February 7, 2008

CONTRARY TO PUBLIC OPINION SHAQ DOES NOT SLOW DOWN THE SUNS

               There is a prevailing opinion that the acquisition of the obviously slow-footed and aging Shaquille O’Neal means that the Phoenix Suns are admitting failure and ending their fast-paced style hoping to win a championship in the traditional fashion. This opinion is born from a general narrowness in the understanding of the game and a specific misrepresentation of the skills and the speed with which the Suns naturally operate. Adding Shaq to the mix won’t slow down the Suns…nothing will. It will, however, add the largest defensive presence that has ever existed in the league.

       There is a new breed of point guards evolving in the NBA…floor leaders that consistently play at top speed. They are far too quick to be guarded, far too controlled to slow down, and far too dangerous on the attack to ignore. Steve Nash is the godfather for these men. The two-time MVP plays the game at top speed, and nobody—not O’Neal, not anybody—is going to slow him down. He only knows one speed. There are still plenty of skilled players on the Suns who love to run. Neither the loss of Marion nor the addition of Shaq will change their style of play.

      What it does change, however, is the strength and the attitude of a quick but rather soft defensive team. Shaq is being brought in to guard the basket. No lay ups. No easy baskets. And with that—rebounds. With Shaq’s natural quickness in moving the ball up court he will start fast breaks. He’s not being brought in to finish them. His days as a powerhouse offensive force are gone. He can still score if given the opportunity, but the Suns are looking to utilize Shaq’s ball handling skills out of the post to set up one of their many shooters.

       As for Marion—he wasn’t a part of the offence, and he didn’t like it. He was professional, and is having an all-star worthy season—but he wasn’t happy in Phoenix, and he likely would have exercised his opt-clause in his contract this off-season. The Suns had been working on dealing Marion since the off season when their best perimeter defender expressed his dissatisfaction at having to pick up the garbage to get his points. But Marion’s contract is heavy and not easy to move—and the Suns needed another team with their own heavy contract. Enter the disaster that is the Miami Heat. Shaq must have felt, while watching his team fade into oblivion, that his own career was fading away as well. The Heat have very little talent behind Dwayne Wade, and are not competitive most nights. Shaq wanted out. The Heat accommodated him.

       If Shaq can give the Suns 24 solid minutes of basketball per game down the stretch and through the playoffs then the Suns will have a very definite opportunity at winning the championship. They will have absorbed the powerful punch thrown by the Lakers, with their addition of Gasol, and shot back with the heaviest blow possible.

       …It absolutely drives me bonkers when I hear fans complain that the Raptors weren’t involved in the Gasol heist. The Raptors couldn’t have been involved even if they wanted to. There were several other clubs that were willing to part with players to acquire Gasol—the Lakers initially offered players—but the Grizzlies didn’t want players, they wanted a severe financial anchor completely off their books. This wasn’t an NBA trade made for winning championships or improving a talent base–this was a decision made in boardrooms and in bank offices. The Grizzlies wanted money. The Lakers were the only team with enough expiring contracts capable of making this type of transaction. Remember, when interviewed about the deal, after it was first consummated, Phil Jackson said that talks about a Gasol trade had been going on for more than a year. Previous basketball management, namely Jerry West, wanted talent in return, and were less concerned about the money. Is it any wonder that West isn’t in Memphis anymore?

       …The NBA trade market is certainly a lot more interesting this year. Beyond the two superstars already traded there should be a smattering of smaller deals to follow. For the Raptors—they need to be involved. Realistically, they are looking at making one small addition to their club. Colangelo has been scoping out his team this year and debating with his inner circle over which position needs to be addressed the most. They have few bargaining chips that they are willing to offer so they know they have one only deal to make—and they need to be right if this club has any hopes of advancing this year in the playoffs. The return of Ford solves two potential weaknesses, a point guard and an offensive slasher capable of penetrating the defense and getting shots for the second unit’s slumping shooters. The remaining weaknesses—interior defensive toughness, and rebounding can be solved with the acquisition of one player—Kurt Thomas.

       Thomas is an experienced interior defender who came from the same basketball toughness factory that produced the immortal Charles Oakley. Raptor fans wistfully remember the legend that was Oak, and pine for the days when they could cheer a player who protected his team-mates with fire and guarded the basket with force. If the Raptors would like to add Thomas they are going to need a trading partner, and so far Seattle has been unwilling to act.

       The Sonics are an extremely young and inexperienced club and they brought Thomas in to help teach the youngsters the intricacies of the NBA game. Thomas exceeded expectations however, and soon moved into a starting role. This has made him much more valuable to the Sonics than he would be on the open market and they might be hesitant to move him. This would be a mistake of Leaf-ian proportions. Yes, there is a benefit to having experience around to teach the youth, but Thomas can fetch another talented player–and if they so chose they could re-sign Thomas in the off-season when he becomes a free agent.

       Along for the ride, however, are the Orlando Magic—a team also looking to add some toughness and some strength to their front court. Now it comes down to whether the Sonics are willing to listen before the trade deadline expires, and if so which offer will they accept?

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