Waiting on Shaq
For now, the Phoenix Suns’ latest acquisition will just be the biggest spectator in the arena.
It’s unclear when Shaquille O’Neal will make his Phoenix debut, but it likely won’t be Friday when the Suns host the Seattle SuperSonics, who’ve suddenly won four of their last five.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Phoenix –13.5 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 218.5 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 77% of bets for this game have been placed on Seattle +13.5 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
In a sudden trade, the Suns (34-15) dealt Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for O’Neal this week, hoping the 35-year-old center with four NBA championships can aid the Suns’ push for their first title.
The trade has been widely criticized, but the Suns are not concerned about O’Neal’s health, age or possible clash with the team’s up-tempo style.
"We feel like our players are giddy with the possibilities," Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said, "and he’s ready and focused. It’s up to the coaching staff to do the tweaks without changing everything, and I don’t think we have to."
O’Neal has missed the last two weeks with a hip injury and probably won’t play against Seattle, but hopes to be in uniform at some point before next weekend’s All-Star break.
"Just the hype and hoopla around right now and the situation I think definitely adds a little rush to us," said Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire, who will move from center to forward once O’Neal debuts. "We are definitely excited about the situation."
Against the Sonics, Phoenix will look to avoid losing back-to-back games for just the third time this season and first time since Dec. 8-10. The Suns lost 132-130 in double overtime to New Orleans on Wednesday.
Steve Nash had 32 points and 12 assists while Stoudemire added 26 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, but the Suns, depleted from the trade, allowed a last-second game-winner to the Hornets’ Peja Stojakovic in the second overtime.
Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw each added 22 points for Phoenix. O’Neal was on hand for the game, pointing to his ring finger and drawing a cheer from the crowd when he was shown on the big screen at US Airways Center.
The Suns, who are atop the Western Conference and lead the Pacific Division by 2 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Lakers, are just 2-2 on their current six-game homestand after entering it with a 15-4 home record.
"We’re disappointed, but we feel still pretty good about things," D’Antoni said. "It’s a tough conference and every night it’s going to be tough and you’ve just got to get as many wins as you can get."
Wins have been coming much more easily for Seattle recently. The Sonics (13-36) have won four of five since their 14-game losing streak, also ending a 10-game road skid with a 105-92 win at Sacramento on Wednesday.
"We’re playing better defense, making better decisions at the other end and more guys are simply playing well," Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said.
Against the Kings, Earl Watson had his first career triple-double with season highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds, along with 10 assists.
"It’s something you always want to get, a triple-double," Watson said, "but it was even more important that we got another win."
The Sonics haven’t beaten Phoenix in the last three meetings, including two losses this season. They led 33-13 after one quarter in Phoenix on Jan. 3, but nearly blew the lead by halftime and lost 104-96, allowing 34 points to Stoudemire.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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