Welcome to the Valley Shaq.
Now get healthy, get motivated, and start playing some defense.
Everything I wrote last night about this trade? Crumple it up, throw it out, and forget about it. Pending a physical this afternoon, Shaq is going to a Phoenix Sun. Better get ready for the show.
I still have major, major concerns about whether or not this trade will work out for the Suns, but at this point it doesn’t look like it’s going to matter. So instead of focusing on the negative, let’s look at ways in which Shaq might be able to help this team.
First, no one will dispute the fact that he’s still one of the largest bodies in the NBA. That fact alone will create some semblance of resistance in the Suns low-post defense. While Shaq has never been a great defender in the true sense of the word, his sheer size alters shots and creates problems for opposing teams’ offense scoring in the paint.
There is no denying that Shaq will be able to hold some of the great centers/power forwards in the Western Conference in check more than anyone else we’ve had on this team in a long while, maybe ever. Say what you will about his defense, but Shaq has historically played Tim Duncan and Yao Ming well, not to mention KG and Ben Wallace over in the Eastern Conference. Oh, and I’d be willing to bet that Andrew Bynum, if and when he does come back, has not seen anyone like Shaq before.
It has been true Shaq’s scoring and rebounding is done this year and last, but who’s to say that couldn’t go up here? Shaq is shooting a ridiculous 58% on the year, good for 6th highest in the League. He is shooting that because he gets a ton of dunks, and if there’s one thing that’s been proven over the years, it’s that Steve Nash has the ability to get people easy looks and dunks.
Another thing to consider is that Shaq traditionally has been a pretty good passer from the low-post, averaging almost three assists a game over his career. Imagine the dynamic on this team if their opponent is forced to double-team Shaq on the block? That opens the three-point line, from which the Suns are third in the League in shooting percentage and second in the League in three-pointers made each game. Not to mention the fact that the man coming to double-team Shaq would, you assume, be the man guarding Amare part of the time. That leaves Amare unguarded coming down either the baseline or the lane. Amare is pretty good in those situations.
It has already been reported that the Suns plan on using Shaq only about 25 minutes a game, which hopefully would cut down on his penchant for picking up fouls. It also would help keep him fresh and rested for the playoffs, when Phoenix will really need him. After all, why else did the Suns pick him up if not for the playoffs? They certainly don’t need him in the regular season, as they have the best record in the Western Conference.
Naturally, this trade hinges on Shaq’s ability to pass a physical this afternoon here in Phoenix. And while he is still injured, something tells me there aren’t too many doctors out there who would fail him. Shaq is going to be a Sun, and all of better get used to it. And while I’m still not sure it’s the best trade for the Suns, you better believe I’ll be rooting for him when he puts on the Purple and Orange.
