there's not much more they can do except have Shaq work on an effective left and right jump hook and his free throws (a little too late, after 10 + years, though).
And they better start practicing more zone defense to protect his slow recovery on D.
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Zander Freund about 1 year ago
I definitely think it's too early to tell, but I have to say: I've had reservations about this trade from the beginning.
True, the Phoenix Suns can use Shaq down low. But one thing they needed even more was defensive talent. Trading your best defender away for an injury prone vet at the tail end of his career—no matter how large—is a risky move.
How many times do the Suns need to go down in the playoffs to realize that you have to win on both ends of the court to get to the big dance?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Let's face it the Suns have bigger problems other than Shaq. Even with Marion it was going to be tough getting to the finals. The challenges are at the one and three defensively. Now you have to add the five defensively. Steve Kerr took a gamble and hoped it would payoff in terms of hype and chemistry. Shaq is a good locker room guy with lots of experience and personality. But, he's been in the league 15 years, thats 1,230 games of wear and tear. Have you seen his reaction time on pick and rolls with Steve Nash? You can't will you way into the finals its done with coaching, bench play, defense and floor generals.
Now come on, do you really believe Shaq is going to led the Suns to the promise land?
That's Steve Nash's job.
Now two games behind the LAKERS. Thank you Shaq!
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Amanda Blank about 1 year ago
The Phoenix Suns have been very successful since they began play as an expansion team in 1968, making it to the NBA playoffs on several occasions, and even appearing in the NBA Finals a couple times; however, they have not won the championship. The Phoenix Suns excite their fans with their fast style of play, for that the number of fans are increasing, and If you're one of those fans or you've just decided to be and you want to attend their games. There's an interesting website, which I use all the time to get tickets, and really they have cheap ones. Here's the link:
http://www.ticketsinventory.com/nba/phoenix-suns-tickets/
Anyhow I though this is something would interest you, a tip from a Phoenix Suns fan
GO Phoenix Suns!!
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Andrew Ungvari about 1 year ago
Adrian Wojnarowski is a well-respected basketball writer who now writes for Yahoo!.
Here's a link to this column from January 23, 2008. That was only 35 days ago--before the Shaq trade.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-shaq012308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
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Jeff Little about 1 year ago
Thanks for the heads up Andrew that was an outstanding article by Adrain Wojnarowski stating the real deal of what the shaq we once knew has no become. I saw the start of his demise while he was a Laker and now the breakdown is almost complete he does need to take the buyout as oppose to over staying his welcome. Adrian hit every point and I agree with the entire article.
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