Shaq Notes:

by Seth Pollack on Feb 13, 2008 10:24 AM MST

Here's a few running notes about Shaq that I have come across:

Jon Barry on ESPN last night had a great point about Shaq's poor free throw ability. He pointed out that Shaq's hands are so large that he can't get good spin on the ball. He likened it to a regular person trying to shoot a tennis ball. Interesting point. And here's photgraphic evidence as well
My opinion is that it would be silly for Shaq to debut Wednesday against GSW even though it is on ESPN. This is a team that will run circles around him anyway and in his first game back it doesn't really seem fair to throw him out there against such a fast team. I think if he's ready, he should play againt Dallas on Thursday. He will give the fans and team a lift on a back-to-back and he can have some early success just by stopping Dampier from dominating the offense glass against us like he tends to do.
Update [2008-2-11 13:50:40 by srp]:
Thanks to JSun for providing this great link that gives some behind the curtain looks at how this deal came together. After reading this, I thought that Kerr should have been able to extract more from the Heat such as their 1st round pick.
Update [2008-2-12 10:44:20 by srp]:
Coach D was on the radio this morning and was asked if he will run plays for Shaq. He chuckled and said, "What plays do you need. Shaq runs to the post and calls for the ball and the shooters spot up and he does his thing". Oooh, can't wait to see that.
Update [2008-2-12 14:23:9 by srp]::
Reggie Miller on the Jim Rome Show this morning talked about how Shaq drawing fouls helps the team overall get to the FT line more often by getting into the penalty earlier in the quarter. And since the Suns are a good FT% team this is a big plus even if Shaq is a poor FT guy. Reggie claimed this was the case in both LA and Miami.
Update [2008-2-13 12:24:38 by srp]:
Yesterday I listened to an interesting discussion between Chad Ford and David Thorpe on ESPN's Daily Dime podcast. They discussed the talent level disparity across the NBA in the training rooms. They also talked about signs of Shaq's agility being measured in his dunks and general lift and some things observed earlier this season re: Shaq.
We know the Suns claim to have the best training staff and the ESPN boys tend to agree. So let's just call it now. IF the Suns manage to win or even go deep and Shaq is able to play 25-30 minutes and be back to his recent self circa 05-06 then the MVP award has to go to Aaron Nelson.

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Shaq vs. Dallas

I think of all the matchup changes created with this trade, the most fascinating is against the Mavericks. On one hand, Amare is going to get killed by Dirk. On the other hand, Dirk is going to get killed by Amare. Shaq should help keep Dampier from killing us on the boards like srp pointed out, but this trade also makes it easier for Dampier to stay on the floor since he doesn't have to guard Amare. I'm not sure the trade really helps either team against the other on paper, it just moves the matchup issues around a little. It probably depends most on Shaq and Amare staying out of foul trouble (especially Amare). Same could be said about Dirk.

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 8:36 AM MST reply actions

with all respect

one of the biggest things about the 2005 team that was so cool, chemistry, the players got along well (I'm sure Marion would've been easier to handle if Amare had left..it was a simple choice), I think your missing the new chemistry that very likely will develop, a fun atmosphere, Most teams don't have this, they play harder when they do,

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 11, 2008 11:21 AM MST up reply actions

No argument

But my point really wasn't about chemistry. It was about pure matchups. Assuming the Mavs don't "blink" and leave Dampier on the bench like some others have suggested, that really leaves no choice but Dirk to match up with Amare and vice versa. I'm not convinced either player can guard the other. I find that fascinating. We could end up with both guys getting 50, or both could foul out by the second quarter.

I do agree with the point that increased joy in the workplace is a factor in all this. And it's not just replacing an alleged malcontent with a guy who really wanted to be here and has a charisma that will demand respect and harmony, but also just the simple fact that everyone is back to playing the position their bodies were designed for. Should keep Amare happier and healthier (not that he's had a lot of trouble with the latter anyway, but just cuts down on the hard hits he has to absorb banging with those big guys down there). So yeah, there are an enormous number of positives with this trade, and I probably haven't given them their due nearly enough.

I still think there will be nights when the matchups will kill us. But then, we already had those nights every time we faced the Spurs, or any other team that had both good rebounding and good shooting. So I've probably been wrong in being so negative about this. Unfortunately, I'm a die-hard skeptic, so even though I'm trying harder to give them the benefit of the doubt, I don't imagine I'll be truly convinced this was a good deal until I actually see Shaq on the floor.

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 11:43 AM MST up reply actions

boy...

Dallas has been really having a tough stretch recently, I heard 6 for 33 fg at one point tonight, and the big loss to the nets last night, on the radio they were calling it possibly the worst loss of the season (in reference to how poorly the mavs played). Harris has been out though...will he be back for us, we normally have such great games against dallas, a lot of fun to watch, on shaq...the
more I think about it, the more I'm convinced ...I don't know what to expect...because I do see the other points, the age and weight, speed, etc...

The games I lok forward to the most though, are Lakers/Boston/&Detroit. If we come out of there with all 3 victories, what a swing of momentum that would be....but I feel it'll be unlikely, but it'd be awesome to pull off!!

(side note..kids 2-4yrs old) go crazy for gum, you'd think they found out they were going to Disneyland with how happy they get!

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 11, 2008 8:52 PM MST up reply actions

start Shaq against Dallas

Dallas is the perfect team for Shaq to debut against. And don't kid yourself - Amare is showing signs that he may become the defensive player we need. He sure stung the wizards. He didn't go for fakes. We will adjust to not having Shawn, but it will take time.

The reason this is a good game is that Stackhouse and Harris are still out. Did you read how the Mavs mailed it in against the Nets? They are not playing well. This is a perfect game to jump on them. Dirk has had a 3-18 game and a 4-18 game in the last week. Don't worry.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 11, 2008 9:21 AM MST reply actions

I wouldn't count on the postal service

I think the Mavs will be up for this game. Seems like the only time the Suns ever get to see the "bad" version of the Mavericks is for that last game in April every year.

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 9:58 AM MST up reply actions

HUH?

Postal service?

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 11, 2008 10:06 AM MST up reply actions

re: mailing it in

In other words, I don't think the Mavs will "mail it in" against the Suns this week.

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 10:27 AM MST up reply actions

Mavs in a funk, can be had

Don't believe they will mail it in this time, either, but between their injuries and the shooting funk they are in, they are very vulnerable. I don't think they have the same stuff as SA to get off the mat and overcome so much.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 12, 2008 5:29 PM MST up reply actions

Now that you mention it...

http://mavsmoneyball.com/story/2008/2/12/114852/012

Wow... And here I was lamenting the Suns entering the toughest part of their schedule without Marion and without Shaq either.

by TexSUN on Feb 12, 2008 7:06 PM MST up reply actions

good points

I really believe having shaq around will help amare more than most of us understand, and quickly. Let's face it, Amare has fully recovered from the injuries and has the ability and desire to be one of the top 3-4 players in the league, I think shaq motivates amare like no one else on this team could. We're already seeing a different amare. As I suggested months ago, its all mental (the difference of amare being good, vs great). Learning how to play people, etc...all mental...and it sure as hell helps he'll be out of the center spot much more, if not totally

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 11, 2008 11:25 AM MST up reply actions

TNT

Shaq's debut would be bigger on TNT (Mavs) than ESPN, so don't worry about that. TNT Thursday is the thing more people watch.

I know that coaches probably shouldn't coach this way, but he needs to debut in a home game -- mainly for the fans. Either Thursday or next week against LA.

The Mavs game would be a good one to get him moving again, since they are a slower team.

Do you guys really think Dirk will have a field day with Amare? He's going to get 30. He did that against Matrix. "Going off" would mean something like 40 or 50. Dirk's post-game is weak, so Amare shouldn't worry too much. Dirk cannot dribble around Amare with regularity. And, unlike Marion, Amare may be able to contest a jumper because of his height (I know Marion always seemed to get a few blocks, but I'm talking about regularly contesting shots).

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 11, 2008 10:03 AM MST reply actions

Amare on Dirk

The key though to slowing down Dirk isn't height which was proved by GSW. The key is getting in his face and really most importantly playing him tight off the ball and denying him the pass. Marion was great at that. As is Bell. I actually think the Suns best shot at Dirk is now Diaw b/c he can use his speed to stick to him and even Hill but we need him on J-Ho.

I don't exactly how you play Amare and Shaq together and not put Stat on Dirk. Its going to be intersting to watch that's for sure. It could be a lot of different looks based on matchups. The permutations are numerous. If the Mavs go smaller w/ Dirk at the five then we kill them on offense and on the glass w/ Amare and Shaq. If the Mavs have Diop and Damp at the five then we can maybe stay closer on the glass but Dirk becomes a big problem for us to defend. Same issues can be said about the Lakers once Bynum comes back. And I have no clue how you play Jazz. Marion was great on Boozer or Okur. Amare I guess can play Okur but can Shaq cover Boozer? Skinner can I think. It makes my head hurt thinking about all this. And frankly, I am ready to just see what happens.

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2008 10:26 AM MST up reply actions

yep

there are many matchups coming up where it'll be really neat to see what we do (who guards who, etc). Now that we don't have the superstar defender,

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 11, 2008 11:27 AM MST up reply actions

Here's Something Else to Make your Head Hurt

And I suppose it goes here because there are the "Shaq Notes":

http://www.miamiherald.com/609/story/413486.html

Maybe we need a Wikipedia-type page somewhere on the site for these entries?

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 11, 2008 10:37 AM MST reply actions

Wow - that's some story

It kind of explains a lot and the same time makes you wonder why Kerr couldn't get more in the deal like the Heat's 1st round pick.

Clearly, the Heat were in a pickle and we bailed them out and should have been able to extract more for that.

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2008 11:29 AM MST up reply actions

Banks was the First Round Pick

Think about this:

The trade could've been done straight-up. 25% of $20M is $5M. So, Marion's $16M met the trade requirements.

We know about the salary-cap stuff and we know the Suns have been trying to dump Banks. I'd be willing to bet the Suns could've got a draft pick or unloaded Banks, but not both.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 11, 2008 12:25 PM MST up reply actions

Banks

If that's true, then we just traded Marcus Banks for a shot at Michael Beasley. How dumb is that?

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 12, 2008 5:32 PM MST up reply actions

heard a little about this

nice to read more...thanks

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 11, 2008 11:36 AM MST up reply actions

STAT-Nowitzki

I am one who thinks he will not 'abuse' Amare like some think. And STAT will have help from Hill or Diaw. Also remember the Mavs are having a lot of problems lately, and Dirk is specifically playing badly. I don't see him getting 40, but I can see Amare getting that. They are not going to cover him with Dirk, anyway. Brandon Bass will be in there, and I bet they will try to play small and fast to get Shaq out of there.

You are right about Shawn's coverage of dirk. Most of his much ballyhooed defense on Dirk happened when Shawn surprised Dirk with quickness. Nowitzki is very predictable, and Shawn woould poke the ball away when Dirk was careless with the way he held it.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 11, 2008 10:39 AM MST reply actions

One thing about the Mavs

Most of their struggles seem to be against the Eastern conference. They actually have the best record against fellow Western conference teams. In fact, they would be a full seven games ahead of of the Suns if just Western Conference record alone were considered. They are 22-6, we are 15-13. I don't have the time right now to check how many of those games were against the top teams in the West, but given that they play in the toughest division, I'd take a guess that it's probably not a matter of them simply having an easier schedule. They do have a horrific road record for an "elite" team (12-13), but they've made up for it by being darn near unbeatable at home (22-3). I also don't have time to check how many of those road games were against the East. In any case, I don't think the Mavericks are as bad as they seem. They even seem to have figured out GSW this year, and they match up pretty well with the Spurs too. They're my pick to come out of the West unless the Shaq factor ends up working as well as most fans now seem to think. :) (I hate that too. It means I will have to listen to it for the next year if that happens...)

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 11:57 AM MST up reply actions

Re: Hate

To clarify, I meant that I hate the idea of the Mavs coming out of the West, not the idea of Shaq actually working for the Suns. I'd love to see the latter, even if it means I have to eat a big plate of smelly crow. I don't want to have to listen to a bunch of arrogant Mavs fans bragging all year about how "their team has been to the finals twice in the last few years" and mine "hasn't gotten there once".

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 12:05 PM MST up reply actions

No Fear

I disagree that "Brandon Bass will be in there, and I bet they will try to play small and fast to get Shaq out of there."

Remember the playoffs where Avery Johnson tried to change to match-up with Golden State? He only reacts; he's not bright enough or gutsy enough to take the initiative on his own.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 11, 2008 12:28 PM MST up reply actions

Top 10 reasons why this deal is great

I wonder if this is supposed to be an answer to srp's "top 10 reasons why this deal stinks" in the weekly update post?

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/top10reasons_080210.html

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 12:24 PM MST reply actions

Sure

I just bet the Suns PR team is reading what we have to say over here and responding :)

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 11, 2008 1:54 PM MST up reply actions

Update from AZCentral

Re: Shaq's first practice:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0211shaqpractice.html

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 2:33 PM MST reply actions

Bit of humor from EVT

More on the practice -- Suns have to reinforce the baskets on the practice court to "Shaq-proof" them:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/108742

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 3:33 PM MST reply actions

In case anyone cares what Agent Zero thinks

Hint: Gilbert loves it.

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 4:24 PM MST reply actions

Shaq vs. Walton

Check this out:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3241540&categoryId=2459788&n8pe6 c=2

(Hat tip to phxsuns.net).

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 8:10 PM MST reply actions

Here's another one

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3241568&categoryId=2459788&n8pe6 c=3

Could the lighting on that Nash interview be any worse? Kind of makes Nash look like he caught a case of LB's flu. (Or maybe he did. Maybe that explains why he looked "a step slow" as srp put it last night).

by TexSUN on Feb 11, 2008 8:13 PM MST up reply actions

I heard that driving home

I agree with Walton that, in theory, this is a "no win" for Shaq. But, to quote Homer Simpson twice in a day, "In theory, communism works. In theory."

Walton, though, goes too far when he says Shaq's arrogance is an insult to intelligent people. Does that mean that Walton's not insulted?

Shaq's response is equally nonsensical. By his logic, he cannot argue with Phil Jackson because Phil Jackson has more rings than he. Also, no one in the media (or the blogsphere) can make a single comment because most have never played at the NBA level.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Feb 11, 2008 8:43 PM MST up reply actions

Why are we talking about Bill F-ng Walton?

That guy is the biggest moron on TV anywhere and that's saying something given the level of morons that manage to get themselves on the tube....Yes, Steven A Smith - I am talking to you!

Not that I don't think he's got a bit of a point and in fact I made the same point which I in fact stole from Dan Bickley on the radio on the morning after the trade.

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 12, 2008 7:48 AM MST up reply actions

morons on TV

My thoughts exactly. When he said that about thinking people, I thought, which thinking people are you referring to, Bill? Cause that certainly doesn't include you. Walton says everything for effect, and shows no logical thought processes whatsoever.

Kind of like Barkley. There's a Barkley love-fest going on in one of the diaries, but if Barkley and Walton were removed from the planet, global warming would cease to be an issue since the hot air and methane from all the BS would be gone.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 12, 2008 9:49 AM MST up reply actions

haha

awesome, well said, all these computer programming skills I have, all this power, and I can't delete or remove that diary...argh@#$

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 12, 2008 2:05 PM MST up reply actions

Shaq's response

Ok - I have to admit as a non-Shaq fan that I loved the way he puts Walton in his place and I love how focused he seems in all these interviews. I still don't believe that his body can deliver on those promises though....

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 12, 2008 8:42 AM MST up reply actions