The Phoenix Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team for 1968-69 season, and since that time own the fourth highest winning percentage in the league. They have been very good on balance for a very long time, but they have never been able to bring home a championship. Even with two NBA Finals appearances (1975 and 1993), they couldn't quite win the big enchilada.
So in what some (including me) would call a desperate move, they went out and got their own big enchilada, Shaquille O'Neal. Trading the versatile Shawn Marion and the useless Marcus Banks, they landed a 4-time NBA Champion, who has taken every NBA team he has played with to the Finals.
For the first time this season, I'm really excited about this team. There was just something wrong, be it the well-chronicled spats between Marion and Amare Stoudemire, the lack of hustle for whatever reason, or all of the close games they have lost to good Western Conference teams. If Shaq is truly as motivated and determined to succeed as he says he is, the Suns have a legitimately good shot at a title. And Steve Nash seems to really like the move - he says he was "pumped up" after speaking with Shaq on the phone yesterday.
Motivated Shaq + pumped up Nash - whiny Marion - Amare having to guard centers = a happy fan, and hopefully one (more) big enchilada.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
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