Better Off Without Him?

After a slow start with Shaq, the Suns have won two games in a row with the Big Cactus, but overall, they are just 5-6, and have dropped five places in the Western Conference standings.

Despite a pair of impressive wins over the league's best team, the Boston Celtics, and the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs this past Sunday. O'Neal scored 14 points, while adding 16 rebounds and two blocks in a much needed win against the Spurs. Steve Kerr said that this deal will either make him a genius, or an idiot, and right now, he's looking like the latter. The Suns have had to completely adjust to Shaq coming in, because he does slow them down a lot, he has changed up their defense, their offensive sets, when used, and has changed their team chemistry. It's much different having a 7'1" giant running up and down the floor then a 6'7" acrobatic, high-flying forward, who provides sparks on both ends of the court.

In retrospect, this trade was really just a response trade to the Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol, and it has greatly hurt Phoenix in the standings, as they have dropped from first place to sixth place in the Conference. The last two games have gone well for the Suns though, winning both, including a win on Sunday over the Spurs. Last night, despite playing one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Grizzlies, Shaq impressed all in his short time period on the court, doing everything but score the ball. As he was chasing down a ball headed to the Suns bench, the entire team stood up and moved over, because they did not want to have the same thing happen to them as it did to the kid's father on Sunday, when Shaq dove into the fifth row during the game. But back to last night, where he had 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and just 2 points on his only field goal attempt of the night in just 16 minutes of play. This is the type of production they need from Shaq, but more offensive numbers would benefit them. It seems as though Phoenix is just starting to mesh, especially Nash and the Big Fella. Who knows, maybe through all the struggles, they will make a run in the playoffs, make it to the Finals, maybe win Shaq's fifth ring, and Steve Kerr will be a genius after all.