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Suns hoping O'Neal pays dividends in playoffs

Apr 19, 2008 - 11:37 AM Phoenix at San Antonio 3:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference first round

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal in the hopes of slowing down Tim Duncan in the playoffs. Here is his chance.

The sixth-seeded Suns open a best-of-seven series against the third-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Spurs and Suns have met eight times in the postseason, including last season's controversial conference semifinals matchup which was tainted by Amare Stoudemire's suspension in the pivotal Game Five.

Stoudemire received one-game suspension for leaving the bench after Robert Horry shoved the Suns' Steve Nash to the ground in Game Four. San Antonio went on to win the series in six games.

This time around, Stoudemire will expend far less energy on the defensive end of the floor as O'Neal is likely to draw the matchup against Duncan - arguably the best power forward of all-time.

"I think this time around, the Spurs are not coming into this game knowing that I'm undersized," Stoudemire said. "Now (O'Neal's) there, so he's going to take up that size differential. It used to be two 7-footers vs. me and Shawn Marion in the paint, but now we have (O'Neal). It's definitely going to be a difference."

While the 36-year-old O'Neal is no longer the player he once was, he brings a wealth of playoff experience to the Suns as well as four NBA championships - three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one as a member of the Miami Heat.

But, the Spurs are still the defending champions and have won three championships in the last five years on the strength of a core of players, not just Duncan.

The leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili also has been a legitimate MVP candidate this season.

The Argentine has battled a groin injury down the stretch of the season but appears to be returning to health after some time off. With former Phoenix forward Shawn Marion gone in the trade for O'Neal, it will be interesting to see who contends with Ginobili's relentless forays into the paint.

Tony Parker, who was the NBA Finals MVP last season, has torched defenses with his ability to drive the lane and score. However, things won't be so easy in Game One as he'll be guarded closely by two-time regular season MVP Steve Nash.