Shaq is Pledging a Championship... Riiiight

ESPN is reporting that Shaq is pledging to bring a championship to the Suns. This gem came amongst several hilarious quotes from the human soundbyte machine.

"I'm very upset," he said Thursday at his introduction news conference. "You just don't really want to get me upset. When I'm upset, I'm known to do certain things -- like win championships." Yeah big fella thats true but you also used to be somewhat mobile and extremely dominate. But as Miami can attest to, Things Change.

"...I think with my experience and my on the court-off the court leadership, I can help them get over the hump." Yeah they have experience(Grant Hill), they have leadership(Steve Nash), they do also now have a hump(that'd be you Shaq)

"The last couple of years I was in a system that we really didn't run, so you automatically think I can't run," he said. "But I love to run, especially if I'm playing with a great guy like Steve Nash. I look forward to making people eat their words, I really do." I just want to be clear, it was the system in Miami that made you slow and immobile. I can't wait to follow up on this quote when the suns play again. Oh wait Shaq is weeks from playing again.

Shaq to the Suns The Fallout

As the reality of the Shaq trade is coming to fruition. It seems like we really ought to consider the ripples, that are bound to come when you drop a stone that big into the NBA pond.

Mike D'antoni is gone. I mean he will finish out this year, he might even start out next year. But soembosy write it down a calendar year from today D'antoni wont be coaching the Suns. When the trade cam up Tuesday morning, D'antoni said on his radio show that no deal was close. Hours later the trade is confirmed and Shaq is on a flight to check out his hip. Steve Kerr who is sporting some Championship hardware that D'Antoni is lacking, is pulling the strings in Phoenix and he just doesn't seem to mesh with the current coaches philosophy. (I posted yesterday about Larry Brown's desire for another coaching gig, interesting to think of him in Phoenix)

The Mavericks now have another thing to contend with while they try and figure out what the hell is going on there. One thing you can be sure of A guy like Mark Cuban is not about to sit around and hope things get better. Did you see him in Dancing with the Stars, the man is ultra competitive. You know that last years early exit is still gnawing at him. Look for the Jason Kidd trade talks to take on a little more heat. The situation basically went from Kidd is available so why wouldn't the Mavericks take a look. Now it has become more of a situation where the Mav's need to keep up the the Jones's Lakers and Suns.

The other development which I touched on the other day is the combination of the Kobe-Shaq rivalry and the Lakers-Suns rivalry. If you think that both those guys don't know that the post-trade Championship count is currently Shaq:1 Kobe:0. Kobe has a team that is set up well to make a run at a few titles now. Shaq knows if he is going to win tis race he better get a big lead over the next two years. I'll be interested to see if the SUns are willing to extend Shaq beyond the two years he has remaining.

There is a lot of people who say that the NBA season isn't interesting until the All-Star break. This year they may be right, but it has more to do with how good the second half will be not how irrelevant the first half is.

Shaquille O'neal to the Suns

In a somewhat surprising season that has seen more big trades than any single season in recent memory we seem to have another huge one in the works. I'll keep updating as details fill out.

It seems that the Heat are trying to move unmoving center, Shaquille O'neal. Reportedly the Suns would be sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. There is apossibility that the Heat would move Smush Parker, who has great chemistry with the big fella. He also has been in the inactive list since a legal issue involving a parking attendant.

I see it from the Heat's point. Things just aren't working, so it is time for a change. With Dwayne Wade's free agency looming at the end of the 08-09 season, they needed to do something to intrigue him into staying. With the athleticism and abilites of a guy like Marion, the potential could interest Wade. It certainly will look more promosing than a future with Shaq at that point.

What I just can't seem to get my mind around is the Suns. I mean he doesn't fit their style of offense. I think they would be smart to go a little slower. They have quite a few years with this run-and-fun offense, I don't see any banners hanging or rings shining. As good an idea that I think that would be. Mike D'Antoni is way to arrogant to do that. So Shaq just doesn't fit. Oh, he will have a brief spike in production, just like he did when he got to LA, and again in Miami. But the spikes got smaller with each stop and this time it'll be more minimal. Announcers have been touting how he has lost weight and gotten quicker to fit into Miami's offense. There isn't enough weight on him to lose, or enough heart in him to lose it at this point. In order for him to fit with the guys in Phoenix. The only part that makes real sense in this is the fact that the hero rides of towards the suns(et).

I will say the most promosing aspect of this is the Shaq vs. Kobe storyline. If they were facing each other to get to the championship. With both of them now on teams that are relevant. I would love to see that back and forth for a seven game series.

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