Phoenix Suns will NOT make the playoffs

D

DJDJAJGJ

250+ Posts
Before Shaq trade: 1st place in the West

After Shaq trade: 7th place in the West

Already a bad defensive team, they traded their best defender in Marion for a washed up center who slows down their tempo. As a horrible defensive team, the last thing you want to do is slow down the game. Play a halfcourt game and you will get destroyed.

They just lost to the 76ers at home. They are done. Rockets, Warriors, and Nuggets will all pass them up.

Idiotic move by Steve Kerr. Moral of the story: don't hire color commentators just because they may sound smart on TV.
 
Actually they're the 6 seed right now but like I said, they will continue to lose and fall out of the mix like the Blazers did weeks ago. They have a relatively difficult schedule the rest of the way also.
 
I hate how all of the analysts pretty much loved the Shaq trade and hated on the Kidd trade. They gave up one of their top three players for a guy well past his prime that doesn't fit their gameplan at all. The Mavs traded basically Harris and Diop - a backup center and a scoring point guard - for one of the best leaders and passing point guards of all time (still with a few years left). Now the Suns are missing all of the easy baskets that Marion gave them and his ability to match up defensively on the other team's best player. With all of the hype and all of the big talk by Shaq, I am personally enjoying their downfall. They will still make the playoffs since everything got a lot easier with Yao out, but they will probably lose in the first round. I actually heard that Kerr was the last one to okay the trade - worrying that what is happening would happen. However, D'Antoni was the one behind it - wish makes me wish it blows up some more since I hate that guy.
 
It is too early to know. The West is very tight and there isn't much separating the 1-7 seeds. Any team there could lose a couple games and drop a bunch. They are playing for home court advantage if possible so it is important for sure. Houston is #7 and though they have won 14 in a row without Yao they may not be able to keep up their current pace. If this happens this would be one less team Phoenix would have to fight off.
 
Regarding Kidd trade: Dirk is in his prime, Howard is about to enter his prime, IMO Harris is still a few years away from "getting it" as a PG. By that time Stack will probably be worthless, Damp will be even more worthless, and part of Dirk's prime will have been completely wasted.
The Kidd trade made sense because you pair a PG who is still playing at an extremely high level and who is one of the greatest PG/leaders of all time for a guy who may or may not develop into an elite PG.

Regarding Shaq trade: Suns trade a guy who is their most versatile player. CAN and HAS guarded all 5 positions and played all 5 positions. He's guarded everyone from Yao to Parker. He sets to tone with his energy and hustle and is always the first out on the break. They are not scoring as much and defending as well anymore. They may not have been a GREAT defensive team but the root of the problem for all the points in the paint is Stoudamire. He is an AWFUL defender and for a guy that athletic a average rebounder. Now they get a guy who is well past his prime. I guess he can dominate when motivated, in shape and healthy. They are now giving up even more points since the trade. Terrible decision. Done mainly to sole the chemistry issues. As much as they will say it wasn't a problem Marion and Stoudamire couldn't co-exist together and were bumping heads because of their inflated views of themselves. Now their already bad spacing is even worse. The middle is completely congested with Shaq, Amare, and Hill ALL standing inside the 3 point line. Awful decision.
 
big Mavs - Lakers game this afternoon at 2.30pm Central.

Sad to see Nash and the Suns fade away, I felt they were the best team last year and came upon an unfortunate incident which cost them dearly. Nash is a credit to the game, nice guy who plays 11000% every game despite bloody nose and other ailments. Old School and just one clutch player. Too bad for him.

Shaq should retire this summer. I still lke his goofy personality but the guy is very dirty and the image of his elbowing Mutombo in the 2001 Finals in the face will last will me.
 
the Mavs have nobody to blame but themselves for those poor draft picks

Other than Dirk and Howard, which Mavs players were drafted by the team?
 
Technically, the Mavs didn't draft Dirk either...

As a fan, I'm starting to really like this trade. Dampier is playing like a madman, and Dirk has been unreal.
 
Draft picks in the NBA just aren't as important as in other sports. As long as you have an owner like Cuban that will spend $$$ you can build/replace via free agency. This trade was because Avery didn't think Harris would EVER be a point guard he could trust. Not now, not in 3 years, not ever. Whether Harris can prove him wrong, we'll have to wait and see.
 
shaq is a boat anchor and makes them inefficient on offense. Also, they don't have much of a team 3 pt threat anymore, do they? Losing Joe Johnson and Marion hurt their identity as a run and gun wild west offense that no one could stop. Now they are halfway between the superfast and the YMCA old timers.

I don't think this team will make the playoffs or will be very luck to do so. Game next sunday vs. SA will tell a lot.
 
the # 8 seed is weak and the Suns could have a tenuous hold on that. They still match up ok with the Lakers which would be a highly entertaining first round series.
 
The NBA coaches thought Shawn Marion was one of the top 12 defenders in the league last year, but they probably don't know what they are talking about.
 
The Suns matchup TERRIBLY with the Lakers. Maybe that their front line has been bolstered they might be able to keep up on the boards but now they are slower than LA. Pau/Bynum can and will beat Shaq down court for easy buckets. They have NO spacing anymore. Shaq clogs up the entire lane. Stoudamire works best from the high post. Hill is and never will be a 3 point shooter and operates best inside the 3 point line. Bell and Nash are there only consistent 3 point shooters(starters), Barbosa can come in, but then they are going to have to go super small. Marion wasn't a great shooter but he could knock down the open 3 and he wasn't stationary he was always moving around without the ball.

The Suns will be lucky to make the playoffs, even though the Mavs are 4-3 since the Kidd trade, the dividends are obvious. They are playing better team ball, passing more, and their shooting percentages are up. They haven't been able to close out the last two games but its not like they are getting blown out, they very close to the top teams.
 
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