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The Suns are cry babies - the goal is to sacrifice a few regular season wins for post season success. The old way hasn't worked why do they want to go back to it?

They are frustrated because they have suddenly found out how hard it is to be a consistant team that doesn't just run and gun. San Antonio have been doing this for like 10 years. When the Suns get put out the playoffs this year, as will happen, then in the summer I think they will rebuild. This team WILL not win a championship this year, the year after or the year after. Get rid of Nash & Shaq and make Stoudemire the franchise player.

Even at their best, they underachieved. Everyone but the Suns knew that bringing Shaq in would slow down their offense which is what they were known for. They were an exciting team to watch with Shawn Marion and the regular crew. Now they're just an average team that looks lost during every game.

It's sad in a way that Amare isn't showcased more but this is what was expected when Shaquille came to the Suns.

It's too early for trouble but Shaq was brought in for the postseason, so lets see how they do come playoff time.

shaq is playing well for the suns and he is doing what he was asked to do , he is rebounding the ball and playing def. and actually scoring . the problem is that they have spoiled athlete in staud. where he is not a franhise player and his numbers r inflated because he plays next to steve nash just like marion (look at his stats in miami now) , so intsead of complaining about the offense and his numbers he should work harder if it is better for the team , because he is the one who was complaining about having to play at the center position , now he is playing at 4 and they got him a center

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:57 AM ET  12.02 by EastCoastJessie

. Everyone but the Suns knew that bringing Shaq in would slow down their offense which is what they were known for.

But what did they really accomplish without shaq ?

- YES they were more exciting & made the conference finals
but they never made the NBA finals.....

They needed a low post presence-
they also knew nash's window was closing...
- I'm not saying the move was 'perfect' - but
they wanted to change the entire system.
they didn't stop the 'run & gun' because of shaq-
they stopped it because they made a philosophy shift
to be a more 1/2 court & defensive team- which is why
they let Dantoni go

The Suns of yesteryear are gone. Great shooters like Q-Rich, James Jones, Tim Thomas, and Joe Johnson are no longer around. The Matrix is gone. What they have is an even more turnover-prone Nash, an aging Grant Hill, a new teammate in Barnes, and Dragic, over-achieving Boris Diaw and old reliables Barbosa and Bell. And there's Amare who demands the ball every time and Shaq who is a legit low-post presence. It isn't that the Suns can't run anymore, they simply haven't adjusted to what Shaq offers -- the ability to attract double teams and to pass out of the post. The game plan can be as simple as this: on D, plug up the lane with Shaq and Amare and gobble up the ball. Then go quickly on the break as in seasons past, with every Sun trying to get an easy and quick bucket. If the defense recovers, wait for Shaq to get settled in the post and go on half-court offense. React to what the defense gives you -- if they double on Shaq, he can easily find cutters or an open player on the perimeter or even Amare getting good inside position for the easy jam.

Nash wants to go back to dribbling in and out of the lane and having the ball 90% of the time but why the many turnovers this season? It's simply the players not being used to each other yet and the new style of play. Amare wants the ball? Tell him to use the added attention on Shaq to seal off his man and establish himself inside for the easy layup. Other players are unhappy? Learn to make jumpshots or make hard cuts to the basket.

The Suns objective should be to make the playoffs in a good rhythm and then let the Shaq factor push them past the early rounds. Shaq has 4 rings. How many do his teammates have?

They should wait until the post season to complain. If they miss the playoffs they can complain. But if they do well, they need to understand that this is how "real" championship basketball is played.

Who cares they suck!

I'm glad the Heat got rid of Shaq

I said this last year that Suns screwed by trading for Shaq. Shaq is just a shell of his former self. Porter can't even play Shaq on back to back games this year, that is a huge liability. You cannot do that and knowing how tough the West is. There 11-7 record is fools gold because the teams they beated bad or mediocre teams to make matters worse they struggled against those teams. Their defense is an embarrassment because I never seen a team that on a nightly basis give up as many layups then Phoenix does. They do not know what to do on offense because they want to run but at the same time want to be a half court team, something that they never been in years. I believe this team is in very very deep trouble. I predicted they finish either 6 or 7 in the West with another first round exit.

dumbest trade ever. They dropped a grewat defender and floor-runner in Marion and picked up the Albatross that is an ailing Shaq. I'm not sayng Shaq isn't still an effective player and force in the post, bu the way that nash plays does not lend itself to blending with Shaq's game. in fact he's slowing up the whole team right now. They should ask the heat to take hm back for marion. Watching the suns is so boring now. At least they were fun to watch before.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:31 AM ET  12.02 by Lostwill

The Suns are cry babies - the goal is to sacrifice a few regular season wins for post season success. The old way hasn't worked why do they want to go back to it?

agree

There is no need to blame Shaq; The blame is on Sarvar for hiring his buddy Steve Kerr.
Steve is an idiot, while playing, while in the commentary booth, he never came out as one of those bright bulbs with tremedous insight for the game and strategy. That just isn't him, from what I've seen, and I've seen him a LOT the past decade or so.
Kerr thinks playing the GM is like playing in vegas; Throw some cards and see if it sticks. That's called FANTASY basketball, not the real one; In his own words "if this works (Shaq trade), I'm a genius, and if it doesn't, then I'm a moron". Well Steve, you ARE a moron; Now go back to playing poker in your neighborhood bar.

The Suns are going to have to buy into a new system. They experienced marginal success under D'Antoni, but it wasn't good enough to win it all. Shaq can be a difference maker to this team if he's used properly. That's the coach's responsibility. Once the players can see the positive effects of doing things differently, there won't be time for woe-is-me. They'll be too busy celebrating.

cool_doods has hit the nail on the head. I've been saying this since the trade. Maybe you'll accept it from someone else.

People here seem to forget, that the trade was more about getting rid of a mal content in Marion. For the last few years, even though Marion was the highest paid player on the team, he grumbled about his role as the third fiddle on the team. the suns just got what they thought was the best deal available, with the thought that they would need a legitimate post scorer to contend with the more rugged western teams

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 10:48 AM ET  12.02 by browardcane

I'm glad the Heat got rid of Shaq

Doesn't look as if the heat made out much better of that trade

Call it Shaq's Malt Liquor.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 11:06 AM ET  12.02 by nyccharlie

dumbest trade ever. They dropped a grewat defender and floor-runner in Marion and picked up the Albatross that is an ailing Shaq.

Are you serious ?

Marion has STEADILY been declining (statisticly) since 2005
his pts have gone from 21+ to 12
He is an athletic player who is 30 -

I like Marion alot- he can absolutely help MANY teams...
but him being shipped out isn't the reason the suns didn't win

and ps- the suns are 11 & 7 this year- not too shabby in the west