The Panic Button

Did the Phoenix Suns push the panic button a little too early when they made the trade for Shaquille O'Neal? Growing up a Los Angeles Lakers fan I have become accustomed to teams feeling inferior to the Lakers.

They are the team to beat, every year, no matter what. Anytime a team goes into the Lakers' house they play their very best. Playing in front of Hollywood stars and seeing the championship banners in the rafters can do a funny thing to opposing teams.

The Suns obviously made the Shaq trade in response to the Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol for Stone Hands and a bag of chips.

Is it going to work out for the Suns? Early indications are no. Shaq looked horrible Sunday versus the Detroit Pistons (3-8 from the field, 1-8 from the foul line) but he did get 11 rebounds in the loss. In their win versus the Boston Celtics he had 4 points on 1-5 shooting, while grabbing 14 rebounds.

Shaq is not going to get 15+ shots in a game, probably will not get 10 shots in a game, so the offense is going to have to come from Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash. Stoudemire has looked great with Shaq taking up the paint, but how much of the load can the dude take on?

Five to six minute bursts each quarter for Shaq is probably the best way to go for the Suns. Sad to see a giant fall in front of our eyes.

That is what they are missing with Shawn Marion over in Miami: his versatility to do what they need. Shaq will do a couple things for the Suns: rebound (when he feels like it), take up the paint, get a couple of alley-oop dunks. With Marion they had three-point shooting, rebounding, his driving to the basket, defense on the opposing teams' best player, assists... the list goes on.

Perhaps Mike D'Antoni saw the smile on Phil Jackson's face post-Gasol trade and thought to himself, "I want that."