Reasons the Suns' acquisition of Shaq COULD work:
Steve Nash makes everyone better. He made Marion look great in highlights. Made Amare Stoudemire an All-Star. Made Boris Diaw look like an All-Star. Gave Grant Hill a second life. He could do the same for Shaq.
Shaq is great when motivated. And boy, is he motivated. The man has an ego bigger the size of a friggin' mountain. You don't think all the criticism about The Trade doesn't bother him? He's pissed. And he plays way better when pissed. Look for him to prove everyone wrong.
It makes the Suns flexible. When Shaq sits, they can run. When he plays, they can play a more deliberate half-court game. In the playoffs, when the tempo slows down, this versatility could work in the Suns' favor.
Better locker room chemistry. Shawn Marion, for all of his talent, was a downer in the locker room. Removing him and inserting the lighter, funnier Shaq may do wonders for a team that's been taking itself too seriously in the past few months.
It gives the West's big men something to think about. Yeah, Shaq's no longer the force he used to be. But you can't ignore him down in the paint, which means the West's big men won't be able to go out and help perimeter defenders against Phoenix's many shooters. It also means that teams with weaker centers will have to sag down low and make things a little easier for the Suns' wing players.
Steve Nash makes everyone better. He made Marion look great in highlights. Made Amare Stoudemire an All-Star. Made Boris Diaw look like an All-Star. Gave Grant Hill a second life. He could do the same for Shaq.
Shaq is great when motivated. And boy, is he motivated. The man has an ego bigger the size of a friggin' mountain. You don't think all the criticism about The Trade doesn't bother him? He's pissed. And he plays way better when pissed. Look for him to prove everyone wrong.
It makes the Suns flexible. When Shaq sits, they can run. When he plays, they can play a more deliberate half-court game. In the playoffs, when the tempo slows down, this versatility could work in the Suns' favor.
Better locker room chemistry. Shawn Marion, for all of his talent, was a downer in the locker room. Removing him and inserting the lighter, funnier Shaq may do wonders for a team that's been taking itself too seriously in the past few months.
It gives the West's big men something to think about. Yeah, Shaq's no longer the force he used to be. But you can't ignore him down in the paint, which means the West's big men won't be able to go out and help perimeter defenders against Phoenix's many shooters. It also means that teams with weaker centers will have to sag down low and make things a little easier for the Suns' wing players.
No comments:
Post a Comment