Dream Shake is Being Run By Nostradamus

Recent trade action around the NBA has managed to keep another story under the radar. Grungedave over at Dreamshake(Note: I was mistaken the prediction was made by Lee- though now that the Jinx has come in with Yao going down for the season, I am wondering if Lee really wants all that credit) has predicited correctly win after win for his Houston Rockets, who are on a 12-game win streak. His over the top claim that Houston is the hottest team in the NBA, is a litte suspect with the Los Angeles Lakers succes since the Pau Gasol trade. Phoenix, is be given credit for 11 straight agaisnt the east. A streak that ended against Detroit on Sunday.

GrungeDave's constant predictions are impressive. They are made even more so by the fact he realistic about his team shortcomings. People often predict a win every game for their team, celebrating easily when they get it right. If the Rockets momentum carries with them to the playoffs, they will be a force to contend with.

I doubt the Lakers will be shaking in their sneakers at that thought. The Lakers have only lost one game since Pau Gasol's arrival. Their 7-game win streak is reassuring while their hottest emerging players this season, Andrew Bynum, is out recovering from a knee injury. If the chemistry that seemed evident from the moment Gasol donned the Purple and Gold continues when Bynum returns, the Lakers wont fear anyone in the league.

While it is to early for full scale panic; Phoenix GM, Steve Kerr, is likely experiencing some fear. He pulled the trigger on the questionable deal that brought Shaquille O'neal to Phoenix. In the game Phoenix won it appeared to be in spite of Shaq. The two losses seemed directly tied to him. His non-impact in his debut against the Lakers was not an endoresement of the trade. Yesterday's loss against Detroit was strongly tied to Shaq. Phoenix, one of the highest scoring teams in league history finishes a loss with only 86 points, 30 points short of their opponent. The anemic offense and lack of scoring on the break is easily tied to the new, immobile big man.

Shaq's Phoenix Debut

The big time game atmosphere for Shaquille O'neal's debut was clear from the moment ESPN switched to the NBA coverage. The Big Cactus--Shaq's chosen moniker, not mine--wasn't as good as he said he would be. He wasn't as bad as Bill Walton made him out to be either.

It's hard to fault Walton because Shaq's first half was about as bad as Walton had predicted. His first attempt was a point blank miss off the front of the rim. He also appeared lost in the offensive scheme at times.

Shaq didn't lack for effort. He left the game 3 minutes in, shortly after that first miss off the rim. When he returned with 4 minutes remaining in the first he fired up another shot. After missing that second attempt, he sprinted back in time to catch Lamar Odom and tip his attempt--though Odom's shot still went in, the hustle was evident.

Shaq eventually got his first bucket on a dunk. However it was a catch-22. He also got fouled. Shaq's Phoenix premier at the charity stripe would not be nice. O'neal missed horribly; the ref's decided it was funny and called a lane violation. We watch O'neal shot-put the ball again; this time so many guys are in the lane they decide to just jump it at mid-court. Thanks, ref's.

Shaq wrapped the first half with 3 fouls and a handful of points and boards. Walton let it be known how unimpressed he was after the half. He let it be known so clearly, in fact. Eternal ranter Stephen A Smith commented"You are making me sound like a nice guy"

Second half action was a little kinder to O'neal. He was a little more active and appeared to actually know what was happening in the Suns offense. On the defensive end he got a few blocks and altered a few more shots. Shaq even teamed up with Amare Stoudemire for a block. You could pretty much hear Mike D'antoni praying that was a microcosm of the next 30+ games.

One occasion where O'neal's hustle was a problem, he crossed the lane to help on Kobe Bryant. In the course of shooting his arm forward to block Bryant he hit teammate Raja Bell in the back of the head. Bell was dazed if not knocked out as he lay on the floor. By the time they got Bell up off the deck he had a racquet ball sized knot forming on the back of his head.

The Lakers maintained a lead most of the game but never got too far away. Shaq was the biggest focus for the home team; On the Lakers side Pau Gasol was impressive as a new addition. The Man I used to call Pau Ga-Soft caught the ball on the break and took it up over Stoudemire and Raja Bell. Having Gasol, a number one, playing as your two, or your three even, is great. In a situation that hopefully foreshadows some future fourth quarters. Kobe received all the focus as they worked for the final shot in the third. He then passed of to Gasol who calmly took his man across the lane for a running right hand hook.

Kobe clearly no longer feels he has to do everything. On a play late in the fourth Bryant was leading the break with a defender in front of him. Bryant would have taken that in and forced a shot from a tough angle in the past. Tonight he pulled the defender with him towards the wing, turned, and dished to Gasol who rose and threw it down.

Shaq will receive all of the attention coming out of this game, but Gasol once again showed why he will be the piece that puts that Lakers on top of the heap that is the Western Conference.

While the game was very entertaining. Shaq's post conference was, as usual. the most entertaining part of the evening.

When discussing his athleticism he said.

"I was the first big man to run up and down the court, over the last few years I get a couple of knick knack injuries and you earthlings start to think I can't run"

• Apparently Shaq is no longer an earthling. He also appears to be unaware of any big men prior to 1990. I am guessing that if Wilt were alive he could probably beay Shaw in a foot race even now.

"Steve Nash told me to get my Randy Moss on"

• The last thing Randy Moss needs while he is trying to negotiate a contract is his speed and Shaq's speed in the same sentence

While discussing his first three chapters(teams) in his book(career) he referred to them as "Dramaful"

• I Misremember; is Dramaful a word?

NBA Where Debut-tiful Happens

After Mike Bibby's debut last night, as well as Shaquille O'neal and Jason Kidd putting sweat on those new unifroms tonight, it should be an interesting couple of days. Mike Bibby's performance against the Lakers was certainly not what he was hoping for. You can't jump to conclusions after one game. That will also be the theme after Shaq's debut tonight. Kidd on the other hand, might "be who we thought he was"(Thanks Denny Green)

Mike Bibby and the Atlanta Hawks were in LA for the Lakers Home return from a 9 game road trip. The Hawks played like they were the ones that were road weary. Through a series of turnovers and poor shot selection the Hawks gave the Lakers a 73-37 edge at the half. Mike Bibby certainly wasn't an exception to the Hawks poor play. Managing 5 points 3 assists to 2 turnovers. I'd blame this on him only logging 16 minutes, but he seemed plenty capable of racking up 4 fouls in that short time.

It is just one game. Without even seeing Shaq's performace tonight I know it will produce the same mantra. It is just one game. Shaq will come out like gang busters; showing the pride and passion he has been missing all season. He is old though, that body can't give him that game-in and game-out. The new team has always brought out the pride and passion in Shaq. Tonight he will have that as well as the revenge motivation. Shaq wants nothing more than to prove that Kobe and the Lakers were wrong to send him packing.

Jason Kidd is the likely exception tot he just one game rule. He still has the body. He has played unmotivated basketball all season and still managed quite a few triple doubles. He is right now getting a whiff of the ring that Dallas fell short of last season. He will step up his effort and intensity--which is a scary thought--and be best fitting missing piece out of all three of these deals.

Kidd can't help but be motivated when he hears team owner Mark Cuban saying things like "..He is the reason I bought season tickets and started watching the Mavs". The unspoken end of this statement is "...and then I bought the team"

Shaquille O'neal the Lakers Babe Ruth?

According to TNT and ESPN Kobe Bryant's injury is worse than initially thought. According to reports the pinky on Bryant's right, shooting, hand has a torn ligament. The reports are that this will require surgery which will sideline Bryant for 6 weeks.

According to Bryant he is going to try and put off surgery until after the season and hopefuilly after competing as part of Team USA. You can obviously draw from this that Kobe believes there is a possibility for a championship. I don't know Kobe personally but I am just guessing he isn't going to push through the injury for another first round exit from the playoffs.

I am starting to feel a curse of the Big Aristotle. Since the Lakers traded Shaq to the Heat.

• Heat 1 Championship, Lakers Post season success NONE


• Heat dominating in head to head (Excusing this year as a complete grease fire)


• Lakers subsequent trade: All-Star Caron Butler for Former Laker Kwame Brown


• Lakers Big Men Cursed; Chris Mihm - Chronic foot problems, Andrew Bynum - Injured, Kwame Brown- All kinds of Kwame


• Kobe Bryant - Shaq's nemesis in the trade - Injured

This better stop soon or we are looking at an Boston Red Sox-esque 86 years down the road.

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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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