MITCHELL BLATT

I understand why the Suns traded Shawn Marion for Shaq. They lost in the playoffs a few times, so they think an aging big man with a big name is going to win them the Finals. If not, they will at least go deep in the playoffs or at least make the playoffs. Wait, don’t they already do that every season?

Look, they lost in the playoffs a few times, and then some people started blaming their losses on the type of team they have: a bunch or run n gunners who can’t play defense. GM Steve Kerr in his first year might believe that, which is why he is changing the team’s philosophy. But, if they can’t win in the playoffs, how’d they get to the semifinals last year?

Critics contend that they lost the semifinals. While true, it ignores the fact that the Spurs beat them then went on to sweep the Cavs. While the East hasn’t been a formidable matchup for the Western champs for the past few years, there is no doubting that the Spurs are a great team. Losing to them in the playoffs in nothing to be ashamed of.

The success of a sports team is determined by making the playoffs and hopefully winning a title. The Suns have made the playoffs and challenged for a title every year using this style. All fans and analysts believe they have had success. So why fix something that isn’t broken?

You can say they don’t win in the playoffs. (Correction: They don’t win NBA titles.) Maybe that’s because there are 29 other teams that want a title? Now not all of those teams are contenders, but, especially in the West, there are enough that the law of probabilities has it that if you put together a championship-caliber team and play great all season you probably won’t win a title. There are just a lot of other contenders who will win for whatever reason; either by playing better, or getting lucky.

Getting lucky. Or rather getting the other team suspended. That’s how the Spurs beat the Suns last year when Cheap Shot Bob Horry slammed Steve Nash then the NBA suspended Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for walking a few paces onto the court. The Spurs didn’t win because of good defense or bs like that.

One of the excuses used for the trade is that Shaq will help the Suns defense. Disregard the fact that Marion has averages more blocks per game than Shaq. His presence is best shown in how well he keeps people from going inside and scoring and shooting better overall. That must explain why the Heat as a team allows a higher field goal percentage (47% to 45%) and only four less points per game (104 to 100) than the Suns. If Shaq is so good at improving team D for a team that can’t play D, why is the Heat so bad a D?

Shaq won’t get them over the hump. He’s past his prime. The Suns had a contender that was the best team in the West this season and among the best for many seasons. Adding someone to build expectations won’t change whether they win a title or not. Luck will.

The only thing this is good for is having Shaq’s talent level decline even more in the next few years so that expectations decline as the Suns decline and then you don’t have idiots complaining about how the Suns can’t win in the playoffs. Fans would rather have their team habitually lose than not win in the playoffs. At least they don’t have to care.

Popularity: 2% [?]