Just Another Take On The Shaquille O’Neal Trade


Shaq on the Suns, huh? It still seems so odd. I’m not sure how we’ll look back at this season and all its big trades, but is this a Hall of Famer being traded for what he’s done in the past, or will he be that missing link Phoenix needs?

The Suns have been very, very close the last few seasons. A basket here, some common sense by David Stern there, and we’d be talking about this run and gun Suns team as the one that finally won it all with no D. Trading for Shaq does not change the way we should look at this team. Just because one guy runs slower than the rest, it doesn’t make their style any slower. There is no 5 man fast break.

We all know the game slows down in the post season; defenses tighten up, fast break points decrease. Phoenix had a plodder starting for them in the playoffs last season. Similar to Shaq, Kurt Thomas was in the lineup to take up space, keep Amare Stoudemire out of foul trouble, defend and rebound. Shaq is there for all those reasons, and to add a little more offence. This team was still flying up the floor with Thomas and will continue to do so with Shaq. That’s if he can stay on that floor.

Shaq was brought in to do what he did against the Suns on November 9, 2007. He was a beast that night. He beat up Stoudemire so much that Amare got irritated and was tossed for arguing a call. I’m not sure how much Phoenix was swayed by Shaq’s 25 point, 10 rebound, 3 block performance, but it had to have left a mark on GM Steve Kerr. He’s not the only one (bottom) thinking Shaq has plenty left. I, myself, came away from that game totally convinced that The Big Diesel was back. As he makes this new pit stop, can we really doubt him if he is injury free?

As for right now, Shaq looks good in practice. He may be allowing the cameras to only turn on for the play or two he looks like the old Shaq, but either way, he seems pretty healthy. And this Suns medical staff knows injuries. From Amare’s knee, to Steve Nash’s back, to Grant Hill’s body, these guys have seen some ugly things. You have to assume if they give Shaq a good bill of health, they know something we don’t.

And, so does team management. Only one team gets to the top of the pile. It’s never been a question of talent in Phoenix but there has been something missing from their formula. When several talented teams are pulling for the same thing, there has to be an extra jolt of desire and swagger to get to that peak. Enter The Big Aristotle. Shaq might not make the difference on the court with his shooting or passing, but his teammates will play knowing they have a 4-time title winner riding with them. Shaq’s arrival may simply coincide with the ball finally bouncing Phoenix’s way in the playoffs, but sometimes you have to be good, or at least think you’re good, to be lucky.

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By Tas Melas at 12:59 pm on 02.20.2008 — Tags: Steve Kerr, Kurt Thomas, Shaquille O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Suns

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5 Responses to “Just Another Take On The Shaquille O’Neal Trade”

  1. mando at 1:26 pm on 02.20.2008

    tas –

    this is SHAQ were talking about man. Shaq.

    Hes a legend tas, a TRUE champion. im not even joking here tas. there are elite players then there are the ELITE players. the top five in this league.

    these are the players that excel and are number one options on teams like all elite players. but with one exception, there competitive desire and talent takes them above another notch. in the past say when the lakers were winning championships it was always kobe, shaq, duncan, allen iverson, and maybe kidd. These were players that could EAT the other poser elite players. shaqs lakers would never lose to cwebb or bibbys kings, duncan would never lose to garnetts wolves, and allen iverson would never be bested by paul pierce or ray allen’s bucks. they wouldn… it would never happen because they are CHAMPIONS. they had that extra oomph that extra moxy, that extra ganas..

    lately, those five have changed… its now kobe, lebron, ducan, dwade, and maybe nash (im skeptical though on this one though). they can beet anyother elite players team in a 7 game playoff series where GREATNESS comes to the forefront.

    i want to say this… shaq is no longer in that top five but he is one of those asktericks players. back in the day, there were some players that weren’t consistently in that top five but on any given game they coudl be. this was like nick van excel sam cassel or maybe a rasheed wallace. they could take over a game, if for only one game, there greatness could wipe out any of those other 2nd teir players.

    Shaq is NOW one of those on the bubble asterick elite players. He will destroy PAO, and im a laker fan, he will eat him and digest him and poo on whats left of him. Shaq ill strike fear in every back up center, powerforward and wanna be frontline player. its shaq man! his personality is so big that injuries dont matter: im going to say this right now:

    IF SHAQ WAS INJURED IN MIAMI ITS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE INJURED

    shaq is a legend, he invented the games first disease: shaq-itus. noboday will want to face him. its shaq, he may not put up the big numbers… but he will find a way to make his team win simply because he wants to this year. if his teams ever got beat in playoff serires before, its because he didn’t really care.

    its shaq tas, shaq…

    – Mando

  2. Ryne Nelson at 1:59 pm on 02.20.2008

    Or…enter the Big Cactus, as Skeets pointed out to us on Yahoo.

  3. goathair at 2:50 pm on 02.20.2008

    Some of the practice footage I’ve seen has Shaq laying the ball in. Why?

  4. mobiletechdude at 2:21 am on 02.21.2008

    15, 9, 3, and 2 ain’t shabby for a dude that couldn’t play a week ago. i totally think shaq is underrated and dig him like the first poster, but i think it’s jank that he’s all of a sudden “healed”. i heard walton called him out on that jazz. a champ doesn’t take games/seasons off.

    but he was the most dominant player i’ve ever seen.

  5. The 10-man Rotation, Starring The Big Cactus at 8:17 am on 04.14.2008

    […] Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers and Maurice Cheeks are close to signing a contract extension.6th: The Basketball Jones. Tas has four thumbs ready for Shaq’s debut in the desert tonight.7th: Clips Nation. Milk […]

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