Who defended prime Shaq the best ?

[Sakkreth]

It's known that Shaq was unstoppable in his prime, but who defended him best in his prime ?

I might be biased, but this comes to mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2qE8cMCMw&feature=player_embedded#at=413

[Mr. Jabbar]

big ben

[Norcaliblunt]

Sabonis

[Fatal9]

Sabonis
This. Only one with the size to even consider dealing with him.

[thomaspynchon]

80 yr Sabonis.

Prime Sabonis would have absolutely raped Shaq

[greensmoke21]

Ben wallace played great defense against him in the 2004 finals but wish we could have seen a prime sabonis and prime shaq go at it :bowdown:

[Maestro33]

Rodman

[Scoooter]

"What is Rick Fox thinking? ...he's just out there hacking, not even being a defensive player." Love Bill Walton. :lol

Too bad we never got to see a young Sabonis in the NBA. From what I've heard he was huge, skilled, and smart.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Probably Sabonis, though it certainly wasn't single coverage. I can't remember a guy seeing more double/triple teams than Shaq in the 2000 WCF.

And Ben? No, not sure why someone would mention the 2004 finals when Shaq wasn't having many problems scoring and that series, and while I don't consider 2004 to be Shaq's prime, Yao gave Shaq a lot more trouble than Ben did by that point.

[Miserio]

80 yr Sabonis.

Prime Sabonis would have absolutely raped Shaq
Prime Sabonis was BEAST but he wasn't better than Shaq.

[Eldrunko247]

Ostertag...big dumb guys who would just stand there with their hands up. Shaq only had a few go to moves and if you took those away it was hard for him to adjust. Shaq is overrated when it came to skill set. Forgot about Big Ben wallets-him.

[moe94]

80 yr Sabonis.

Prime Sabonis would have absolutely raped ShaqLOL

The myth of prime Sabonis is more ridiculous than Jordan and Wilt combined.

[Skywalker]

prime sabonis would have raped shaq? wtf? he's got duncan's ability with dwights athleticism and yao's size I guess cuz that's the only kind of player who'd "rape" prime shaq

[Orlando Magic]

Krispy Kreme. Not even joking.

[Sakkreth]

prime sabonis would have raped shaq? wtf? he's got duncan's ability with dwights athleticism and yao's size I guess cuz that's the only kind of player who'd "rape" prime shaq

And that was pretty much what he was except not as tall as yao, but better passer.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Ostertag...big dumb guys who would just stand there with their hands up. Shaq only had a few go to moves and if you took those away it was hard for him to adjust. Shaq is overrated when it came to skill set. Forgot about Big Ben wallets-him.

:oldlol: How many centers had better footwork or passing skills than Shaq? As far as low post skills, he was great.

[Sakkreth]

:oldlol: How many centers had better footwork or passing skills than Shaq? As far as low post skills, he was great.

Bolded this for a reason, for such a giant his footwork was unbelievable.

[dirkdiggler41]

Sabonis was big enough to guard shaq. The big differense between Sabo and other defenders was that he made Shaq work on defense. Shaq never liked to go outside to guard big shooters or defend anyone for that matter. Sabonis was huge and at the same time had a good 3 point shoot and amazing passing skills. Usally the centers Shaq played against would not effect the game on the offense and on defense was just a big body.

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

Derick Coleman

[Harison]

Nobody could stop Shaq, but he himself said Sabonis defended him the best.

[Toizumi]

Sabonis was big enough to guard shaq. The big differense between Sabo and other defenders was that he made Shaq work on defense. Shaq never liked to go outside to guard big shooters or defend anyone for that matter. Sabonis was huge and at the same time had a good 3 point shoot and amazing passing skills. Usally the centers Shaq played against would not effect the game on the offense and on defense was just a big body.

That is also true. It was mentioned in this thread before, but Shaq was doubled pretty much everytime he got the ball. The Blazers played solid team defense (2000 WCF) and I remember Pippen especially providing help every time Shaq got the ball down low.

I don't know how well Olajuwon defended a young Shaq (still haven't watched those finals games) and what he could've possible done against prime Shaq.
In those prime days of Shaq... if I had too, I'd probably pick Mutombo to guard him.. eventhough Shaq destroyed him, it looked like he at least somewhat bothered him one on one :confusedshrug:

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

Nobody could stop Shaq, but he himself said Sabonis defended him the best.
I don't think that Shaq even know who Sabonis is

[madmax]

I remember smaller and smart PF's like Rodman doing a pretty nice job against him in his younger days (usually they would just let him bully his way into the paint and then he would stumble or travel when they backed down off him). As for prime Shaq, nobody could guard him 1 on 1 for obvious reasons (one of them being ref treatment, which allowed him to elbow and push his opponents in the paint). Overall he was a beast at a center position, just like Lebron is a beast SF.

[Harison]

I don't think that Shaq even know who Sabonis is
More like you dont know who Sabonis is.

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

More like you dont know who Sabonis is.
Arvidas Sabonis,thorn ligaments guy?
Arvidas against 6-6 white guy way before his 'clashes' with Diesel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X12w-0Z7A8A)

[Harison]

Arvidas Sabonis,thorn ligaments guy?
Arvidas against 6-6 white guy way before his 'clashes' with Diesel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X12w-0Z7A8A)
What that dunk has to do with Shaq and Sabonis? Shaq said in interview Sabonis defended him the best, yet you say Shaq didnt knew who Sabonis is? :rolleyes:

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

What that dunk has to do with Shaq and Sabonis? Shaq said in interview Sabonis defended him the best, yet you say Shaq didnt knew who Sabonis is? :rolleyes:
Sabonis couldn't guard European players ,he was heavily injured since beginning of '90.So how he could defend most dominant center in the game?
Where did you red that interview ?In 'Oregon Fantasy Tribune'?

[Sakkreth]

:applause:
Sabonis couldn't guard European players ,he was heavily injured since beginning of '90.So how he could defend most dominant center in the game?
Where did you red that interview ?In 'Oregon Fantasy Tribune'?

That's what I call real trolling :applause:

[aj242]

What that dunk has to do with Shaq and Sabonis? Shaq said in interview Sabonis defended him the best, yet you say Shaq didnt knew who Sabonis is? :rolleyes:

No Disrespect but I know for damn sure Shaq didn't say that about Sabonis. He constantly ridiculed Sabonis about needing a double team in 2000 especially!

For the hip hop heads who remember this episode of Rap City where Shaq said Anthony Mason guarded him the best. He said had no problems with any centers offensively. He said short squatty guys i.e. (Mason) gave him problems.

My personal opinion is David Robinson. He gave Dave some super facials but Dave held him under 30 more then Dream,Mourning,Ewing or any of the rest.

That's why I think he liked to needle Dave the most.

[Harison]

Sabonis couldn't guard European players ,he was heavily injured since beginning of '90.So how he could defend most dominant center in the game?
Where did you red that interview ?In 'Oregon Fantasy Tribune'?
I can find poster dunks on all elite defenders, does that show they cant guard? Sabonis was solid though not elite defender, but even old and broken down Sabas was 7-3, huge and smart player, therefore Shaq had to work harder than vs smaller players. And that interview was when Shaq was facing Blazers, its a common knowledge. Maybe you're too young to remember, and yet to claim Shaq doesnt even know who Sabonis is... you seem like a troll.

[ShaqAttack3234]

No Disrespect but I know for damn sure Shaq didn't say that about Sabonis. He constantly ridiculed Sabonis about needing a double team in 2000 especially!

For the hip hop heads who remember this episode of Rap City where Shaq said Anthony Mason guarded him the best. He said had no problems with any centers offensively. He said short squatty guys i.e. (Mason) gave him problems.

My personal opinion is David Robinson. He gave Dave some super facials but Dave held him under 30 more then Dream,Mourning,Ewing or any of the rest.

That's why I think he liked to needle Dave the most.

I also remember Shaq ridiculing Sabonis for that reason, talking about how he was his size and couldn't guard him by himself, or something to that effect.

But what Sabonis did do was provide a guy big enough so that Shaq couldn't just get position right in front of the basket before he caught the ball. Instead, he'd have to catch the ball further and that allowed other Portland defenders to come when he put the ball on the floor, they wouldn't allow him more than 1 dribble without him being surrounded. And yeah, Pippen was key to that strategy. It really was a team effort, I can't count how many times Bob Costas said "and Portland holds a team meeting around O'Neal" in the 2000 WCF.:oldlol:

[brownmamba00]

I can't count how many times Bob Costas said "and Portland holds a team meeting around O'Neal" in the 2000 WCF.:oldlol:
:oldlol:

[swi7ch]

His weight.

No person who ever lived would've guarded a 7-feet tall, 300+ pound center with a quickness of a small forward.

Nobody.

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

I can find poster dunks on all elite defenders, does that show they cant guard? Sabonis was solid though not elite defender, but even old and broken down Sabas was 7-3, huge and smart player, therefore Shaq had to work harder than vs smaller players. And that interview was when Shaq was facing Blazers, its a common knowledge. Maybe you're too young to remember, and yet to claim Shaq doesnt even know who Sabonis is... you seem like a troll.
Common knowledge in Lithuania maybe.
If you ask Shaq which player guarded him the best i can put money that Sabonis wouldn't be on Top 20 list.

[necya]

Sabonis before injuries was a totaly different player people have seen in the nba. i'm talking about the guy in 1986-87.

best defender on Shaq ? i don't really know, Mutombo gave him a hard time in his first 5 years.
one thing is sure, you have to be in great shape if you wanna play Shaq !

[Harison]

Common knowledge in Lithuania maybe.
If you ask Shaq which player guarded him the best i can put money that Sabonis wouldn't be on Top 20 list.
So Shaq knows who Sabonis is? Make up your mind, mr. troll :oldlol:

[ukplayer4]

zo always seemed to me the one that would contain him the best

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

So Shaq knows who Sabonis is? Make up your mind, mr. troll :oldlol:
?Is that matter?I wrote that just to inline the total irrelevance of mentioning Arvidas Sabonis on this topic.
When someone opens up topic about'Big Moustashe Guys who Could be Great If They Wasn't Injured' i would be first to post.

[PowerGlove]

Dikembe's face would always lock down Shaq's elbow.

[ShaqAttack3234]

zo always seemed to me the one that would contain him the best

Nah, Shaq averaged over 30/12/3/3 on 57% shooting for his career vs Zo.

[SwayDizzle]

It's known that Shaq was unstoppable in his prime, but who defended him best in his prime ?

I might be biased, but this comes to mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2qE8cMCMw&feature=player_embedded#at=413

thanks for that, ended up watching the whole game again, such a good game. :cheers:

[az00m]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK3ky-c2TPc

This guy

[Eat Like A Bosh]

Nobody really. Nobody could defend him without help.

[8BeastlyXOIAD]

Wow!! Nobody mention the free throw line?

[az00m]

:(

[Big#50]

David Robinson. He got to Shaq the most. I think it was the strength he had. Shaq would get hurt by DROB's fouls the most.

[Bigsmoke]

ok ok I get it I get it.

Arvidas Sabonis >> Shaq and Hakeem

[Round Mound]

Crippled Sabonis did it pretty well

But a 1986 total healthy Sabonis as a Top 5 Center of All Time

[gengiskhan]

1995 NBA finals

Just watch how Hakeem raped Shaq from front back & center in a 4 game sweep.

case closed.

[ace23]

Whoever fouled him the most...


Mission Impossible:

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.aolnews.com/media/2010/08/shaquille-oneal-ft-0810-307.gif

[28renyoy]

Kobe defended prime Shaq the best

/thread

[Dizzle-2k7]

Nobody could guard Shaq. Most hated "basketball" player of all time. (note: kobe might be most hated "person")

Too strong, too agile, too much gorilla mode.

But, prime vs prime, if I want one player to try and CONTAIN Shaq, I bring in the greatest defensive player of all time. Tim Duncan.
http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/shaq_td.jpg

[magnax1]

The Duncan/Robinson tag team probably did the best, Sabonis probably second.

[SinJackal]

prime sabonis would have raped shaq? wtf? he's got duncan's ability with dwights athleticism and yao's size I guess cuz that's the only kind of player who'd "rape" prime shaq

This is probably the biggest overration of a player I've ever seen in my life. I hope you were being sarcastic.

[lilgodfather1]

there were only two things that could stop Prime Shaq Daddy. The first one is Kobe, muffaka wouldn't pass him the damn ball half the time. The second thing would be food, dude ate himself into being huge.

[Teanett]

This is probably the biggest overration of a player I've ever seen in my life. I hope you were being sarcastic.

it's not. late 80's sabonis was a beast.
david robinson still has nightmares from the 88 olympics.

[ThaSwagg3r]

The Duncan/Robinson tag team probably did the best, Sabonis probably second.
Yea just go watch the 2001 WCF and watch how Duncan and Robinson shut down Shaq. :rolleyes: :facepalm

[RoseCity07]

I thought Sabonis did the best because no one stopped Shaq. I just wish Sabonis would have been in his prime. It would have been truly amazing.

Sabonis was a skilled player as well as quick and strong. I would have loved seeing Shaq try to guard Sabonis on the perimeter.

[O BaByShaQ]

80 yr Sabonis.

Prime Sabonis would have absolutely raped Shaq

Pure ignorance

[aj242]

Yea just go watch the 2001 WCF and watch how Duncan and Robinson shut down Shaq. :rolleyes: :facepalm

He did whore them that series but in general they did the best. I think Shaq had his least 30 point games against the Spurs. That's why I think he liked to needle them any chance he could.

Sabonis,Dream,Ewing,Mourning & anybody else "offensively" he had no problems with.

[Big#50]

Yea just go watch the 2001 WCF and watch how Duncan and Robinson shut down Shaq. :rolleyes: :facepalm
One great game in that four game series. The Spurs didn't even try from game one. I remember that series like yesterday. Duncan and Robinson were the only ones to defend Shaq with some success.

[Big#50]

Nobody could guard Shaq. Most hated "basketball" player of all time. (note: kobe might be most hated "person")

Too strong, too agile, too much gorilla mode.

But, prime vs prime, if I want one player to try and CONTAIN Shaq, I bring in the greatest defensive player of all time. Tim Duncan.
http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/shaq_td.jpg
Tim used his base to defend Shaq. Amazing how he could contain a 350lbs monster. That is 100 lbs more.

[LBJ4MVP23]

Hakeem is my favorite center ever, but he did't stop shaq... at all.

Shaq put up god-like numbers vs Hakeem, however, and this is what makes Hakeem the man, he put up BETTER numbers than Shaq. Neither could stop the other, but Hakeem just straight up out played him.

However that was not a peak shaq. It was definitely a prime Shaq, but not Peak. His peak was his time in LA, and that Shaq outplays Hakeem imo.

[$LakerGold]

Sabonis Was Trash...

I say Duncan or Ben Wallace.

[LBJ4MVP23]

Sabonis Was Trash...

I say Duncan or Ben Wallace.

Its always the Laker/Kobe fans who are the most uneducated and repulsive basketball fans. Generally bad human beings as well.

[B]

Its always the Laker/Kobe fans who are the most uneducated and repulsive basketball fans. Generally bad human beings as well.
Just put him on ignore like everyone else does.

[10x91= 5 Rings]

Shaqs Kryptonite
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i366/sportlistikz/AP9510050975.jpg

[Jasper]

Dream schooled him the first few years of Shaq's career.
Also Ewing ... and defended him well.

We are talking about giants here in a war.

Sabonis (portland) used his body well , but forced Shaq to play outside of his comfort zone in lthe high post ... Sabonis took many high post pick and roll and high post jumpers.
(Shaq felt uncomfortable about it , because he couldn't defend and rebound drawn from the hoop)

My pick thou is Ewing.

[kumquat]

Sabonis did a nice job of holding him up in the post. As an earlier poster said a lot of big dumb guys who just put their hands had decent success against him.

[jlauber]

6-11, 285 lb. EDDIE CURRY...

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=curryed01&p2=onealsh01

In 13 career games H2H, from 2002-2008,...

Shaq playing 26.8 mpg, ... 15.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and shot .529 from the field.
Curry playing 23.5 mpg, ... 12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and shot .533 from the field.

Curry even had a higher HIGH game against Shaq (Shaq's high game against Curry was only 26 while Curry's high against Shaq was 28.)

[ThaSwagg3r]

One great game in that four game series. The Spurs didn't even try from game one. I remember that series like yesterday. Duncan and Robinson were the only ones to defend Shaq with some success.
Shaq vs. the Spurs in 2001 WCF

Game 1: 28 points, 11/22, 50% shooting
Game 2: 19 points, 8/21, 38% shooting
Game 3: 35 points, 16/23, 70% shooting
Game 4: 26 points, 11/19, 58% shooting

27 ppg under 54% shooting.

You know someone is dominant when THAT is considered success.

[aj242]

Dream schooled him the first few years of Shaq's career.
Also Ewing ... and defended him well.

We are talking about giants here in a war.

Sabonis (portland) used his body well , but forced Shaq to play outside of his comfort zone in lthe high post ... Sabonis took many high post pick and roll and high post jumpers.
(Shaq felt uncomfortable about it , because he couldn't defend and rebound drawn from the hoop)

My pick thou is Ewing.

No disrespect. I truly mean none at all. However after Shaq's rookie season. He whored Ewing to the point I almost felt Pat was intimidated by him. Say what you want about Pat but he never seemed to back down for anybody except Shaq. His body language said I want no part of Shaq on the offensive end.

[aj242]

Shaq vs. the Spurs in 2001 WCF

Game 1: 28 points, 11/22, 50% shooting
Game 2: 19 points, 8/21, 38% shooting
Game 3: 35 points, 16/23, 70% shooting
Game 4: 26 points, 11/19, 58% shooting

27 ppg under 54% shooting.

You know someone is dominant when THAT is considered success.

San Antonion quit by the 2nd quarter of game 3. Kobe was the body blows while Shaq took the chin & heart. Still don't know if that was a true representation though.

[az00m]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2369092507_fceb0987a5.jpg

[$LakerGold]

Its always the Laker/Kobe fans who are the most uneducated and repulsive basketball fans. Generally bad human beings as well.

Uhmmm.. Freedom of speech dick wad?

And Yeah Keep Riding Lebrons Dick.

[$LakerGold]

[QUOTE=B

[Disaprine]

nobody. :lol

if i had to pick it would be vlade divac, his flopping got into shaq's head.

[Smoke117]

LOL

The myth of prime Sabonis is more ridiculous than Jordan and Wilt combined.

Not at all. The fact that Sabonis was as good as he was coming into the league at 31 with two bum knees and no athleticism anymore is telling how good he would have been if he had come into the league in his early to mid 20s. I know some people do overrate what he could have been, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would have been a legit all star for many years had he come into the league when he was younger. Either way, he's still the best damn passing center I've ever seen.

[Big#50]

Shaq vs. the Spurs in 2001 WCF

Game 1: 28 points, 11/22, 50% shooting
Game 2: 19 points, 8/21, 38% shooting
Game 3: 35 points, 16/23, 70% shooting
Game 4: 26 points, 11/19, 58% shooting

27 ppg under 54% shooting.

You know someone is dominant when THAT is considered success.
Shaq was that big and good. When I said he had only one great game I was speaking by his standards. Remember he was wrecking teams for 36/17 back then. It wasn't a knock or anything. He is my favorite player of all time along Duncan.

[ThaRegul8r]

Ben? No, not sure why someone would mention the 2004 finals when Shaq wasn't having many problems scoring and that series, and while I don't consider 2004 to be Shaq's prime, Yao gave Shaq a lot more trouble than Ben did by that point.

Shaq had 34 points on 13-for-16 shooting and 11 rebounds in Game 1, and 36 points on 16-for-21 shooting and 20 rebounds in Game 4, but apart from those two games, Wallace held Shaq to 21 points on 51.1 percent shooting and 7.7 rebounds (:eek: simply disgusting for someone that physically imposing :wtf:). If my center can do that for three out of five games, and we win in five, I'll take that.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Shaq had 34 points on 13-for-16 shooting and 11 rebounds in Game 1, and 36 points on 16-for-21 shooting and 20 rebounds in Game 4, but apart from those two games, Wallace held Shaq to 21 points on 51.1 percent shooting and 7.7 rebounds (:eek: simply disgusting for someone that physically imposing :wtf:). If my center can do that for three out of five games, and we win in five, I'll take that.

Shaq certainly wasn't the reason the Lakers lost, look at the production of his teammates who played over 20 mpg that series.

Kobe- 22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 TO, 38.1 FG%, 46.2 mpg
Payton- 4.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.4 apg, 32.1 FG%, 33.6 mpg
Malone- 5 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 33.3 FG%, 30.5 mpg
Devean George- 5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.6 apg, 39.3 FG%, 20.8 mpg
Fisher- 6.4 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 30.6 FG%, 20.2 mpg

In fact, the only Laker besides Shaq who shot over 40% that series was Rick Fox who played a total of 30 minutes that series.

And the 2 huge games that Shaq had were winnable games, they were in those games, and if he had gotten even a decent amount of help, they probably win both of them. That was his biggest offensive series of those playoffs, and he did average almost 27/11 on 63% shooting for the series, of course if you take away his 2 big games in a short 5 game series, his numbers will look significantly worse, but it's not like he only had 2 good games either, he played well in the Lakers game 2 win.

[eliteballer]

It was really teams with a lot of bigs to throw at him ie Portland and San Antonio to try and wear him down. One underrated defender was Brian Grant, smaller guys with low centers of gravity sometimes had some success.

and Sabonis was roided up in his prime, hence the injuries.

[blacknapalm]

It was really teams with a lot of bigs to throw at him ie Portland and San Antonio to try and wear him down. One underrated defender was Brian Grant, smaller guys with low centers of gravity sometimes had some success.

and Sabonis was roided up in his prime, hence the injuries.

heard these rumors before but never saw them substantiated. given olympic testing, it's also a bit suspect. even if he did, i think it's lame to just point one guy out since there's the possibility of dozens of high profile players who used them at one point or another. is the achilles tied to roid use? he also developed a good shot and i really don't see how roids will assist that. if anything, roids can hinder it unless we are talking about range among long range shooters and saving your legs.

but hey, i agree with you on grant. he did all he could and he could fluster shaq at times.

[ThaRegul8r]

Shaq certainly wasn't the reason the Lakers lost

Show me where in my quote I made any mention of Shaq being the reason why the Lakers lost.

:confusedshrug:

[ShaqAttack3234]

Show me where in my quote I made any mention of Shaq being the reason why the Lakers lost.

:confusedshrug:


If my center can do that for three out of five games, and we win in five, I'll take that.

That implies that Ben's defense on Shaq was a major factor in the Pistons winning that series,

If Shaq even gets a decent amount of help and plays no differently than he did(putting up 27/11 on 63% shooting), nobody is talking about Ben's defense on Shaq. In fact, Shaq would have likely been getting a ton of praise in that scenario.

Not that Ben didn't contribute a lot to that Pistons victory, but containing Shaq? Absolutely not that series, and this wasn't prime Shaq either. In fact, when he had declined even more significantly in 2006, he had a monster series vs Wallace and the Pistons, so why anybody would mention Wallace as the best when others such as Sabonis contained a much better version of Shaq more is beyond me.

The Brian Grant mention from a couple of posters is puzzling to me as well. It was considered essential for the Blazers to have Sabonis on the court. I believe they showed statistics several times during the 2000 WCF of Shaq's success with Grant on the court and it was significantly better than when Sabonis was on the court because it was clear Grant was overmatched.

[LeFraud Shames]

Obviously the best physical match for the Big Shamrock would be this year's version of LeBron James.

GOAT Defender, GOAT Player according to Jordan's OWN teammate

:bowdown:

We are not worthy!!!

[Big#50]

It was really teams with a lot of bigs to throw at him ie Portland and San Antonio to try and wear him down. One underrated defender was Brian Grant, smaller guys with low centers of gravity sometimes had some success.

and Sabonis was roided up in his prime, hence the injuries.
Grant? Come one now. Dude had no chance. Malik Rose gave Shaq trouble as much as any center ever. But in reality nobody could stop a 350 monster that was allowed to bully his way in with elbows. Shaq dropped his shoulder into people more than any player ever. He was also allowed to travel all the ****ing time. He was a Laker and we all know who tue refs favor. Prime Shaq had immunity against offensive fouls being called on him. Not a knock on him. I enjoyed seeing him rag doll players.

[MoBe1Kanobi]

Growing up I always thought Jahidi White locked up Shaq better than the rest of the league since he was the only other center as purely massive as Shaq.

[feyki]

Admiral .

[StephHamann]

It's known that Shaq was unstoppable in his prime, but who defended him best in his prime ?

I might be biased, but this comes to mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2qE8cMCMw&feature=player_embedded#at=413

Shaq's biggest enemy was his laziness, if he had the work ethic of Tim Duncan he could have been the clear cut GOAT

[AirFederer]

Kobe

[Rosewood]

https://youtu.be/1ZhIJjJOUJ8 Duncan

[sportjames23]

Admiral .


Why you bump a five year old thread, breh?


The answer is Kobe. See the 2004 Finals.

[BuffaloBill]

How many pages went by before David Robinson was mentioned?

[Kawhi]

How many pages went by before David Robinson was mentioned?
Remember this one though? Admiral got destroyed right here. :oldlol:

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/VS/Comparision%20n%20Similarity/SHAQ/7849f651.gif~original (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/nbacardDOTnet/media/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/VS/Comparision%20n%20Similarity/SHAQ/7849f651.gif.html)

[Im Still Ballin]

Eddy Curry

I am serious

[sportjames23]

Eddy Curry

I am serious


No, you're not.

[sportjames23]

Remember this one though? Admiral got destroyed right here. :oldlol:

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/VS/Comparision%20n%20Similarity/SHAQ/7849f651.gif~original (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/nbacardDOTnet/media/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/VS/Comparision%20n%20Similarity/SHAQ/7849f651.gif.html)


Shaq had some savage dunks on the Admiral.

[Im Still Ballin]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=curryed01&p2=onealsh01

Eddy Curry deuced it out with late prime Shaq and did amazingly well

Best center ever

[AirFederer]

Who thinks Wilt could do something like this?
Inb4 "that would be a travel" gtfo
https://media.giphy.com/media/OQD64LtSPYqdy/giphy.gif

[Im Still Ballin]

Find me someone that did a better job than Eddy Curry

Find me someone james

I DARE YOU.

[feyki]

Why you bump a five year old thread, breh?


The answer is Kobe. See the 2004 Finals.


Cause i want share my opinion about this thread :confusedshrug: .

[Elosha]

Find me someone that did a better job than Eddy Curry

Find me someone james

I DARE YOU.

Need context here. First, 13 games from 2002-2008 is a fairly small size sample, and even in 2002 Shaq was on the downhill of his prime. After 2004, Shaq's prime was very clearly over, so all of the games from 2005-2008, you are talking about a post-prime and diminished Shaq.

Also Curry only played 6 minutes in the first game in 2002, so that game really says almost nothing about how he defended Shaq. Clearly he did do pretty well against an aging Shaq overall for these games, but I think it would likely be far different story against a 95-2004 Shaq.

TBH, Curry was considered a somewhat talented but troubled player. I doubt he was ever much on Shaq's radar, no one was ever seriously claiming Curry was a truly great center or threatening Shaq's legacy. Shaq was getting old, tired, and probably just was relatively disinterested in the games or his personal match ups with Curry.

[Showtime2001]

Ben Wallace.

[pastis]

LOL

The myth of prime Sabonis is more ridiculous than Jordan and Wilt combined.


:applause: :applause:

[97 bulls]

It was Dennis Rodman. And there's video proof. The problem is that Rodman could only do it in spurts.

[Euroleague]

Yao Ming, and it's not even close.

[Odinn]

When Shaq faced Big Ben, he was at the end of his great years. And they faced 4 times in the playoffs (from 2004 to 2007, every year) and Shaq still averaged 22 ppg on 61% fg. I don't think this can qualify as good when we think of Big Ben's reputation.

DRob did a good job against Shaq. Still, it can sound biased but I'd say it was Duncan. Go and watch back games from early 2000s, especially in the playoffs. When they were matched-up Duncan did anything can be done such a powerhouse. Also, Yao Ming should be mentioned as well.

[Euroleague]

And that was pretty much what he was except not as tall as yao, but better passer.

Sabonis is more overrated than even Chamberlain. I saw Sabonis' prime in the 80s, and he was never considered then to be the player in Europe that guys like Petrovic and Galis were, and not the same as guys like Dalipagic and Schmidt either.

In the 90s, players like Myers, Danilovic, and Kukoc were considered better than him in Europe, and at times, he was considered by some to be the second best player on Real Madrid, after Arlauckas.

Actually, I remember that Tarpley was pretty much almost unanimously thought of as the best big man in Europe in the 90s when he was playing there, and not Sabonis.

All of these Sabonis myths started with the ridiculous hype marketing machine that is called the National Basketball Association.

Sabonis is probably the second best Europen center ever, after Kresimir Cosic, but the Sabonis NBA hype nonsense marketing claims he was the greatest basketball player that ever existed, and that "injuries" and the "Soviet Union" simply "prevented him from being a combination of peak Shaq and peak Hakeem for 15 years in the NBA."

I actually think Sabonis' myths, legends, and tall tales are even more absurd than Chamberlain's myths, legends, and tall tales.

[jstern]

This is a curiosity question, not based on the topic. But Euroleague, I thought he was a pretty hated guy on ISH, with lots of red bars? Am I right? And if so, what happened to suddenly get so many greens?

I mean, if I'm correct, he tries to promote the Euroleague, and puts down the NBA, which antagonizes lots of the posters, and at the same time I don't see any support from other posters standing with him.

[feyki]

Ben Wallace.


2003 was last year of Shaq's prime . Admiral had some big D on Shaq at 99-03 Playoffs .

[Kobe_6/8]

Probably Dennis Rodman. 2003 Shaq was past prime, but I think he had the most trouble with Yao at that point.

http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4f565d7beab8eadb29000015/shaq.jpg

So dominant.

[AngelEyes]

Nobody could really defend this big mofo in his prime. Some guys could do an ok job with help from teammates but mostly he was virtually unstoppable.

[aj1987]

https://youtu.be/1ZhIJjJOUJ8 Duncan
Did you even watch the video? Watch the entire series, actually. Shaq was doubled and tripled on almost every play. Dude was quadrupled 5 times a game minimum. Yet, he still WRECKED them. ~25/15/4 on 55% (going off of memory) against that kind of coverage?



Ben Wallace.
Stick to melting down, warriorfan.

[zeerghit]

Sabonis more overrated than even Chamberlain. I saw Sabonis prime in the 80s, and he was never considered then to be the player that guys like Petrovic and Galis were, and not the same as guys like Dalipagic and Schmidt either.

In the 90s players like Myers, Danilovic, and Kukoc were considered better than him in Europe, and at times, he was considered by some to be the second best player on Real Madrid, after Arlauckas.

Actually, I remember that Tarpley was pretty much almost unanimously thought of as the best big man in Europe in the 80s when he was playing there, and not Sabonis.

All of these Sabonis myths started with the ridiculous hype marketing machine that is called the National Basketball Association.

Sabonis is probably the second best Europen center ever, after Kresimir Cosic, but they Sabonis NBA hype nonse marketing claims he was the greatest basketball player thast ever existed, and that "injuries" and the "Soviet Union" simply "prevented him from being a combination of peak Shaq and peak Hakeem for 15 years in the NBA."

I actually think Sabonis' myths, legends, and tall tales are even more absurd than Chamberlain's myths, legends, and tall tales.

"After the 1994

[Vragrant]

It was Dennis Rodman. And there's video proof. The problem is that Rodman could only do it in spurts.

Yup, Rodman used to drive Shaq nuts.

[90sgoat]

Shaq himself said Rik Smits.

[Euroleague]

heard these rumors before but never saw them substantiated. given olympic testing, it's also a bit suspect. even if he did, i think it's lame to just point one guy out since there's the possibility of dozens of high profile players who used them at one point or another. is the achilles tied to roid use? he also developed a good shot and i really don't see how roids will assist that. if anything, roids can hinder it unless we are talking about range among long range shooters and saving your legs.

but hey, i agree with you on grant. he did all he could and he could fluster shaq at times.

It's common knowledge that USA, Soviet, Yugoslavian, Czech, East German, and Lithuanian players were all roided up big time back then.

It's also common knowledge that in more recent years, Argentine and Spanish players were roided up, along with Russian and American players.

[Euroleague]

"After the 1994–95 European season Portland's then-general manager Bob Whitsitt asked the Blazers team physician to look at Sabonis' X-rays. Illustrating the impact of Sabonis' numerous injuries, He said that Arvydas could qualify for a handicapped parking spot based on the X-ray alone."

And this is 100% proof that all the Sabonis myths and legends are just as ridiculous, or even moreso than the Wilt legends and myths.

Sabonis was never even remotely close to as good in Europe as the NBA has claimed he was all these years. He was like a top 5 player in Europe in the 80s and 90s, but that was it. 2nd best European center of all time also (after Cosic), not the best one like NBA claims.

Even on the recent documentary the NBA made about Sabonis numerous NBA historians, coaches, managers, executives, etc., claimed Sabonis was "the best player in the world by far" in the 1980s, and a "7-3 version of prime Larry Bird".

If ANYONE believes any of this shit is true, then they have an IQ below 65.

It's just a bunch of bullshit. Fact is, players like Galis, Petrovic, Dalipagic, Schmidt, and San Epifanio were doing much more in the 80s in Europe than Sabonis was.

NBA marketing made up fantasies about him, just like they do with so many other players. Remember that the NBA marketing schemes claimed that Ricky Rubio, a guy averaging 5 points and 3 assists a game in Europe, was "the best Euroleague player of all time".

It's amazing that so many NBA fans still fall for such ludicrous marketing bullshit to this day.

Finally, the doctor you cited was clearly using something called hyperbole, and not actually being serious.

[deja vu]

Yao Ming, and it's not even close.
Yeah rookie Yao rejected Shaq like 5x in their very first meeting. :lol

Too bad he had ankles made of glass.

[JohnFreeman]

Himself

[zeerghit]

[QUOTE=Euroleague]And this is 100% proof that all the Sabonis myths and legends are just as ridiculous, or even moreso than the Wilt legends and myths.

im not gonna argue with idiot, have a nice day moron.

[Chadwin]

Yao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaEHa_SXTNs

I couldn't believe my eyes seeing Shaq get rejected like that.

[DonDadda59]

Sabonis and Duncan/Robinson. Prime Ewing gave young, hyper athlete Shaq serious fits.

[PP34Deuce]

Shaq this past all star weekend said players who were smaller than him gave him more problems.

He stated traditional Big men were never a problem because he was so strong and quicker than those guys.

He said Charles Oakley used to give him problems. Ben Wallace actually made him work for his points so I'd say big athletic men will always struggle with smaller compact players.

[Sarcastic]

The only person that could stop Shaq from scoring was Kobe coming into his prime. GOAT tier ball denial.

[Euroleague]

[QUOTE=Euroleague]And this is 100% proof that all the Sabonis myths and legends are just as ridiculous, or even moreso than the Wilt legends and myths.

im not gonna argue with idiot, have a nice day moron.

Your bullshit Sabonis myths got torn to shreds by my facts. So yeah, take your ball and go home. Maybe you and CavsFTW can start your own "Sabonis versus Wilt" myths thread...

[DoctorP]

Ben Wallace.

[zeerghit]

[QUOTE=zeerghit]

Your bullshit Sabonis myths got torn to shreds by my facts. So yeah, take your ball and go home. Maybe you and CavsFTW can start your own "Sabonis versus Wilt" myths thread...

as i said before im not gonna argue with idiot, so go watch ur f*cking new sabonis by name papagianis or whatever who average 2ppg in euroleague u dumb f*ck

[andgar923]

No Stanley Roberts?

[Psileas]

With the exception of the 2001 playoffs, Mutombo quite easily.

[Mass Debator]

Free throw line and donuts

[Dro]

Shaq said Rik Smits is one of his toughest matchups because he's so tall and heavier than he looks. Not that Smits was ever a great defender, probably adequate at best. But this game is all about matchups, plus Shaq had to come out to defend Rik and Rik even held his own in the post too..

[kshutts1]

Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson. Those two probably combined to take more shots away from Shaq than any other 10 people combined.

[Nash]

Euroleague, give me your all time starting five. Pick freely from any player available in Europe and the NBA.

[inclinerator]

yao

[DrakeTheSnake]

Sabonis.

[DrakeTheSnake]

yao
Yao did great against past prime Shaq. Would have been a decent matchup prime vs prime, but never happened.

[riseagainst]

Kobe

[Showtime2001]

Stick to melting down, warriorfan.
What?

Talk about a troll living rent free in your pathetic mind...

:oldlol:

[HoopologyPhD]

Kobe

Beat me to it.

[aj1987]

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r494/Schmoopy72/Gifs%20from%20video/4626555retard.gif
:cheers:

[Showtime2001]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/im_retarded_quantum_leap.gif
:cheers:

[aj1987]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/im_retarded_quantum_leap.gif
Glad you finally admit it. :cheers:

[Showtime2001]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/im_retarded_quantum_leap.gif
You don't have to repeat yourself we already know. :cheers:

[aj1987]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/im_retarded_quantum_leap.gif
It's ok, little man. It's not your fault. Your mom shouldn't have been smoking crack in the first place. :cheers:

[Showtime2001]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/im_retarded_quantum_leap.gif
It's ok buddy it's not your fault your alcoholic mother dropped you on your head when you were a baby. :cheers:

[aj1987]

It's ok buddy it's not your fault my alcoholic mother dropped me on my head when I was a baby. :cheers:
:cheers:

Glad you are accepting it.

[Showtime2001]

It's ok, little man. It's not your fault. My mom shouldn't have been smoking crack when she had me in the first place. :cheers:
I know I agree but its ok buddy.

:cheers:

[bluechox2]

https://images.rapgenius.com/e5068d4ba6fa32747eb8752b0966d1ed.650x402x10.gif

[90sgoat]

Prime Sabonis would easily be the best player today. His game was made for this era.

Sabonis in the 80s and 90s lacked physicality and played further out more than what was standard in the NBA then.

Sabonis had a better passing game than Gasol, shot better from the outside/3 than Chris Bosh, was tall and long enough to guard every center on opposing team, large enough in his prime to grab 13-14 rebounds - grabbed 10 rpg as a 34 year old.

In short he would murder the league to the like of 28-14-7 on great efficiency.

[zeerghit]

Prime Sabonis would easily be the best player today. His game was made for this era.

Sabonis in the 80s and 90s lacked physicality and played further out more than what was standard in the NBA then.

Sabonis had a better passing game than Gasol, shot better from the outside/3 than Chris Bosh, was tall and long enough to guard every center on opposing team, large enough in his prime to grab 13-14 rebounds - grabbed 10 rpg as a 34 year old.

In short he would murder the league to the like of 28-14-7 on great efficiency.

this
just wanna add 10reb in 26min

[Euroleague]

Prime Sabonis would easily be the best player today. His game was made for this era.

Sabonis in the 80s and 90s lacked physicality and played further out more than what was standard in the NBA then.

Sabonis had a better passing game than Gasol, shot better from the outside/3 than Chris Bosh, was tall and long enough to guard every center on opposing team, large enough in his prime to grab 13-14 rebounds - grabbed 10 rpg as a 34 year old.

In short he would murder the league to the like of 28-14-7 on great efficiency.

So he would murder the league when he was injured 80 percent of the time?