Thursday Roundup: More Shaq Doesn't Equal More Success For Phoenix

Shaquille O'Neal can add this moniker to the already-long list of self-describing nicknames: The Big Dictator.

In a land where majority rules, O'Neal has convinced coach Terry Porter to ignore the fact that the greater part of his team's talent would be most effective using a faster tempo, and instead allow O'Neal to dictate the pace.

Phoenix's problem is that they're sacrificing the collective abilities of their roster to eke out another year or two of production from Shaquille O'Neal.

Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, and Leandro Barbosa have all regressed, statistically speaking, particular in points-per-game production.  That is because their skills are stifled when catering to Shaq's half-court demands.

In the first few minutes of last night's game hosting the Lakers, the Suns were crisp, sharp and effective.  Not coincidentally, this occurred when Nash pushed the tempo and found swingmen Raja Bell and Matt Barnes for wide-open threes.  With the floor spread because of their outside shooting, Stoudemire was able to operate freely around the key, nailing open mid-range jumpshots and diving to the rim.

In the second and third quarters, however, Phoenix repeatedly attempted to run their offense through O'Neal on the block.  Shaq's combination of size and decreased athleticism resulted in:

a) turnovers (Shaq had four turnovers to one assist)

b) contested shots in a Laker-packed lane

c) the negating of his teammates' contributions

Combine those factors with the Lakers' Swiss Army knife collection of talent, and the Suns were in for a long night, ultimately losing 105-92

So far this season, the Suns' emphasis in getting a fading O'Neal involved has resulted in Nash being reduced to a normal point guard averaging 13 points and 7 assists.  Barbosa's speed is almost a non-factor.  Diaw, a potential triple-double waiting to happen, is third in the line of frontline threats behind Shaq and Stoudemire.

The Suns' early-season success is misleading, because they have lost all of their games against championship contenders (New Orleans, Houston, Utah and L.A.).  Their season-opening win against the Spurs is an illusion, since Manu Ginobili wasn't able to play.

Getting Shaq involved isn't a bad thing.  Making him the focal point of the offense to justify the money he's receiving and what Phoenix traded to get him (Shawn Marion), will only create another mirage in the desert for the Suns.

Other notes:

• Another disturbing factor for Phoenix is how they seem to be a team that no-name role players have big games against.  Utah's C.J. Miles (21 points), New Orleans' Morris Peterson (21 points), and the Lakers' Vladimir Radmanovic (5-5 3-pointers last night) have all been unpleasant surprises for Phoenix so far this season.
• Unlike the Suns, the Lakers have a system, a flow to their offense.  Even when they miss, it's within the rhythm of their offense.  It's because of that that role players such as Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza are able to contribute in a way they probably couldn't on most other teams in the league.
• Another impressive indicator of how good the Lakers' role players are: Despite Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant combining to shoot 10-for-31 from the field, L.A. already had the game won in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
• The Celtics made a dud of their marquee matchup with Detroit last night, blowing them out in Boston 98-80.  No one Celtic carried the torch to victory; every player wearing a Boston jersey scored.  Paul Pierce, KJ and Ray Allen combined for a pedestrian 36 points.
• While the Garnett/Rasheed Wallace matchup was the biggest on paper, the head-to-head action between Allen Iverson and Rajon Rondo was the more accurate read into the Pistons' loss.  Rondo shredded the Pistons' interior time and again off penetration, leading to his 18 point, eight assist outing.
• Without Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, the Pistons have not only morphed into an up-tempo team offensively, but a gambling and Twinkie-soft team defensively.  Two years ago there is no way that Rondo and reserve Tony Allen (13 points, all but three of which were in the paint) would've had such easy paths through the paint.
• Boston's pack-the-middle defense revealed another Detroit weakness: outside shooting.  Rasheed Wallace is the closest thing the Pistons have to a consistent three-point threat, something that only 'Sheed himself would be happy to hear...