Shaq - Hill: What Most Might Be Missing
[We've heard the voices of disapproval about the Shaq trade from both srp and myself. Time for a view from the other side. Thanks, jasonsuns1! -TexSUN]
It's really simple, most Suns fans are upset with the Shaq trade. For one major reason above all else, Shaq's age and health. Very valid concerns, but what very few are really talking about are the miracles the Suns physical trainers have been working with Hill, Nash, Amare etc! Hill and Shaq are neighbors in Florida, it's pretty clear Hill has been enjoying playing for the first time in years without serious injury.
Hill has said the things the Suns staff does is way beyond anything he's ever had for help (health wise). I'm sure Shaq knows this, and the Suns staff believes it can get Shaq playing like he was 4-5 years ago. I think they can, it's obvious they do.
Look at Amare, who might be considered the best comeback of micro fracture surgery to date in any sport! I keep reading articles that totally miss this, stupid Yahoo article is saying how horrible a trade this is, and how Shaq has to carry 350 lbs up and down the court. Apparently the writers at Yahoo can write anything without checking facts, Shaq weighs 315 or so, big difference. [Editor's note: From AZ Republic it's 312 and 12 percent body fat. That may be a typo, though. I saw somewhere else, East Valley tribune, I think (can't get their site to load to verify), that it's actually 321. Significantly less than 350, regardless.]
Shaq has a track record of getting it done, the only thing in the way is health, and I think the Suns might be the only team currently with the ability to help him....
Why are so many people missing this? There have been articles all over the Arizona papers about how the Suns' physical training staff is light years ahead of most other teams physical trainers.
I'm not saying its not a gamble, of course it is, but with our record against the top western teams, we had to do something, and yes Camby, Gasol, etc would've been great...but it didn't happen...sadly.
Which makes this a move very similar to the Celtics move, all or nothing. Of course KG doesn't have the health issues Shaq does, but he doesn't have the Suns trainers....
I'm telling ya, maybe, just maybe we get the Shaq from 3-4 years ago with 1-2 months of work from trainers....
Just look at who Shaq is playing with and tell me you're not excited!
Nash, Amare, Hill!! I have a new level of respect for Kerr, and within a year, many of you will be changing your minds, if a serious injury doesn't come along. I give the Shaq experiment a 70% chance of working out as planned, a title this year.
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wow
thx texsun for putting it up...
It was so funny and sad last night, listening to the coach and announcers, bot said shawn or marion a couple of times as if he was still playing then caught themselves.
I really do hope he does well (cancel that) GREAT in miami. He probably has the best nickname in sports.
The Matrix
The Big Unit / or The Unit for Randy Johnson, I have to say (just my opinion), that nickname sucks, but the matrix, simply awesome. Diesel ...so so a nickname....
I do love it when other teams (some at least) say they're going to Nashville to play us.
Anyone hear the news conference this morning with shaq, I missed it? Hopefully ktar or nba will post it.
As I said earlier, normally, if Miami was playing, especially this year, I could care less to watch, I'm definitely going to watch a few games now.
by jasonsuns1 on Feb 7, 2008 11:49 AM MST 0 recs
Marion
by whatisboxhappening on
Feb 7, 2008 12:01 PM MST
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Marion in Miami
Only story I could really find about him. He's getting overshadowed because of Shaq being... well, Shaq.
by Genesius on
Feb 7, 2008 12:10 PM MST
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good points
by jasonsuns1 on
Feb 7, 2008 12:10 PM MST
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Nickname
Kobe is called the "Black Mamba."
That's just badass.
by rosewood on
Feb 7, 2008 5:19 PM MST
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Kareem's Curse
If it does, doesn't it stand to reason that we'll finally make it to the promised land and bring home the trophy?
by Genesius on Feb 7, 2008 11:52 AM MST 0 recs
haha
Just to help, shaq should wear the kareem goggles
by jasonsuns1 on
Feb 7, 2008 11:54 AM MST
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Second place in coin flip
But do you remember the second coin flip that year? The one we won and got the right to sign connie Hawkins?
by Hawk42 on
Feb 7, 2008 12:09 PM MST
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no
Here it is, Connie Hawkins Foul
If I remember correctly, Hawkins was one of those rare players, like Magic Johnson, Wilt, Jordan, etc but because of some bad luck, he missed out playing in the nba for many years...sad story, that dude was
great (correct me if I'm wrong...please..or add more)
thanks
by jasonsuns1 on
Feb 7, 2008 12:14 PM MST
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Hawk's biography
by Hawk42 on
Feb 7, 2008 2:39 PM MST
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I'm Now on Board
He's here, so I'm in. When can we buy the Shaq jerseys?
by JSun on Feb 7, 2008 12:31 PM MST 0 recs
haha
by jasonsuns1 on
Feb 7, 2008 12:35 PM MST
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Purple People Eater
I ordered mine a few hours ago. I had previously sold my Lakers tickets online (for what I had thought an un-godly amount), so I should have it in time for the Celtics game.
The worst part of this whole thing is selling those tickets too early. If I had waited I could've got more or I might have decided not to sell them. I got the worst of both worlds.
by JSun on
Feb 7, 2008 2:36 PM MST
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My take
I think we're better with Amare at PF than with Marion. Just my take. We can still run a lot, but we got a new option to take on offense. That it, if Shaq can stay healthy.
He's a hell of a player. Or at least was, in a near past. Anyone who disagree with that is utterly stupid. You can point that Marion could be better for our team, but he wanted out. And, no, we couldn't have gotten a better option. I can see any team trading a better C than current Shaq for Marion.
by Nobs on Feb 7, 2008 2:29 PM MST 0 recs
Must give my full support
After much back and forth, I have to embrace this trade. Yesterday I literally almost took my PHX SUNS license plate from off my car. Marion has been, and probably always will be my favorite player. Very sad to see him go - especially without a proper send off.
Our guys pulled the trigger, and Shaq is a Sun. I must now give my full support. Eventually the weird cloud over the team this first half of the season will be lifted and after a couple weeks we should really have a much clearer picture of what has just transpired.
-E.
by JohnnyyGo on Feb 7, 2008 3:42 PM MST 0 recs
By the way
Have your ever read the book on the Suns by Jack McCallum? There was an excerpt concerning Marion on CNNSI.com yesterday that gives a bit of insight into Shawn's personality.
by AZSEAfan on
Feb 7, 2008 4:56 PM MST
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Media Shaq Bashing
If that's what it takes to get and keep him motivated, may the main stream media keep the firestorm of criticism a blazin' ~~~
U can bet I'll be rootin' for da Big Aristotle!!!
If the Suns medical staff can indeed help maintain good health for Mr. O'Neal, he's gonna give us a better chance to match up against physical teams in the half court... esp. in the playoffs, where we're always soft inside, we're always unable to bang with da Bigs, and we always lose in the playoffs BECAUSE OUR FRONT OFFICE NEVER ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM.
Well, now they've finally made an attempt to do just that. Did I wish we'd traded for KG instead? YES! But McHale and Minny always seem to not want the Matrix, but instead wanted Stat... and each party involved in a possible trade was never gonna be satisfied until Boston and the Wolves did the deal.
No use cryin' over this trade. It's done... and I'm gonna do my darnedest to hope for the best!!!
Let me get outta here and scour the net for a new Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix Suns Authentic Jersey, size 3XL!!!
by kcbrett5 on Feb 7, 2008 8:35 PM MST 0 recs
hey
by jasonsuns1 on
Feb 7, 2008 10:04 PM MST
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Man, didn't know that one!!! Dang!!!
by kcbrett5 on
Feb 8, 2008 7:52 AM MST
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I Heard
Now, Shawn is "happy" in moving to Miami. Thanks a lot, buddy. You wouldn't have been "happy" in Boston playing with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce? I bet you'd be "happier" than playing on the worst team in the league.
Sorry, I get a little worked up. We still love you, Matrix, but we'd rather have KG than Shaq (I think).
by JSun on
Feb 8, 2008 11:08 AM MST
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Yes.
But it's all good.... Slowly moving from 'disgusted' to 'ok, it's done, deal with it' to 'hey, who knows this might even work'. I'll get there. Eventually.
by TexSUN on
Feb 8, 2008 11:21 AM MST
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Not so bad
Look at how much interest it has generated. Remember when we got Barkley? All of the sudden we were on national TV. The national media was getting bored with Nash and the Suns, and we get Shaq to put us back in the limelight.
I'll probably get to see more games here in Dallas.
by Hawk42 on Feb 8, 2008 12:40 PM MST 0 recs














