Funny that is exactly what Steve Kerr said on TNT today before the early game. He must be reading your posts. LOL
Especially if Drew is back and at 100% or close to it. While Drew had improved significantly this year, he was still having trouble with the bigger centers before he got injured.
Thats what he likes isn't it? Getting the ball and being able to make his moves inside. Yes if he was just happy rebounding and playing D but it would not be very long before he was pouting about not getting enough shots. Then they would have to waste x-amt of opportunities to keep him happy. Anyway. I can't see how this trade is any good for PHX. Appears to be a quick answer to LA getting Gasol. Also a clear admittance that their system was not working. Good points about them losing Marion. Most analysts are looking at what Shaq may bring and forgetting about the great player they are losing. Perhaps they figure Marion would not fit with what they are trying to do or perhaps concerns about re-signing him. At any rate Shaq was the best they could do? Kerr must still have high regard for him.
He would get his share of dunks and layups if he were with Phoenix. That is why I think it would have been a good fit. He'd get his opportunities in the natural course of their offense. They wouldn't have to sacrifice offensive possessions to keep him happy. On the other hand, even if they did, they have so many more possessions per game that it isn't as big of a deal to give Ben a few shots. But it doesn't matter, because they are now stuck with the highest paid player in history who can't even be on the floor in crunch time.
Sorry, I have to disagree, bro. I think Shaq's problems have more to do with the physical punishment he has taken since he entered the league than his actual weight. Personally, the complaints about his weight are based more on 'if you say it enough, it becomes true' than his actually being the Oliver Miller of the present day NBA. People I think have this idea that Shaq is grossly overweight and it's just not true. PHX is a much more likely candidate for success now than LAL with so much of the pressure that will be taken off of Stoudamire now with Shaq out there....look out, PHX actually might have what it takes to finally get over the hump.
He looks relatively skinny here. In all seriousness, if the refs stop calling offensive fouls on him, then he can still be the best player in the NBA. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
Shaq definitely was overweight in his last year or two with the Lakers, so people got used to talking about it then. He slimmed back down again after he was traded to the Heat, but then he started slowing down after a year or two, even though he kept the weight off. But most of the media and other people commenting on him couldn't keep more than one thought in their heads at the same time, so they just assumed that his lower production and injury issues in the last two seasons must have something to do with him being too heavy, even though he hasn't been since he left L.A.
Here's the thing. If you took the 5 best bball players from this forum and matched them up against Shaq + 4 of those kids (half court of course), then Shaq's team would probably win (provided the big kid in the green shirt can feed the post). If Shaq ever subbed out of the game, then they would suffer though.
I've actually met Shaq before. He is hardly fat, just extremely big. In fact he comes off looking pretty slender. He's not a wide body. Fat Shaq is a myth. Phoenix is my favorite in the West by the way. The ability to completely play two different styles of ball will make them hard to prepare for. Not to mention, Shaq is a champion. The experience he brings to the lockerroom cannot be underestimated.
