Phil, D'Antoni, on Shaq, Pre-Game
Both coaches talked a bit about Shaquille O'Neal and his Suns debut, before the game.
Well, Phil talked a little bit. Mike D'Antoni of the Suns talked a lot.
Jackson, asked if O'Neal would be comfortable in the Suns offense: "I think he’ll have an idea. As far as minutes, I’m sure his minutes won’t be heavy tonight. I would guess that would happen. With minutes comes the adjustability to play in the system. So I imagine that will happen. He plays more minutes, he’ll adjust more to what the game is about."
On the importance of the game: "This is just our attempt to wrest the season series against them, so if we get close enough or they get close enough to forge a tie (at the end of the regular season) we have an opportunity to step ahead of them. That’s the value of this game. It’s a game on the schedule, yet it’s meaningful because they can tie us with a win and we can win the season series with them with a win."
(The Lakers won two of the first three matchups this season; they're done, unless they meet in the playoffs.)
Asked whether he embraces spectacle or tries to ignore it: "There’s going to be a lot of energy in the arena. You just have to warn the players not to get wrapped up in it too much. Just let the game play itself. Don’t try to do too much in the game. Let basketball be kind of the dictator."
D'Antoni, on Shaq getting a new start in Phoenix: "Steve (Nash) was an 'old' 31 when we got him and now he's a young 34. We really think Shaq will benefit from being here. It might be the sunshine. I just feel like we have a really good chance of Shaq being healthy and playing the next 2-3 years. It’s a gamble, but it’s a gamble worth taking."
About why the trade was made: "As a team, we got stale. It was like we were going up hill. For whatever reason it wasn’t the same. We got stale. We maybe could have made a run, and then Shaq is available and we had to decide if he had something left or not."
On Shaq and Steve Nash: "We just thought they would be a great complement for each other. .... We hope Shaq and Amare will draw some attention down there (in the paint) and free (Nash) up for some open shots."
Asked how comfortable Shaq would be in the offense: "It’s more how comfortable Steve is. Every time he looks down low, you see Shaq because he’s blocking out the guy behind him. Tonight, we’ll probably over-pass."
How long before Shaq is in shape? "It’ll take him about 10 games to really get in game shape."
What does Shaq do for your offense? "We should be better, offensively. We should be more efficient."
On Stoudemire having to move to power forward: "Amare shoots the ball so well now he doesn’t have to be in the paint. He’s a floor-spreader now."
On the Western Conference loading up: "A year ago, we wanted to stay away from Dallas and San Antonio. ... I don’t think it matters this year. I don’t care who you play. You just try to get as good as you can get. Obviously, you’d like to be first and have home-court advantage."
On the competition in the West. "Every game here on out, regular season, you’re going to see great games. That’s great for the NBA."