If you were one of the people that thought the Phoenix Suns would compete for a NBA Championship last season, in the words of Michael Jackson, "You are not alone."
In the wake of the Shaquille O'Neal experiment, there are many more questions than answers.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
When Phoenix followed the "big trade trend," and brought The Big Cactus in from Miami for Shawn Marion, the first thought that crossed my mind was what happened when the Big Fella arrived in Miami.
Championship.
Besides, the Phoenix Suns could not emerge from the Western conference superpower San Antonio Spurs shadow.
Many people blamed Tim Duncan for that, but huge moments defined many of those series that didn't go the Suns way.
Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw being suspended for leaving the bench in Robert Horry's infamous NHL-like hip check on Steve Nash.
Joe Johnson, then starting SG for the Suns, being injured and nearly losing his eye, and his effectiveness.
This season though, we expected the Suns to get over the hump. We hoped Shaq would stop Tim Duncan and give Phoenix the inside presence they lacked. We wanted Raja Bell to live up to the defensive hype and contain Manu Ginobili.
What happened was an epic Game One in which the Phoenix Suns had won, and fell victim to timely three-point shots by Tim Duncan and Michael Finley. Along with countless slices to the basket by Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Once again, fate slapped Phoenix around like a nerdy third grader and San Antonio were again bullies of everything purple and orange.
Phoenix never recovered, and eventually lost in just five games.
Just like that, the playoffs were again a memory for Phoenix and they again were on the losing side. A year older, but seemingly not a day wiser.
Suddenly, the trade of a 20-something All-Star for a 30-something aging All-Star seemed all wrong. Whether right or wrong, the roll-of-the-dice garnered my respect.
Unfortunately somebody forgot to tell Duncan and the Spurs.
After a NBA Finals where the Eastern conference dominated the West, supposedly when the power was said to have "shifted" and we witnessed a scintillating race for eighth and playoff position in the West, more questions arise.
One being, "Is the sun setting on Phoenix?"
The Suns have been one of the most successful teams of the millennium. Using a patented "run-and-gun" style, PG Steve Nash joined with former head coach Mike D'Antoni to score a lot of points, early and often.
Despite all of the offense and success, the Suns failed to win a championship in the 2000s as I discussed in another Phoenix article. (Check "Addition by Subtraction: Phoenix Suns Say Farewell to Mike D'Antoni)
With all of the changes and issues facing the Suns, can they continue to be an elite team? We can't close the door on their feet yet, but here are three issues that face them next season.
An Aging Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal
When Steve Nash arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time making them a formidable opponent and improving squad in the West. When Shaquille O'Neal arrived in Phoenix, he wasted no time slowing them down and looking like an aging former All-World center.
He played respectable basketball, averaging 12.9 PPG and 10.6 RPG, but that's a far cry from a career average of 25.2 PPG and 11.5 RPG. Phoenix didn't need him to average 25 per game, but they needed more than 13 and 10. Now a year older, can Shaq play anywhere near 82 games and improve on those numbers?
Furthermore, if he can't who will step in? Drafting Robin Lopez from Stanford may help in the future, but nobody else other than Amare Stoudemire is able to play center.
Amare is a true PF, and we saw what he can do playing there. With Steve Nash 34 and turning 35 during next season, can he sustain the rigors of an 82-game season, and who will relieve him? Leandro Barbosa is the only worthy G who the Suns have to backup Nash, and he's more of a scoring SG.
If the Suns don't get active during the free-agent period, they may find the heat warmer in Phoenix.
Emergence of Other Western Conference Teams
After watching Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker in the playoffs last season, Steve Nash must be shaking in his Nike socks. Each team made it through the first round, and the Hornets gave the Spurs all they could handle, unlike the Suns.
Phoenix has to wonder, are they falling behind?
Although the Suns won 55 games, just one shy of New Orleans, they didn't look good doing it. Riding into the playoffs on a soft schedule, the Spurs brought them back to Planet Earth. Let's face it, Chris Paul and Deron Williams dominate Steve Nash, and so does Tony Parker.
With the possibility of San Antonio getting a bit younger by signing either Corey Maggette or J.R Smith, and the Hornets and Jazz having relatively young nuclei, the Suns should be biting their fingers in nervousness.
I know Shaq is somewhere planning his next police act for his soon to be post-NBA career. Unfortunately, his rap about Kobe may have Black Mamba rapping to his teammates next season, "Now Shaq, tell me how Bynum's a** tastes!"
Will Amare Stoudemire's Knees Hold Up?
Amare Stoudemire has had knee problems for most of his NBA career. He wants us to believe that his knees are fine, but I'm not sold on it. He has already declined an invitation to the Beijing Olympics to avoid the wear on his knees. He has looked healthy before and then suddenly needed surgery.
Bottom line, I cringe every time Amare hits the floor. I'm sure the Suns coaching staff says prayers and do weird superstitious things like refrain from bringing up the words "Amare" and "knee" in the same sentence. If Stoudemire's knee(s) go bad for any length of the season, Phoenix will need those prayers.
He led the Suns in scoring three of the last four seasons and his versatility is irreplaceable in the Suns' lineup. Without swingman Shawn Marion, who was the only other Sun to lead the team in scoring in the last four seasons, the Suns will have nobody to go to.
It's like when your girlfriend dumps you, and you've let your friends go because of her. Now you're miserable and alone, and calling all of those past friends.
Unfortunately for Phoenix, there's nobody to call. Kevin Johnson or Charles Barkley won't be coming through that front door.
Unless the Suns build a gambling casino.
That wasn't right, Sam.
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3 months ago
The sun *set on The Suns* that very day Steve Nash returned to town. And, it won't *rise again* for a trip to The NBA Finals, until...
he leaves town ---or learns how to play defense on the NBA level--- and, of course, we know which of those events will happen first.
3 months ago
Nice article, dude. I didn't find anything therein that I can disagree with. So let me add this in.
Phoenix will barely win 45 games this upcoming season. The majority of their 55 wins last season came pre-Shaq. With Terry Porter running the show, you can expect to see old school slow it down half court offense. On defense, he will expect in your face man to man. That's how he played and I expect that's how he'll coach.
Porter's style doesn't bode well for Shaq, Nash, Hill, Stoudemire and Barbosa. Perhaps I should also throw Bell in there becaus he gets lazy, uninterested or just doesn't give a damn at times.
This team needs to start a youth movement like now so they won't fall too far behind the rest of the young western conference. That could very well mean moving Shaq, Hill, and quite possibly Nash.
Of course, moving Shaq with his overinflated ego and salary might prove to be impossible. Should that be the case, don't be afraid to limit his playing time to 15 minutes a game. (See the Heat in the finals against the Mavericks).
After all, it should be about the Phoenix Suns franchise. Not an individual has been.
from 3 months ago
Obvioulsy most of Phonix's wins came pre shaq, they only got him with about 25-30 games left.
Why wouldn't Grant Hill want to play a slow it down half court offense? This guy has had about 10 ankle surgeries and being from Orlando i've gotten to see him play a lot. He's run a half court offense his whole career.
IF they move Nash they might as well throw in the towel for the season. They still have a year or maybe two to win a championship. They won't be favored to win the West and i doubt they will but they'll be in position to make a playoff run again this year.
3 months ago
i dont think the Sun is setting for the Suns they made the trade late in the season....Shaq will be alright and either they make trades or not this team is very good...
3 months ago
Plus, here's more food for thought regarding why Shaq was a bad acquisition that couldn't be foreseen until the playoffs, by no fault of his own:
He was capable of being very very effective, against The Spurs. He was fresh, he was energized, he was optimistic. But the referees overtly and blatantly took him out of the series.
This was oh so obvious, if you watched closely. Most notably, recall how many plays where he was called for travel/offensive fouls, on simple, Shaq, signature-moves in the paint. Recall how many defensive fouls that were called him, during simple defensive positioning actions that he's been allowed, for years. It was hurtful, watching it.
Shaq has fallen out of favor with the NBA. The signal has been sent, that they want him to move on to the pasture. And the refs have a funny way of showing older-vets when that dreadful day has come, for their standing in the league.
I always knew that to be true about the NBA, but never saw it unfold so blatantly, until watching Shaq during the Spurs series. Now, combine that with him placarding a galactic blemish upon the league with his recent *Kobe freestyle* in that NYC-nightclub a few weeks ago, and it = not a good look for Shaq...in terms of, something to be remembered by NBA-brass, via the referee whistle next season.
So, I think he's a lost cause, and done deal.
3 months ago
by getting one of the Lopez Twins gives Shaq and Stat to play alittle more there game and get good brakes....the Sun will make a run this coming up season
from 3 months ago
David thanks for commenting, but to think the Suns will contend this season makes me think you're a Suns fan and there's certainly nothing wrong with that...but check the posts of yungCaucasoid and Efrem they do a great job of elaborating on the points I made in the article, and that combined with the article itself makes a pretty strong point about why the Suns could very well be on the decline...
Thanks for the compliment Ben!
3 months ago
Good article! The Suns have really been on the decline as of late.
3 months ago
The Suns will do good again this season, in the regular season. They will make the playoffs and this will probably be their last chance to make a run. I wouldn't worry about Amare, he was dominate since Shaq joined them and he can shoot the mid range jumper now. Expect Nash to put up similar numbers to last year and Shaq is the wild card. Are we going to see the Suns play like they did last year after they got Shaq (which was slightly over .500) or are they going to adjust and gell together becuase they've had more time to learn each other?
3 months ago
The trade for Shaquille O'neal transformed the Suns from a championship contender to a team that will struggle to get a low playoff seed. Trading away Joe Johnson, Luol Deng, or Rajon Rondo did not help their chances either.
3 months ago
I don't know about that Nick. What had the Suns been doing with Shawn Marion the previous 2 or 3 years? They had been making the playoffs but always getting knocked out so they decided to make a change and see if that would make a difference. Can't blame them for that, especially since Marion didn't want to be there.
I don't know what Rondo has to do with this considering the Suns already have two pretty good PG. Rondo only had a nice season because he was playing with 3 hall of famers. They guy still can't shoot.
3 months ago
yungCaucasoid: I understand your saying "Shaq has fallen out of favor with the NBA." Instead, I would argue the NBA is finally back to calling the game as it was supposed to be called. Let me qualify that sentiment.
I am 44 years old and have seen a lot of basketball in my day. I have been a Lakers fan since the days of George Mikan so I'm not fairweathered. Not that that makes me some guru or something. I'm far from that. However, I do think I know basketball skills and those who possess them...a little, a lot, or somewhat. Shaq is in the "somewhat" category.
In what 16 years in the league, Shaq's today's game is the same as Shaq's rookie year game. He has not evolved and, quite frankly, I don't think he has the capability to do so. His game then was to run over and thru people. His game now is run over and thru people. We don't need to go there with the free throw shooting, right.
While with the Heat, he kept saying he was going to "employ his finesse game" because the officials weren't letting him run over people any more. That finesse game never came to fruition thus his playing time decreased.
Additionally, Shaq has never made an all-defense team or lead the league in rebounding. I've always thought his mentality towards defense was "me, play defense. PLEASE!" Thus, I see him as being extremely lazy and wanton on the defensive end of the floor. Laziness leads to poor footwork which leads to reaching and blocking fouls.
The NBA at the time of Shaq's rookie and early years was looking for a personality to take over after Jordan and the Bulls run ended. Enter Shaquille O'Neal. Though he wasn't nearly the best player on his college team at LSU (Stanley Roberts & Chris Jackson ring a bell) he did possess the persona to be funny. The NBA, imagining the marketing possibilities of the "gentle giant phenomena," changed the rules to accommodate the man they targeted for that role.
Never in the history of the NBA had running thru someone not been an offensive foul. Never in the history of the NBA had elbowing a defender in the chest, jaw or head not been an offensive foul.
Moreover, the era of the center left the building when Akeem "The Dream" Olajuwon retired.
Unless he's front and center offensively, Shaq doesn't want to or, better yet, doesn't feel that he has to do anything else to contribute to the overall teams success. Phoenix will learn that the hard way this and next year.
3 months ago
What rules did they change to accomodate Shaq? Pleas eleborate.
All I can think of is, they added a 3 second violation which hurts Shaq not helps him.
3 months ago
Yes, they are done with this squad. If they are lucky Shaq plays a healthy and effective 10-15 games to start the year and they ship him off to the Clippers or Mavericks in exchange for a young player and some draft picks. Steve Nash has 2 more good years left in him and after he's gone you'll be left with only Stoudemire. Barbosa is another player whose best value will come in a trade, not on the court. Hes an incomplete player, overrated because he can put up some points.
3 months ago
Great, well-argued article.
I wouldn't bank on a sunset yet, though. Nash may defend like a bed-ridden grandma but he is one of the greatest offensive players of this generation. I don't see the Suns winning squat in the playoffs but they will remain competitive. Since only one team can win a championship each year, sometimes, competitive is all you can ask for.
3 months ago
Michael: For the sake of accuracy there was no "rule change" per se. But what they did do was allow Shaq to play rough-house when everybody else was playing basketball. Even during the Russell, Chamberlain wars there was never as much physicality allowed as there was when Shaq became a household name.
Shaq's signature move is running through you to get as close to the basket as he can so he could dunk. Every now and then he'd do a drop step or two and bank in a shot. But for the most part it was all about running thru people. That's a foul. Period. Point Blank.
Because he was allowed to do that for so long he never refined his game to include any other offensive moves. The writing was on the wall for him his last year in L.A. It was then emphasized when he joined the Heat. No longer were the refs going to let him run over people. Yet, he never showed any inclination to do anything different. He was who is was and that was that.
Now that the media isn't saying it's okay anymore, and the NBA isn't saying it's okay anymore, dude is uninterested for the most part. He's going thru the motions for the sake of the money.
3 months ago
Efrem I understand and respect your views, but I believe that Shaq was a dominant center in his prime for more than just running through people. He actually had some footwork and quickness to his offensive game. You're right about his non-commitment on the defensive end, but he was definitely a force in the post. Sometimes he did just run through people, but he was effective on the low block no doubt. Olajuwon was better in a finesse way and I loved watching the dream play, but Shaq was no slouch. He's just old now and out of his prime, and needs to hang it up.
Great comments everyone!
3 months ago
Hi, im a suns fan and i feel that yes they are on the decline but if Amare stays fit and Shaq still has the hunger they have a slim chance, however only if they avoid the Spurs in the playoffs. Plus it's vital that Lopez gets sufficient minutes in the regular season in order to help Shaq!
3 months ago
Efrem and Samuel, here's where your arguments scoff at reality and the Laws of Physics. It's not Shaq's fault if other players aren't as strong and physical as he is. If true, then they should treat guards, who are caught up defending PF and Centers, as they treat Centers too weak and inept to guard Shaq.
The NBA game, is still about size first, and to say that it should be counted against Shaq because no Centers chose to go get strong enough to do anything with him on the block...is totally unfair and exudes with you all signing off on raping the Integrity of the game.
Just like so, for the refs calling the games as if it's Shaq's fault that other players are too weak to contend with him. But, again, since everyone wants him to move on to the pasture for the younger generation, then...it is what it is. And, that being a putrid reason why Donaghy is looking more and more like a genius, who wore Devil's prada, through his inside/understanding of how egregiously-lowdown the NBA processes are.
Now I believe Shaq's legacy is one THAT WILL CERTAINLY be tarnished, if he continues to play another 2-4 years. Simply because he won't come to grips with, how the powers-at-be simply, don't want him around anymore. And they're going to continue to show him that, everytime he steps on the Court, no matter how grossly unfair it is to the integrity of the game.
I'm just sad to read, that you all seem to be just fine with that injustice.
Then again, you all seem to be fine with downplaying the fact that NOTHING HURTS THAT TEAM MORE THAN Steve Nash's incapability to defend on the NBA-level, so...should I even be surprised with any 'peculiar silences' toward Shaq being unfairly handcuffed now?
Thank God for the Donaghy's of the sports world!!
3 months ago
YungC, I'd say the only thing that hurts more is Amare's inability to play defense at an NBA level (and save the "stats")
3 months ago
yungCaucasoid I don't know if you read my comment response, but I actually took up for Shaq and said that he was more than just a guy who ran through people. I gave him credit for being effective with things other than power, and while I admitted that he sometimes ran through guys, I didn't say that he should be called for fouls all day.
Oh and just to let you know, when a dominant players statistics over the last five years go like this:
22.9, 20.0, 17.3, 14.2, and 12.9, that's a ten-point drop off in just five seasons...he needs to retire...it's obvious, and that's no disrespect to Shaq as a future hall-of-famer, but he'll be 37 next season, and his production has clearly dropped off. And all that Donaghy stuff being mentioned in conjunction with me , my article or comments is offensive, brother. Just stop that.
3 months ago
Samuel: Much respect to what you said. My failing to give Shaq his props were not my intention. My focus was on his inability to change his game to deal with a change in officiating. I just thought he could have been soooooo much more than he was. His failure to do so was the bain of my criticism.
yungCaucasoid: Yo man bring it down notch, kid. Sorry I came across in your eyes as hatin on Shaq. No one is pushing Shaq out to the pastures but HIMSELF. His laziness has caught up with him, man. In the words of Janet Jackson "what has (Shaq) done for me lately." What did he do for the Heat the year after the championship season, and this past year before being traded.
Phoenix went further in the playoffs without him on the team. If you'll recall, they were a David Stern call away from being in the NBA Finals just 2 years ago. No, Nash can't play defense. Neither can Stoudemire. Nor can (or won't) Shaq. That's 3 of your starting 5 that are defensive liabilities.
Yes, Samuel & yungCaucasoid. The Sun has set on Phoenix Suns championship aspirations.
3 months ago
Chef,
1)Amare avg. multi-blocks per game...I hate to upset your thought processes, but...that only occurs when you play something called D-E-F-E-N-S-E in the post.
2)Imagine how many blocks that would've translated into, had he had a coach with a defensive commitment?
...hmmm
still, The Spurs series, in multi-years, showed that nothing ---and I do mean nothing--- hurt The Suns more than Steve Nash being THE SINGLE WORST DEFENDER in the league. He's slow-footed/slow-handed; bka...unable to contest the passing lanes, he has no side-to-side speed/no backpedaling speed, with no instinctiveness for offensive-player movement, whatsoever. Watching him play defense, is hurtful.
Like I said earlier, that no one contested;
Recall the success Chris Paul had whenever they played the Suns, mattafact, same went for any productive PG whenever their team played The Suns. Most of all, recall that the only flicker of daylight/success the Suns had, in The Spurs series, was whenever they took Nash out/had Boris Diaw guarding Tony Parker.
you do the math from there.
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