Feb.26 at 12:02 pm

TADOne says:
Not this year.

Feb.26 at 12:04 pm

vmcb says:
i am not optimistic about the suns’ chances

Feb.26 at 12:04 pm

Jukai says:
I was sort of buying into the whole “Shaq will be the next Kareem!” ideology until I watched him play. Can’t outlet pass, still taking dumb shots. Phoenix will have a legit shot at winning the championship once Shaq grabs down a rebound and tosses it out to Nash, instead of trying to put it back up against three guys who can jump a helluva lot higher than he can.

Feb.26 at 12:09 pm

Russ Bengtson says:
Shaq isn’t even the current Kareem.

Feb.26 at 12:29 pm

Dutch Rich says:
Shaq would make a great mine tunnel support system.

Feb.26 at 12:32 pm

Myles Brown says:
I like being right.

Feb.26 at 12:36 pm

cdro says:
i didnt like the shaq move. he knows they are doomed. he should have ended up in dallas. they could of used him for what they use dampier for.

Feb.26 at 12:36 pm

cdro says:
i didnt like the shaq move. he knows they are doomed. he should have ended up in dallas. they could of used him for what they use dampier for.

Feb.26 at 12:57 pm

Eboy says:
The season is over already? Who won the title?

Feb.26 at 1:31 pm

Myles Brown says:
The team that didn’t trade for Shaq.

Feb.26 at 1:38 pm

phunkykarma says:
“respect my authorita!!”

Feb.26 at 2:04 pm

Captain America says:
Myles, myles, myles, for gawd sakes, have you seen STAT shine with the addition of Shaq? Single coverage for Shaq and STAT is a beautiful thing.

Feb.26 at 2:04 pm

Reggie Evans says:
@eboy: The Lakers.

Feb.26 at 2:11 pm

Myles Brown says:
I saw them barely get by Boston with KG on the mend and P Double & Ray going a combined 5-25. I saw them lose by 30 at home to Detroit and have two quarters under 20 POINTS. I saw them go down in every offensive statistical category and saw that theyre giving up MORE points. And I saw that theyre 5-5 in their last ten. But theres always Memphis tonight…

Feb.26 at 2:13 pm

Reggie Evans says:
I guess they will have finally gelled as team after they beat Memphis by 6 points tonight.

Feb.26 at 2:36 pm

WeS says:
I might be the only person here who thinks Phoenix will be just fine. Western conference finals with L.A. at least. 7 game series…

Feb.26 at 2:42 pm

Allenp says:
Capt. is right Myles. Amare has been killing. But guess who is playing like garbage, that’s right, everybody’s favorite MVP. It appears that when the game slows down and you don’t have shooters camping out all over the place Stevie isn’t as impressive. I wonder who would have suspected that. Oh wait, I did.

Feb.26 at 2:44 pm

Myles Brown says:
I never denied that STAT was killing it, but they’re a weaker team. And yeah, I saw that coming with Mr. Itreatthelanelikearevolvingdoor too….

Feb.26 at 2:54 pm

Allenp says:
Oh yeah, that’s a whole different argument. Nash may be the worst defender in the league at his position. Hell, off the top of your heads, everybody name five starters period with worse defense. It’s impossible.

Feb.26 at 3:04 pm

what says:
Nobody is a worse defender than Zaza Pachulia.

Feb.26 at 3:05 pm

what says:
Or Marvin Williams for that matter. Dammit Slam’s server told me to “slow down cowboy” again. Who the hell comes up with this ish?

Feb.26 at 3:12 pm

Big M says:
Allenp: The Knicks argubly start 4 players worse than Nash defensively.

Feb.26 at 3:31 pm

Andrew says:
The Suns will learn to play offense with Shaq. It’s just a matter of patience.

Feb.26 at 3:38 pm

Russ Bengtson says:
What Big M said. Heck, Eddy Curry by himself is five starters with worse defense.

Feb.26 at 3:41 pm

Jukai says:
I like how Allenp claims a guy 18 points and 8 assists on 53% shooting is garbage. Nash is really starting to collapse!!

Feb.26 at 3:44 pm

Jukai says:
Also, I know his one game against the Lakers was pretty insane, but how is Amare playing different from how he’s been playing all year? Honestly, I’ve been a little disappointed with this new “unleashed” Amare, but that’s cause a lot of times, instead of an extra possession, the ball is being stalled cause Shaq has to try and lay the ball in with four defenders around him.

Feb.26 at 3:49 pm

tealish says:
Shaq’s outlet passes are funny. The one intercepted by Kobe was the best of the lot. Kobe was just standing there looking straight at Shaq. No sudden cut back or anything. Shaq just threw it right to him! “did Kareem run with the Lakers when they fast breaked?” Nope, but he wasn’t a complete idiot at starting the break with an effective outlet pass!

Feb.26 at 4:47 pm

Kevin says:
Suns need one more shooter, and they need everyone to stay healthy.. i’ve given up on hoping that Diaw’s consistent play, but if he can get his ish together too.. that’d give them a 50% chance to get to the Finals out of the West.

Feb.26 at 4:48 pm

Kevin says:
*that Diaw plays consistently

Feb.26 at 4:55 pm

Kihwan says:
STAT’s been nicely lately, but I agree with Jukai in that he isn’t doing much more than what he’s been doing all season. It’s not like he’s put up 10 straight 40pt games or 10 straight double-doubles.

Feb.26 at 4:56 pm

Kihwan says:
The ‘unleashed’ Amare has a combined 9rbs in the last 2 games.

Feb.26 at 5:09 pm

Allenp says:
Jukai, please. Nash’s assits are way down with Shaq and the team’s pace has fallen off considerably. Anyone watching the games can see he is struggling to find a way to get into the offense when Shaq is clogging the lane. Amare has proven to me that he is not dependent on Nash setting him up for easy buckets off pick and rolls. He has shown and ability to flash across the lane and finish, or just handle his main from post position. First game with Shaq Amare had like 37 and 15 and Nash only had six assists. When was the last time Amare scored that many points without Nash assisting on most of the baskets. That right there proves Amare’s game has changed.

Feb.26 at 5:11 pm

Allenp says:
Shaq is eating into Amare’s boards somewhat, but on offense Amare has been killing despite the Suns not running their pet high pick and roll as much. And I like how Jukai trotted out 18 and 8 like that’s proof that Nash hasn’t fallen off. Aren’t those stats a major drop off from the numbers he’sbeen putting up the past three years? Come on. Only the craziest Nash fans would refuse to admit that he’s struggled to figure how to play now that the game has slowed down and he has to deal with a stationary post player.

Feb.26 at 5:59 pm

speedy says:
In one month you will eat your words allenp .
Nash is smart enough to adjust . A change like this in the philosophy of the whole team just needs some time .

Feb.26 at 6:02 pm

Joe says:
Hello people, this is the regular season, not the playoffs! The suns are in a transitional period right now. They were not going to contend with marion, shaq gives them what they were missing, strength in the middle, rebounding, and a competitive edge. It going to take time, not 3 games, so give it some time. Dont worry, come playoff time the suns will be ready, and the lakers will go home in the 1st round, as usual.

Feb.26 at 6:03 pm

Joe says:
well put speedy….

Feb.26 at 6:13 pm

Jukai says:
Well, I’d like to first comment that Nash had eight assists in that game, which I’ll admit is down from his 11 assists a game. There’s a few reasons you’ve neglected to mention (of course): The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics are two of the best defensive teams in the league, both top five in holding the points of opponents down. Nash’s assists will drop against people like this cause Detroit and Boston are going to stop Phoenix from scoring as much… not to mention NO one was scoring against the friggin’ Pistons (Didn’t Hill miss every single one of his shots?). Another factor is that with Shaq in the game, there are less possessions, meaning Nash doesn’t have as many opportunities to pass his teammates the ball. Let’s all top this with THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN THREE GAMES and I think you’ll find Nash’s performance excusable. And yes, I have been watching the game. I’ve watched Nash have one good game and two subpar games. I also see Shaq running around like a chicken without a head, lobbing outlet passes to the other team, clogging up the offensive lane, trying putbacks that are far past his age level, and generally hurting the team. Of course, you’ll use every chance you get to bash Nash cause he offends you or something. I don’t know. I doubt Nash will drop more than an assist a game, as do most intelligent people who consider a drop in assists after three games “fallen off.” Keep on ranting though, don’t let me stop you.

Feb.26 at 6:15 pm

Jukai says:
Also, Amare has always been able to score without Nash… what has changed with Amare? He’s still an offensive monster who can’t play defense (ie Rasheed Wallace).

Feb.26 at 6:22 pm

Joe says:
dont worry jukai, there just jealous that they dont have a point guard like nash. I would take steve nash over kobe(overrated)bryant anyday, as well as any other guard in the league. And as far as shaq, give him time, and the suns will show all the naysayers just what he can do, when it counts, the playoffs.

Feb.26 at 6:37 pm

Kevin says:
uhhhhhhhhh, Sheed’s not a bad defensive player even though he lacks effort at times.. quick hands, good instincts and enough toughness mixed in with cleverness makes him one of the better post defenders in the L - what are you smoking Jukai?

Feb.26 at 6:47 pm

Jukai says:
Kevin, I meant Rasheed tore Amare a new one when Amare was suppose to be guarding Rasheed. I didn’t mean that Amare and Rasheed are similar players.

Feb.26 at 6:47 pm

Jukai says:
Also, I’d take Kobe over Nash anyday and twice on Sundays.

Feb.26 at 6:56 pm

Kevin says:
ahhhh.. that makes much more sense, and I’d take Kobe over anyone in the L at the moment. except maaaaaaybe LeBron

Feb.26 at 7:18 pm

Allenp says:
You trot out Detroit and Boston to explain his inablity to get assists against the Lakers? And since when was has any team other than the Spurs been able to keep the Suns under 100? Nash doesn’t offend me. Right now, he’s the third best point in the league and he was probably the best point in the league the previous two or three years. But, that doesn’t mean that he’s some sort of magician who can adapt to any situation and play at an MVP level on any team. The fact is, he never played at an MVP level until he got to the Suns! So I get a little perturbed with everybody’s insistence that it’s a foregone conclusion that Nash will be back to his former level in no time, when this trade changed the whole complexion of the Suns’ team and greatly reduced the factors that contributed to Nash’s success. The Suns are now lacking in spot up shooter, lacking in spacing and have not gotten better on defense. They could turn it all around and win a championship, but let’s stop pretending like it’s a foregone conclusion.

Feb.26 at 7:21 pm

Allenp says:
And old boy who said he’d take Nash over Kobe is being ludricous. Kobe has consistently performed at a high level with less talent since Shaq left. And why would I be jealous of Nash? He’s a great player, but he only plays on one end of the floor. He’s one of the main reasons the Suns have problems on defense as a team. What’s to be jealous of? I’d rather have Deron Williams or Chris Paul since they’re younger and play much better defense while only being slight worse than Nash on offense.

Feb.26 at 7:29 pm

Kihwan says:
Joe - you lost all credibility by saying Kobe is overrated. I can understand an argument of taking Nash over Kobe, but saying Kobe’s overrated….??

Feb.26 at 7:57 pm

KJ says:
Anyone that says Kobe is overrated, should be forever banned from posting on a basketball site. There is no way that they could add any intelligent conversation, based solely on that ‘opinion’.

Feb.26 at 8:01 pm

thesubwayconnection says:
. . . and that “Chris Paul is slightly worse on offense” is no longer true as of this year. Paul’s been killing it.

Feb.26 at 8:56 pm

Jukai says:
Jesus, Allenp, he had 27 points and eight assists against the Lakers… how is this a BAD game? Also, half your arguements I agree with. The Suns, with Shaq, are a worse team. They can change it up, but as of now, they’re worse. This has nothing to do with Nash. He’s playing on the same level he always has, making the same moves he always has… he had two subpar games and the Lakers game, no one was hitting so he decided to pass less and shoot more (which he accomplished spectacuarly). And that’s such a ridiculous arguement, saying he only played well with the Suns… He was riddled with injuries on the Mavericks and the majority of offense was run through Dirk. Nash never had the chance. And of COURSE Nash is better on the fast break than a half court offensive… save John Stockton, what point guard averaged ten points passing through half court offenses. Magic Johnson sure didn’t.

Feb.26 at 8:58 pm

Jukai says:
Also, I’d agree with Chris Paul (he’s downright better than Nash) but goin’ with Deron Williams? That’s pure hate. Deron Williams isn’t better than Nash at any aspect of the game (he’s really not a great defender, but go ahead and tell me he is anyway) and age is meaningless. If you say you’re going with Williams cause of his age, I’m gonna take Wade over Kobe for that same reason. You’re just a hatah Allenp.

Feb.27 at 1:16 am

Jukai says:
25 points and 13 assists on 72% shooting. Truly, this half court offensive is really fudging Nash up.

Feb.27 at 10:10 pm

tealish says:
Lol Jukai. You are saying Deron isn’t better than Nash at defense? Please, even the biggest Nash-apologist wouldn’t fathom making such an idiotic implication.
Now I do agree, overall Nash is the better player but it’s not as clearcut as you make it sound.

Feb.27 at 10:10 pm

tealish says:
Lol Jukai. You are saying Deron isn’t better than Nash at defense? Please, even the biggest Nash-apologist wouldn’t fathom making such an idiotic implication.
Now I do agree, overall Nash is the better player but it’s not as clearcut as you make it sound.