Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Peters

Will Shaquille O'Neal Bring the Phoenix Suns a Championship?

Justin Peters — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:36:53 -0500

The Phoenix Suns have been flirting with an NBA title since the arrival of Steve Nash, however, each year they fall short.

Last year, Amare Stoudamire leaving the area of the bench may have cost the Suns a chance at the 'ship.

Shaq, who once was the most dominating big man in the game, has fallen off the last couple of years, since winning a championship with Miami.

The Shaq trade signals the beginning of the Steve Kerr era in which defense, which the Suns have lacked in their run-and-gun style of offense, will become more of a priority.

Shaq has predicted that he will make an impact and make critics eat their words—however, how often in sports to do we see athletes make a prediction? Sure, some of them have been right—most recently Plaxico Burress saying the Giants would win the Super Bowl—but there have been way more predictions that turned out to be false.

The Suns are in a great position right now, because even if Shaq hardly contributes they still have an excellent nucleus comprised of Nash, Stoudemire, Barbosa, Hill, Bell, and several other contributions off the bench.

It will be interesting to see how Shaq fits into the Suns fast-paced offense, but between him and Stoudemire, there isn't a more devastating center/power forward combination in the league.

This doesn't mark the first time the Suns have tried incorporating a big man into their line up. Just a few seasons ago seasoned veteran Kurt Thomas had a stint with Phoenix. However, things just never quite seemed to run as smoothly when he was on the court.

If the Suns fall short once more, they will be stuck with an old and slow Shaq, instead of the versatile Marion. Like many things in life only the test of time will determine if the Suns hurt or helped their chances at the 'ship.

Would the New England Patriots Have Won Any of Their Championships Without Spying?

Justin Peters — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:11:23 -0500

The New York Jets may have opened Pandora's Box when they caught the New England Patriots video taping their signals during week one of this past season.

New England only defeated St. Louis and Carolina in the Super Bowl by a game winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri, and barely snuck past Philadelphia for their thirrd crown in the decade.

Can you imagine the advantages of knowing what plays your opponent is going to run? Defenders can prepare to be in place prior to the play even beginning.

The fact that New England was unable to complete the perfect season only adds to the uncertainty. This year's Patriots team quite possibly being the best during the Tom Brady era, at least offensively anyway, but was still unable to finish the job. Could it be because they didn't know what plays their opponent was going to run?

Is it a mere coincidence that the year the Patriots were forced to cease their spying ways that they fell short on the sport's biggest stage for the first time in four tries?

Jerry Stackhouse's Loose Lips May Be a Blessing in Disguise

Justin Peters — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:53:09 -0500

Jerry Stackhouse's comments alluding to the fact that the New Jersey Nets were to buy out his contract in time for his former team to re-sign him just for the final stretch of the season may very well be the reason the trade won't happen.

Stackhouse has caused a whirlwind of controversy across the league causing several general managers to complain to commissioner David Stern.

The trade would've brought perennial All-Star point guard Jason Kidd to the Mavericks in exchange for several talented youngsters from Dallas.

Now it's certainly understandable why Dallas feels a need to make an acquisition following the recent moved of the Lakers to get Gasol and the Suns to get Shaq. However, they may be jeopardizing their team in years to come by sacrificing two first-round draft picks in addition to rising talents in Devon Harris and Desagna Diop.

Sure, Jason Kidd improves Dallas's team for the time being, but they still seem to be a player or two behind the top Western Conference teams.