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Meh !

Love what the Suns has done this decade. Can't wait to see this but I ain't buying. Schemes won't do it when your key players are Nash, Amare, Shaq and Barbosa, all pathetic defenders....unless your scheme is a big fat zone.

Shaq is NOT a pathetic defender.
is older, not as mobile anymore- but still a force in the middle
He is a space eater....that's his job- like a nose tackle in football

At least the coach is buying into defense. The defensive mentality starts w/ the coach. The last coach did not have that mentality. The offense will always be there w/ this team but defense has to be a priority now. They will do better this year then last year. Amare and Shaq are not bad defenders. Both guys will give a lot of weakside help. Raja would help w/ the perimeter but I don't know about the others. W/ the coach, they will find a way. It's a good start for now.

The Sun's are trying to do what they aren't built to be... a defensive team...Shaq & Nash = their ages alone should tell the role player in Kerr and Porter something... They have a very short window and I bet they will not make the playoffs if they change their scheme....

Shaq is NOT a pathetic defender.
is older, not as mobile anymore- but still a force in the middle
He is a space eater....that's his job- like a nose tackle in football
jgb | 09/05/08, 08:41 AM

Agree jgb. Shaq is far from pathetic defensively. He's just older now.

hmmm... Suns looking for "more" defense????? More like... Suns looking for defense, none found.

Of course Shaq can body up low-post scorers and block a few shots... but defense should exist a little bit on the perimeter too, or all the slashers will cut to the basket and Shaq will be on his booty after taking another hard charge.

Force in the middle? Space eater? Nose tackle? Just older? Very nice, but I'm afraid we're not talking about the same person.

I was referring to a guy, a legend, who was brought in to anchor the middle and bring the Suns that illusive ring. Instead the Spurs averaged 106 ppg, blew them out in 5, while Parker repeatedly waltzed into the middle at will and torched them (where there supposedly wasn't any space because of ...)

Sorry about that. Shaq is an all time great, but today he is simply not a good defender anymore. He just won't come out of the paint anymore and can only look good against players like Dampier, McGloire, etc. Watching him trying to defend a pick and roll nowadays is just not a pretty sight. You're beeing nostalgic.

A coach focusing on defense is a great start but I have to see the players buy into it first before I believe that. Shaq wil always be considered a defensive player simply because he's so big and takes up so much space under the hoop. Now the others, we'll have to see about that.

milk man...

I must disagree here...shaq played well against the spurs..he gave a maximum effort...he wasnt checking ginobili...

and parker

milk man...

I must disagree here...shaq played well against the spurs..he gave a maximum effort...he wasnt checking ginobili...

antonio
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I respect that. His max effort just wasn't very good. He was guarding Oberto or whatever non-scorer the Spurs threw out there, so he could help Amare on Duncan....And in my humble opinion, he failed.

I I just haven't been impressed with his D the last couple of years.

Anyone that believes Shaq to be a liability on defense, simply doesn't know the game. San Antonio's guards are what created the problems for Phoenix. The problem was that defense wasn't a priority under D'Antoni--as a result, there was no TEAM defense. Maybe since noone else was playing defense, some of you were expecting him to leave his man and chase Parker and Ginobli up and down the court.

Well they sould have thought about that before they let Marion go.whos gonna play D Boris?

The Suns have made some moves to change their paltry defense, but we'll see just how effective it is come playoff time next season. Considering that Porter is a bit more versed in defensive schemes than D'Antoni, I expect better results on that end. It all falls on the players to do the job, however.

Exactly jgb......Couldnt have put it better myself.......

Shaq might not be the offensive presence obviously but he cld reinvent himself defensively and as a rebounder for Suns who need that

Anybody remember when Avery took over and the Mavs became better on defensive end??? This might be just like that, lose 3-5 ppg offensively but worlds better defensively with a little tinkerage.......

Well they sould have thought about that before they let Marion go.whos gonna play D Boris?
CEL | 09/05/08, 11:42 AM


The Suns had gone as far as they were going to go with Marion. They went home empty handed for 4 years. At some point they had to accept the fact that a change was needed. Marion didn't want to be there. Shaq was not the problem with this team.

The Suns had gone as far as they were going to go with Marion. They went home empty handed for 4 years. At some point they had to accept the fact that a change was needed. Marion didn't want to be there. Shaq was not the problem with this team.

Hllywd: Old Schoolin'
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Marion was the best defender on the team they didnt try to make it work.Shaq is not trhe problem "defensively" but he slowed their offense down quite a bit . Shaq is not used to Run N Gun and yes he did ok but when you worked in the triangle offense the majority career and then have to addopt a new offensive style it will take a while to adjust. PHX is tough but the dont utilize their tools. I know TP will do something because there is no reason w/Shaq and Amare on the Blocks that they should have the toughest post D in the league,but when foul trouble reers its ugly head and you have to sit either or both of them down for 7-8 minutes where do u go from there? PhX doesnt have good enough perimeter D to keep a team like the Spurs or NO from penetrating the paint.Talk is cheap if they were looking for more D they should have made a move already.