Shaq, JKidd and the West

So now the Suns have added Shaq, the Lakers got Gasol, San Antonio didn't need to add anything and Mark Cuban ran out to get Jason Kidd. To be honest, when I first heard this trade was about to happen (how can something be "about to happen" for more than a week anyway?), I wasn't that excited about it. It seemed the Mavs were giving up an awful lot to add old legs and a poor shooter. My bad.
I have seen bits of the first two games since the Kidd trade and the Mavs look like they are having fun. Kidd's passing is as good as advertised. When the trade happened, pundits used phrases like "able to get the ball to teammates where they want it" to describe Kidd's ability. Until that happened the last two games, I hadn't realized what a poor passing team the Mavs were. I also thought, "They need to learn to catch the ball or they will be losing some teeth."
Shaq's debut week was every bit as impressive and I think Phoenix is pretty excited, too. Like many, I wondered if he would slow the team down. Seems not, the man is still capable at times of being an animal rebounding. Amare is going to LOVE being freed to do the things he does so well and Nash is still sick. The Suns are a very very good team.
I hate the Lakers. But they also look very good...Kobe Bryant still irritates me somehow, even though he is an incredible player.
New Orleans? Hmm. Let's see how they do now that the big boys have decided to get serious. Even Houston is turning it on now. I predict the Hornets will fade.
Oh, and for your fans of the Eastern Conference that happen to read this (i.e, Wake)? Seems the luck o' the Irish is running out when the boys in the green shirts take the floor against really good teams. I see Paul Pierce was his usual self last night. The "new" Celtics looked alot like the old Celtics (and I don't mean those of the Bird era (or before).
Y'all have a great day. I'm going to build a community garden.