The Big Saguaro

Posted on April 4th, 2008 – 1:42 AM
By Jerry Zgoda

The Wolves get their first look at Shaquille O’Neal in a Suns uniform tonight in Phoenix. The Wolves have won only 19 games this season and two of them were over the Suns at Target Center before Phoenix swapped Shawn Marion for the big guy on Feb. 6, a deal that likely was influenced by big Al Jefferson.

Jefferson averaged 35.5 points and 17.5 rebounds in those two victories (the Wolves lost in Phoenix in January) and absolutely abused Amare Stoudemire inside. Stoudemire has been unstoppable since the Suns acquired Shaq and moved Stoudemire to power forward, where he has overpowered defenders to the tune of 30.8 points on 62-percent shooting in the past 11 games. The Suns are 10-3 in their last 13 after starting 3-6 in their first nine with Shaq.

One thing to watch tonight: The Suns’ tempers. They collected eight technical fouls in a home-and-home series with Denver on Monday and Tuesday and Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said at practice Thursday that he wants his team to calm down a bit but he doesn’t want them to lose their fire.

Shaq, who drew a technical in Monday’s comeback victory from a 22-point deficit, said all he and the Suns want is equal treatment.

“Shaq Rules” is what he calls his complaint with the officiating.

“My thing is,  whatever the rule book says, that’s how you’re supposed to call it,” he said. “Not because guys are bigger and stronger. I don’t want to hear that (stuff) anymore. I don’t understand how you can call (Allen) Iverson getting bumped going into the lane and not call it for Steve (Nash). That’s all I’ll open my mouth about. These guys play very hard. We don’t just be talking to be talking.”

 

Comments are closed.