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Do the Big Trades Change the Playoff Outlook? By Chase Kuech
02.7.2008 - Updated on 02.7.2008
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In case you have spent the last week in the Northeast under a pile of snow and ice and your power has been out, you may have noticed a couple of seven-foot men changing scenery. Pau Gasol has somehow made his way to Los Angeles, and perhaps even more strangely, Shaq has found himself in Phoenix. The important moves, though, are the ones you may not have paid as much attention to.
The first, and probably biggest, is the fact that Shawn Marion is now a member of the Miami Heat. The Suns have been trying to move him for quite some time as they continue to look like the Oakland Athletics of the NBA, and they finally found a suitor. The fact is, the trade was entirely one-sided by way of the Heat. Marion instantly brings energy and talent to a team that has been zombies all season. Now all of a sudden Wade, Marion and Haslem make the Heat into a once again dangerous team in a weak Eastern Conference. It may sound silly to say, but even with their 9-38 record they still have a mathematical chance at making the playoffs. And who do they have to go through? Washington, Orlando, Charlotte? Would it really be that difficult with the addition of a perennial all-star?
And what exactly did the Suns get? An overweight, overpaid former league changer? I guess if the Suns were planning on only putting four guys on defense and letting Shaq just stand down at the other end of the court, they made a good move. Shaq has enough trouble getting from the court to the end of the bench, let alone up and down the floor as many times as Phoenix does over the course of the game. He’ll be seeing shorter shifts than hockey players by next week. I think the only thing trading for Shaq does to Phoenix is send them downhill. They won’t hold onto the best record in the Conference. I’ll be impressed if they even hold onto a playoff spot. The West has the talented big men to deal with Shaq, especially at age sixty...
The other big move no one noticed that will make a huge impact is Utah acquiring Kyle Korver from Philadelphia. Korver was one of the most underrated 76ers and now he heads to a team aching for a great outside scorer. Giricek was not quite the player the Jazz hoped he would be, and just didn’t fit well into their system. Now they bring in another scoring threat for Williams to get the ball to and instantly the offense improves. They have won their last ten games and are scoring well over 100 points a night in 2008. Korver will fit very well into their offense and they suddenly become a team that can outscore anyone in the league. Utah can easily keep up with Dallas and Phoenix now, and may even surpass them. You may think that I have no idea what I’m talking about, but you just wait; Kyle Korver will end up being the biggest trade steal this season.
A steal it’s hard to argue with is Gasol in Los Angeles. It will make Kobe Bryant want to play well and should give him another option. It lets Odom move down and gives him a major mismatch against most teams. Gasol is also the type of player who can show up and take over games. That being said, he’s also the type of player who can mail it in and disappear and that probably won’t please Sir Bryant. It will make for a little drama in Los Angeles (but when haven’t they liked that?) and will certainly translate in plenty of wins to make up for it.
Overall, I’m not really sure what Phoenix and Memphis were thinking, but I would expect them both to head straight downhill...or rather, the Grizzlies will remain at the bottom of the hill and wait for Phoenix to join them...Los Angeles and Utah become even stronger in the West, and suddenly the days of Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio look like they may be slipping away. In the East, Philadelphia gets worse and Miami once again becomes a powerhouse. Things could get very interesting in the West after the All-Star break hits. I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely excited to see the playoff race between Utah, Denver, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Orleans and San Antonio. I’m not sure I can remember a time with so many great teams out West. |
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Posted by
CHriz
on 02.9.2008 | LOL YB AT MIAMI HEAT WHERE THE WORST RECORD IN THE LG HAPPENS THATS FUNNY RIGHT THERE . | Posted by
YB
on 02.8.2008 | like shaq said P I S S I N G him off has made him known for winning rings...Shaq only knows what he will do with the team if he says there championship material then they are just watch everybody tell him he cant play and see what happens...i dont like shaq at all bc i hated those lakers teams but when shaq gets like that it gets annoyin and if he gets a shape i would watch out....but real talk HEAT powerhouse NOT EVEN A PLAYOFF TEAM if the season started today...MARION 15...10...inconsistent play please hes no all star just a lil above average player...the heat will continue there terrible play.....MIAMI HEAT WHERE THE WORST RECORD IN THE LEAGUE HAPPENSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . | Posted by
ballinn
on 02.8.2008 | I agree with the first post.Shaq is not done, he hasnt played one game for the suns yet so how about you WAIT till he does so u can speak your mind, ur telling us things that u think and I dont believe, dont know about the others but I hope shaq makes u eat ur words like he is gonna make every one else eat em! wat would u tell shaq if he asked u what u thought about the trade? haha, heat lost cuz shaq wasnt happy, shaqs happy now. The DIESEL is gunna pump the suns up and amare is gunna get the most benefit, shaq on one side of him, and nash directing them, dont forget grant and raja, and barbosa. I cant wait till the get going. . | Posted by
on 02.8.2008 | You may think that I have no idea what I’m talking about.all i have to say is what you already said . | Posted by
on 02.7.2008 | Hey! look at the standings houston is right behind there despite of all the struggles you should consider them right into that west powerhouse teams. . | Posted by
on 02.7.2008 | WATCH OUT FOR MIAMI... "WADE + MARION" MEANS TROUBLE FOR OPPOSING TEAMS.... . | Posted by
Chase
on 02.7.2008 | Haha, well I guess we’ll have to see won’t we? Shawn Marion is an amazing basketball player and combined with Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem I can’t imagine why this team can’t be a force again in the East. Wade has another scoring option now and Marion is a solid defensive player as well. Was Shaq really doing anything for the Heat? And as for a cancer, Phoenix’s record doesn’t seem to be so bad so far... . | Posted by
on 02.7.2008 | Are you being paid for this? I am an NBA writer and commentator, however I had to comment. While I can understand you don’t personally believe the trade will work for phoenix (which will not be the case), Miami a powerhouse?? Maybe you should pay more attention to things in the NBA before commenting on them.Also, remember that Marion was not going to be a Sun next year in any event, and he was a cancer and arguably kept the team from ever being able to come together enough to win a championship. He was a zero as far as leadership, and getting anything in return, especially a gamble that may get them a ring, is not as bad as you make it out to be.But Miami, a powerhouse?? Whatever you are smoking, it must be good. . |
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