The addition of Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers obviously overshadows the subtraction of same from the Phoenix Suns. And now a report from Tim Povtak on Fanhouse indicates that the influence of Suns point guard Steve Nash was one of the primary reasons Phoenix pulled the trigger on the five-player deal that sent Shaq to Cleveland:
According to an NBA source, Nash expressed his displeasure with O’Neal during a meeting last week in New York with general manager Steve Kerr.
Nash, still one of the best point guards in the NBA, will become a free agent after this season if the Suns can’t sign him this summer to a contract extension.
“I think he told him [Kerr] that if O’Neal was there, [Nash] wouldn’t be around much longer,” said the NBA source who requested his name not be used. “That pretty much sealed it.”
Obviously Shaq’s lumbering presence in the lane doesn’t really mesh with the run-and-gun style that the Suns have been known for of late. But also consider that Phoenix missed the playoffs last year and that O’Neal is scheduled to make $20 million in ‘09-10, it makes even better sense for that team. And think how much legroom is freed up on the team bus now. Yeah, Steve Nash rules that team with an iron fist. A girly, Canadian iron fist, but iron nonetheless.
The Granny Shot might be enjoying a bit of a renaissance after this heave from Seattle resident Rhett Brown. During a timeout with 7:59 left in the second quarter, Brown reached down to knee level and heaved a perfect swish to win $77,777. What, no 77 cents? I call bullshit. Especially if this guy is driving all the way down from Seattle just to see a game. Shit, if I knew I was gonna pocket 77 large, I would have done the same. Provided I didn’t have to sit through the first quarter of that game.
The Suns blew out the Clippers 140-100 last night in Alvin Gentry’s debut as Phoenix’s coach, but the lopsided score was at least in part due to Zach Randolph’s first quarter ejection for punching Louis Amundson.
“He hopped up and got in my face and almost kissed me in my mouth… I just pushed him out of my face. If I would have hit him, he wouldn’t have got up off the ground,” said Randolph, who is almost certain to be suspended.
I like his definition of “push.” It reminds me of the time the police showed up, and I had to assure them that I was just trying to help my girlfriend get down the stairs faster.
Suns guard Jason Richardson has been suspended by the team for tonight’s game after he was cited for a variety of traffic violations, most notably going 90 miles per hour in a 35 zone while his toddler son wasn’t in a child seat.
[A]n officer clocked Jason Richardson doing 67 mph in a 40-mph zone in the area of 65th Street and Camelback Road shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday… [T]he officer followed Richardson onto 64th Street, where Richardson’s car hit speeds up to 90 mph. The speed limit there is 35 mph…
Richardson’s 3-year-old son was in the back seat of the car. Police said the little boy was not in a child seat, which is required by Arizona law.
To be fair, “The Simpsons” was about to start, and it was the first episode ever done in HD. And the opening credits got reworked! That’s a pretty big deal. We should be impressed he even remembered to put his son in the car.
[FanHaus]
Steve Nash is 800% less interesting as a basketball player with Shaquille O’Neal in his life instead of Mike D’Antoni and Shawn Marion. However, he’s still a dude who nailed Elizabeth Hurley in her prime and spends his offseason skateboarding around New York. And when he takes it upon himself to deliver an environmentally friendly message, he delivers it with a dig at the Spurs. Leave it to Nash to deliver energy-saving burns. He’s probably only still playing for the Suns to promote solar power.
(more at the Suns’ virtual locker room)
Two sports, two big trades: the Mets acquired J.J. Putz from the M’s in a 12-player, three-team trade, and the Bobcats sent Jason Richardson to the Suns for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell. All right! Nothing stokes my fire like talking about PERSONNEL MOVES! Wooooo!!!!
New Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik showed he has bigger balls and brains than his predecessors in getting top outfield prospect Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and OF Endy Chavez, pitchers Aaron Heilman and Justin Vargas, and three more prospects from the Mets. The Mets also got OF Jeremy Reed and another solid bullpen arm in Sean Green, while the Indians got whatever this is too much information to process. The important thing is that the poindexters at USS Mariner like it, so I like it, too. Mets fans have to be pleased that the bullpen won’t be blowing 29 of 72 save opportunities next year (Faith and Fear in Flushing likes it), while the Indians essentially move one prospect at a position they didn’t need for a prospect at a position they did (second baseman Luis Albueno).
Phew. Jeez, I’m supposed to talk about the basketball trade now? Well, the Bobcats will continue to suck for all time, and Amare Stoudemire will continue to complain about touches while the monolith of Shaq continues to destroy the memory of D’Antoni’s Suns. Now please, someone find me a law-breaking cheerleader. This actual sports news is killing me.
