Better Finals Performance 2000 Shaq vs. 2021 Giannis Antentokeompou

[Lebron23]

Shaq averaged 38 ppg, 16.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.0 spg, and 1.7 bpg vs. Indiana Pacers in 6 games

Giannis averaged 35.2 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 spg, and 1.8 spg vs. Phoenix Suns in 6 games


https://fadeawayworld.net/.image/t_share/MTkyMjA4NTc0ODA0NDAzNzU4/297483388_624648449150895_42310640449665776_n.jpg

[Axe]

Better Finals Performance 2000 Shaq vs. 2021 Giannis Antentokeompou
:crazysam:

[8Ball]

:crazysam:

Eh, close enuf :lol

[Carbine]

Watched both. Shaq clearly.

[nayte]

Eh, close enuf :lol

Haha the life as a LeBron Stan. Close enuf but not quite there

[HoopologyPhD]

:crazysam:

Take it easy on OP, speaking/writing is his least preferred mode of communication
1. Grunting
2. Gesticulating wildly
3. Tongue clicking and hooting

[Airupthere]

If you puts Shaq 2000 and Gainis 2021 on 1998 Utah Jazz, how much rings? Lol

[tontoz]

In b4 highwhey meltdown

[999Guy]

Giannis was getting hunted by Paul and Booker defensively in that series.

Offensively he was very good but he faced probably the lowest IQ big man to start in the finals in the past decade minimum in Ayton.

In general Giannis is not better at basketball than Shaq, especially offensively so a good assumption is to assume Shaq played better at their best. Though I wold t even say this was Gianni’s’ best. 2021 was a down year for his defense start to finish. He had his moments in game 6 though I must admit. But…that’s one game.

Shaq is just better on both ends here.

[dankok8]

There was a major difference in level of defense faced and to a lesser extent pace in the two finals.

2000: 103.6 Opponent DRtg, 91.5 Pace
2021: 111.3 Opponent DRtg, 95.5 Pace

Based on that I'd go with Shaq quite comfortably.

[BigShotBob]

Lebron never faced a prime Giannis so why are you propping him up

[hold this L]

There was a major difference in level of defense faced and to a lesser extent pace in the two finals.

2000: 103.6 Opponent DRtg, 91.5 Pace
2021: 111.3 Opponent DRtg, 95.5 Pace

Based on that I'd go with Shaq quite comfortably.
Not only that but they did everything they could to stop Shaq together and couldn't. Monty's dumbass strategy was to let Giannis on an island with Ayton so the rest were slowed down. :facepalm

[L.Kizzle]

Giannis because no one even thought he would be playing after that injury.
Three 40+ point games and better defense than Shaq.

[ImKobe]

Giannis easily. Suns were a better team and he put up 35/13/5 on 65%TS. Slightly higher pace & all (95.5 vs 91.5) but a lot of it was his ability to make FTs when people had been ridiculing him all season (Shaq shot below 40% in the Finals), and he went 17/19 from the line in his 50/14 5 blk game when it mattered most. Bucks didn't have HCA. Bucks were down 0 - 2 in the series.

Ayton is no slouch on defense and usually he does a great job defending the best big men in the league but Giannis is on a different level, even while playing with a knee injury. People still question his skill, but how many 7-footers in league history have the guard skills that he does, and how many of them can guard 1-5?

Pacers had a mediocre defense and Shaq played 6 more mpg and went 1/7 from the FT line in the 4th quarter of Game 6 where KB closed it out. KB also won them a road OT game to put them up 3 - 1. I don't see how they go 6 games vs. Pacers with Giannis in place of Shaq tbh, Giannis can do so much more offensively as a playmaker & he's much better on D.

[Jasper]

shaq was carried by Horry

[Manny98]

Giannis because he dominated defensively as well

[warriorfan]

Giannis. More dominant two way play and the way he closed them out down the stretch. Damn.

[Hey Yo]

Shaq and it's not even close.

Single handedly won games 5 and 6 while the 2nd option shot a combined 12-47 from the field.


Yikes!!

[RRR3]

shaq was carried by Horry
Insane comment.

[Airupthere]

Considering they were really trying to stop Shaq

[SouBeachTalents]

If you puts Shaq 2000 and Gainis 2021 on 1998 Utah Jazz, how much rings? Lol
If you puts Shaq & Giannis on the Jazz, they are going to wins a championship. Shaq, Giannis, Malone and Stockton would makes a good Big 4. They would beat Michael Jordan in the Finals.

[ArbitraryWater]

What exactly makes you look at anything here and think this is worthy of a thread, OP?

[Reggie43]

Shaq at his single season peak could be considered the greatest player ever. He was so focused to win that year he even made an all defensive team.

Dale Davis was an Allstar that year and he made the team solely because of his defense and toughness yet even with the help of double and triple teams the Pacers had no answer for Shaq

In two previous playoff matchups the Pacers held Shaq to 25 a game and then gave up 38pts and 17rebs a game in that Finals matchup. Same thing happened to Mutombo the following year wherein he has never given up more than 30pts to Shaq his entire career only to get demolished in the Finals

[kawhileonard2]

Pacers were better than the Suns by a lot. Shaq by a lot.