The Lakers are now close to being a super team again.

**frozensolid_702** · 02-03-2008 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by OumaFan

Am I wrong or did the Lakers not trade Caron Butler for Kwame?

That's good management.

Butler for Kwame Brown was a horrible move at first.

But now that they traded Kwame Brown and a couple draft picks for Pau Gasol, it's briliant.

BTW............. I'm not even a Lakers fan, but have always been a fan of Pau Gasol for some reason.

**Bookkeeper** · 02-04-2008 12:24 AM

Boston the best in the east and LA the best in the west, looks like it could be a replay of the 80's again

**boozeboxer** · 02-04-2008 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Butler for Kwame Brown was a horrible move at first.

But now that they traded Kwame Brown and a couple draft picks for Pau Gasol, it's briliant.

BTW............. I'm not even a Lakers fan, but have always been a fan of Pau Gasol for some reason.

Kwame was a tool. I would rather lose w/o him than have his dumb ass on my team.

**CutMeMick** · 02-06-2008 10:47 PM

I gotta say Paul fits well there with the LakeShow....

It's only 1 game so we'll see if they can keep it up the rest of the way.

**RP33** · 02-07-2008 12:29 AM

MORE IMPORTANTLY

Shaq to the Suns?!?! Hell yeah..

The suns are my team in the West, and now I like them even more.. It's interesting because i've hated every team Shaq has played for until now.. It's gonna feel good having him on my side this time.. When Shaq comes back, even if he averages 7-10 rebs and 12-20 pts a game the Suns will be RIDICULOUS.. Although it will be interesting to see how they use him in their run and gun scheme.. He will be more of a defensive part of the team, and a big part of their half court offense.. Going to be interesting to say the least. Amare can now move over to the 4 and play to his potential and not have to worry about being the "center" on the team.

**CutMeMick** · 02-07-2008 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by RP33

MORE IMPORTANTLY

Shaq to the Suns?!?! Hell yeah..

The suns are my team in the West, and now I like them even more.. It's interesting because i've hated every team Shaq has played for until now.. It's gonna feel good having him on my side this time.. When Shaq comes back, even if he averages 7-10 rebs and 12-20 pts a game the Suns will be RIDICULOUS.. Although it will be interesting to see how they use him in their run and gun scheme.. He will be more of a defensive part of the team, and a big part of their half court offense.. Going to be interesting to say the least. Amare can now move over to the 4 and play to his potential and not have to worry about being the "center" on the team.

Shaqs a huge gamble tho, he's at a point in his career where everything hurts.
Also what I'm trying to picture here is HOW IN THE HELL IS SHAQ SUPPOSE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SUNS 'SPEED' PLAY STYLE...

**frozensolid_702** · 02-08-2008 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by CutMeMicK

Shaqs a huge gamble tho, he's at a point in his career where everything hurts.
Also what I'm trying to picture here is HOW IN THE HELL IS SHAQ SUPPOSE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SUNS 'SPEED' PLAY STYLE...

Shaq is still deceptively quick for a man his size..... even at his old age. I don't think that it's gonna be too much of a problem.

I don't see Shaq being able to carry a team anymore, but he's an incredible "role player," that knows what it takes to win an NBA championship (as evidenced by his 4 rings) and will be much better than he has this year (maybe last year too) because he's playing alongside Amare Stoudemire.

Don't forget, that in the NBA offseason, Shawn Marion was more than hinting that he would be happier elsewhere. As for Marcus Banks (another UNLV alumni) he hasn't ever really turned into anything.

This was a great move for both the Lakers and the Heat, IMO.

**RP33** · 02-08-2008 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by CutMeMicK

Shaqs a huge gamble tho, he's at a point in his career where everything hurts.
Also what I'm trying to picture here is HOW IN THE HELL IS SHAQ SUPPOSE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SUNS 'SPEED' PLAY STYLE...

Here is how i see it Mick.. If Shaq was going to a team that was going to rely on him to score points, then he would be a "huge gamble".. but not for the Suns.. The Suns always do well and get to the playoffs, but i'm pretty sure their best run was when they had Kurt Thomas at Center.. Kurt Thomas is horrible, but the fact that they actually had a big man was a difference maker.. For the way that the Suns play, he is not as much of a gamble.. He is coming in to be a role player and to make everyone around him better.. He's going to make Raja Bell, Nash, Barbosa etc much better.. The Suns got rid of a great player, but they will be able to run their offensive scheme without him.. Marion wanted out cause he wanted to be the "go to guy" on a team, and with the Sun's offensive play, there is no ONE go to guy.. That is why Shaq will do fine. There will be plenty of half-court opportunities for Shaq to do what he has to do.. He's still a beast in the paint and is a mismatch for almost all Centers in the NBA due to the fact that there really aren't many pure Centers left..

**boozeboxer** · 02-08-2008 10:31 AM

I wish the suns still had Tim Thomas as a niche player...

**CutMeMick** · 02-09-2008 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by RP33

Here is how i see it Mick.. If Shaq was going to a team that was going to rely on him to score points, then he would be a "huge gamble".. but not for the Suns.. The Suns always do well and get to the playoffs, but i'm pretty sure their best run was when they had Kurt Thomas at Center.. Kurt Thomas is horrible, but the fact that they actually had a big man was a difference maker.. For the way that the Suns play, he is not as much of a gamble.. He is coming in to be a role player and to make everyone around him better.. He's going to make Raja Bell, Nash, Barbosa etc much better.. The Suns got rid of a great player, but they will be able to run their offensive scheme without him.. Marion wanted out cause he wanted to be the "go to guy" on a team, and with the Sun's offensive play, there is no ONE go to guy.. That is why Shaq will do fine. There will be plenty of half-court opportunities for Shaq to do what he has to do.. He's still a beast in the paint and is a mismatch for almost all Centers in the NBA due to the fact that there really aren't many pure Centers left..

Wel that makes sense... I guess cause I'm not a Suns fan I just culdn't see how he would fit in...
But how you described it makes sense I'm not sure if it will be effective but it's worth giving it a shot.

**CFH** · 02-07-2008 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by RP33

MORE IMPORTANTLY

Shaq to the Suns?!?! Hell yeah..

The suns are my team in the West, and now I like them even more.. It's interesting because i've hated every team Shaq has played for until now.. It's gonna feel good having him on my side this time.. When Shaq comes back, even if he averages 7-10 rebs and 12-20 pts a game the Suns will be RIDICULOUS.. Although it will be interesting to see how they use him in their run and gun scheme.. He will be more of a defensive part of the team, and a big part of their half court offense.. Going to be interesting to say the least. Amare can now move over to the 4 and play to his potential and not have to worry about being the "center" on the team.

I don't watch much basketball, but the Suns are my favorite team because of Steve Nash, who is a local hero around here. The Shaq deal is a bit of a risk because of his injuries, but it could pay huge dividends as well.