agentjackbauer Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Oo nga pala, eh di pang 2nd round pala yung dasal ko:-) Quote Link to comment
gwapogi Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 aysus ginoo... pambihirang expectations yan... hay naku pasalamat ako kung seeded ako for the playoffs... historically, my boys (oak, brad, jameer, joe joe) kinda tank it in the latter part of the season... if the playoffs happened today, well, i'd mightly say i can wipe you all out (LOL)... but come the time when the standings are set, those who made it and not are known, things kinda get far more tricky, to say the least... Quote Link to comment
gift_of_game Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 can somebody please tell me this is just a dream? that the Suns traded out one of the integral parts of their run and run and run attack for a slowpoke center who just isn't the same as he was before on both sides of the court??? look at it this way---none of those Suns seemed too bothered when they lost Marion. I don't know why but the team expression seemed a lot like relief, like they just got to force a brick or two out of their butts. or maybe they were still all a bit too numb to know the difference? and for gwaps sake, I'm not greeting it too much yet lest his squad (somehow, though admittedly improbable) falls short of that `chip. Quote Link to comment
cheeselogger Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 yeah, I sensed the same thing from the reactions/statements coming from D'Antoni, Nash and I think Stoudemire too. but I was thinking that that may have just been necessary to get on the Diesel's good side as we all know he has to feel very much welcome and happy in the Desert for them to get the better end of this senseless (at least for the Suns' interests) deal... Quote Link to comment
gift_of_game Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 ^I only got that vibe `coz there wasn't really any goodbye/goodluck Marion talk. if there was, there just wasn't enough love doled out and this for a guy who was with the franchise for the longest time. but I guess that just reminds us again that pro sports is, first and foremost, a business. and besides, Marion was dumb and/or egotistic enough to want out. they were probably so sick of his whining in the locker room that they knew they'd be better off without him. love the comment from D'Antoni though: "Shaq didn't come here to lay an egg." and as if to prove a point that their fast car wasn't going to follow the speed limit anytime soon, the Suns drop 130 in a double OT loss to CP3 and the Hornets. Quote Link to comment
cheeselogger Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 ^I still think grandpa Diesel will slow the Suns down. especially for him to get his touches, the Suns would have to wait for his fat ass get down the court so he can be happy with his numbers... Quote Link to comment
gift_of_game Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) ^Kerr and D'Antoni made it clear that they aren't really looking for Shaq to norm Shaq-like numbers. Kerr even went so far as to say that that "he could just be one of the guys."I don't really think they're gonna start him a lot---this will be more of a Kurt Thomas arrangement where they go big only when they have to match the other squad's frontcourt. so if you can get that production off the bench or in specific situations and Diaw somehow conjures his once All-Star in the making self in Marion's place...pass the spoon Stevie...lol anyhow, this is a desperate move from a desperate team and desperate people don't always make the right moves, much less make sense. part of me says that this just might pay off more than most people expect. Edited February 7, 2008 by gift_of_game Quote Link to comment
cheeselogger Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 my only concern about that whole coming off the bench thing is will the Big Aristotle actually approve of it? imagine his "loyalty" shift once Miami went on "rebuilding" mode, Shaq wanted out eventhough the whole plan before everything went south in South Florida was to get him more touches to see how far he can still take the team. now, actually bringing him to the Western Conference to battle it out against the tall trees there makes me think he'd somehow go GP on D'Antoni once they actually see he's not going to be much of a difference on the defensive end. and to think the Glove and the Diesel are close friends from their LA Lakers stint... Quote Link to comment
gift_of_game Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 ^heard more or less the same from the grapevine. but I'd give Big a little credit. he reportedly went so far as to tell his new teammates (before the trade was formalized) that he's in it for no less than a ring. I don't think he'd want to wear out his welcome---moreso now that he has a chance to compete, down the road from Kobe and the reloaded Lakers, no less. Quote Link to comment
denimhead Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 im thinking the Suns were dealing froma weak position .. any other team couldve wrangled a draft pick from the Heat to go with shaq's mammoth contract .. cap space alone is worth it ... imo...... that and they want to challenge now Quote Link to comment
cheeselogger Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) the weird thing about the Suns though too is that they have been loose with their draft picks too and last I read they have traded away the sure-fire lottery pick/s they got from the Hawks in past transactions... but yeah, if Shaq really is 100% in it to win it then I have no doubts about him leaving his ego in his Miami mansion and just really going after his 5th ring to solidify his legacy (came from the Diesel himself). the thing that bugs me though is that I can't fathom someone with Shaq's pride would act like a good little soldier and accept a cameo role here and then against small teams especially if he's really into solidifying his legacy... Edited February 7, 2008 by cheeselogger Quote Link to comment
gift_of_game Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) ^for some reason, part of Sarver's save-a-lot principle is to avoid farming young talent. I guess the idea really is to win the big one before 2010 and then blow it all up regardless of outcome and maybe, ahem, sell the franchise?? to his credit, for all the All-Star feuding that marred his career, Shaq's been good in the locker room. at this point, I guess Nash and Stoudemire are just glad that Marion's gone. I'm reminded of that classic Dumars quote: "You get a man at his best when he's got something to prove." Edited February 7, 2008 by gift_of_game Quote Link to comment
agentjackbauer Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I fear that this experiment by the Suns just might work. In the short-term of course. Shaq getting left behind in the Suns fast-paced offense is much like the Showtime Lakers of the 80s with Kareem already much advanced in age. The Lakers still won championships. Just like Kareem, Shaq could be very valuable when the Suns have to play half-court offense. Plus you cant discount the fact that he is such a wide body that he automatically gives the Suns a defensive presence in the middle. That is if he is healthy. But the thing is, all Shaq needs to do is to be healthy for a few games (meaning the playoffs) and that could very well be enough. It would definitely pain me though to see the Suns beating the Lakers in the playoffs with Shaq playing a key role. ^I still think grandpa Diesel will slow the Suns down. especially for him to get his touches, the Suns would have to wait for his fat ass get down the court so he can be happy with his numbers... Quote Link to comment
agentjackbauer Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Game Totals in Week 16: Three games: DAL Two games: PHI, CHA, MIL, CHI, CLE, BOS, LAC, MEM, ATL, MIA, NOR, SAC, LAL, ORL, NJN, DEN, IND, DET, TOR, HOU, SAS, PHO, MIN, POR, GST, WAS One game: UTA, NYK, SEA Quote Link to comment
denimhead Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 week 16 is ASW right? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.