<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Mar 2 2008, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They be a 7th or 8th seed at best.</div> Not if they don't make the playoffs
Suns will make the playoffs because the record they had before the Shaq trade. I don't see them dropping THAT many games to keep them out the playoffs, but they're probably a one and done team. Next season though, is a different story. Shaq and Nash are not getting any younger, actually their entire team seems pretty old, and their defense seems to have gotten even worse after the trade (hard to believe it is actually possible, but it happened). Shaq is pretty much guarenteed to miss at least 1/3 of the season, and seeing how competitive the west is nowadays, they're really stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not that I'm complaining
"they will not make the playoffs, they will be a 7th or 8th seed at best" do you even realize the crap you say half the time?
Can someone tell me the rationale behind this move again? Marion wanted an extension so they opted to take on Shaq's enormous contract, questionable health, and deteriorating skill? If they just wanted to get rid of him there are so many other routes - expiring contracts, draft picks, a better player than Shaq, etc.
Apparently, Marion wanted Garnett/Duncan type of money. Kerr refused to give him that, and that's when he asked for a trade.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Joker @ Mar 2 2008, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently, Marion wanted Garnett/Duncan type of money. Kerr refused to give him that, and that's when he asked for a trade.</div> Then they should have just let Marion go and sign someone else, or made a better trade. Honestly, if money was the problem with Marion, [sarcasm=]they sure as hell found a great alternative in Shaq[/sarcasm]
You know Shaq only plays during the playoffs, the Suns will sneak in and Shaq will make everyone Daddy's Little Girl.
If the Suns make the playoffs, Shaq won't be making anyone his little girl. He's long past his prime and is just a shell of his former self. He can sill have an occasional good game, but he's not dominant anymore, and won't be any time soon. As for the Suns, I think they'll land in the lower echelon of the West. I think at some point they'll figure out how to better use Shaq. However, this was still a stupid, stupid move by Kerr. The team was at least a Western Conference Finals type of team, now I think they're a 1st round a done team. They're defense has somehow gotten worse and they're offense has slowed down as well. Also, not sure if anyone else realizes this, but the Suns have been playing much better when Shaq is on the bench. Both the games I watched, it was clear that Shaq was slowing down and hurting that offense. When he went to the bench though, everyone looked more comfortable. They ran their offense much more effectively and got out and ran much better as well. To me, it's no question that Shaq is the issue on this team. His defense is overrated, and it's shown. Their defense is worse with him in the lineup, and I attribute that to losing their best defensive player and replacing him with a player who just takes up space and doesn't really play defense. And on offense, all he does is take up space. He misses point blank shots and the only thing that seems to go in is a dunk. Plus, he's a hindrance to have in crunch time because he can't make a FT to save his life. The Suns will still make the playoffs, but if it's higher than a 6 seed, I think I'll be shocked. And by the way, the Lakers are going to run away with that division, so the Suns streak will be ending at three years, unless some freaking miracle happens.
