The Big Disappointment?

The Phoenix Suns have been anything but hot since acquiring Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat. GM Steve Kerr and Head Coach Mike Dantoni had hoped that the Big Aristotle would have provided the Suns with the spark that would propel Phoenix over the top and into the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the only thing that this Aristotle has done is make the world question a block buster trade. It is evident that O’Neal, arguably the most dominating big man to ever play the game, has hit the wall that all great players eventually run into—AGE. After three rings with the Lakers and another in Miami, Shaq may think about retiring after this season. However, the Suns have been dragged down by the weight of their massive center, going from one of the top positions in the West to the bottom echelon of the playoff picture. Clearly, the only thing that Shaq has been lately is a big disappointment. One question looms over the basketball world, especially those in Phoenix. How much longer will O’Neal see court time before Kerr and the Suns pull the plug on the aging one? What seemed to be a move that would bring Phoenix a title has become a desert disaster. Time is running out before the Sun goes down on Phoenix, as this season’s Western Conference is much too deep and can extinguish any team from the playoff picture.

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