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Originally Posted by GH0STrider  His contract wouldn't be an issue if he lived up to that price tag. |
This is a yes and no thing. Some LA fans are weird, and they never satisfied, that's all I can say.
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Originally Posted by GH0STrider I named at least 7 guys. Last I checked there is a reason they call it a "starting 5". they have at least 2 guys who can come off the bench and contribute big. I mean c'mon, barbosa averages almost 20 a game off the bench! That's from one guy.
You don't get named to the all nba defensive team for sucking at d. He is a solid defender. The difference is that he knows what games matter and what games don't. He understands if you burn yourself out during the season there isn't much left for the playoffs. Especially at his age and size. Shaq has really held his own in the post season as far as I'm concerned. He will greatly improve the suns defense. |
I don't disagree with you on Barbosa. Then at the same time even you know one shouldn't burn himself out during the long season, as you mentioned; but with a very short 7-men rotation for the Suns, they are doing just that! And like I said before, whether Shaq is still a great defender or not, his present WILL improve the Suns' overall D.
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Originally Posted by GH0STrider Dude, fuck the Euro championships. This is the NBA, that fiba shit doesn't mean dick here. |
I hate to say this, but this is exactly the kind of attitude and reason why the US basketball program is so unsuccessful in the past 8 years or so. If that FIBA shit doesn't mean shit at all, why don't you guys win the gold in 2004? What about the FIBA World Championship (the basketball World Cup, so to speak) in 2002 and 2006?
Maybe you need to wake up and look beyond the NBA sometimes, huh?
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Originally Posted by GH0STrider The bottom line is he sucks bad on d in the league that matters. I never said pau was better or worse than any of the formentioned players. Horace would have beat his ass for sure, I will tell you that. I don't blame pau for any loss. Wake up and face the facts. The dude is soft, and it is not just me saying that. Nba players, scouts, and coaches have made the same claim. That Euro league garbage (where everyone seems to play soft) has really fucked up his nba game. There is a reason why dirk, parker, and diaws teams suck- they are the only players on their respective teams that can actually play. Don't fool yourself. If it comes down to d- your lakers are in some trouble. Especially if they drive the lane on pau. I can see it now- the game is tied. game 7 of the western conference finals. Nash to shaq- shaq faces up Pau. Wow! did you see that! Posterized! And the Suns win! Dude- watch him play. He falls asleep in the defensive end and all the sudden wakes up when it comes time for offense. I was scared shitless that if he did get traded with the Bulls skiles would just bench his ass. He used to sit eddy curry for long strechs for that very thing. Sure that is pretty much 70 percent of the nba... but c'mon. Pau seriously needs to toughen up. He has to much potential for crtics to bash him for lackluster effort on the defensive end. |
Sure sure, I know what the writers and critics have said and all. But you know what? Sometimes I really don't give a rat ass at all. The bottom line is they ain't coaching the team or the player. I am damn sure Phil will find a way to use Pau or get him "Lakerized", per se.
Sometimes players don't get proper coaching in their old teams and people automatically assume they can't do jack shit. I like to think otherwise. Same thing goes for Shaq and the Suns. Maybe this trade will work for them perfectly or not, we can only wait and see.