Shaq---skilled or just BIG ? Could he do it WITHOUT the size ?

[polm]

I cant tell if this guy has any real talent outside of being enourmous. I mean of course his coaches are gonna teach him a little, but does he not have a rediculously unfair advantage ?

 

[GoldenBear]

There are many guys just as big, and even bigger than Shaq that are nothing when it comes to basketball. Shaq may have had a *slightly* easier time than other guys not quite as big as him in getting to the NBA, but that's hardly something you can hold against him. The hard work and ethic he had to put into dominating the sport as he has is something to be really admired.

 

[polm]

I guess I am just jealous. He seems to have the brain power of a rotten banana.

 

[polm]

KAZAM...anyone ?

 

[bonkers325]

both

 

[Electric Amish]

He's just big. In both directions.

Lots of mass + lots of height = Shaq

I see very little talent.

amish

 

[djchemistry]

hahaha...ppl have hated his game since his days at LSU. There's no denying though that he's got incredible agility, speed, footwork, and skill for his size. I can name half a dozen other 7 footers who can't even come close to his skill level or his dominance.

 

[polm]

Would his talent alone be enough ??

 

[mrCide]

I think he has skill but his size gives him an amazing advantage, he can practically reach into a hoop and dunk it.

 

[djchemistry]

Yes

 

[dc]

kazaam the rapping genie! woohoo.

 

[Sketchy]

He may be a damn monster, but he's got some pretty sweet talent as well. He can hook it in quite nicely. His free throw shooting problems are all in his head - in practise, he can make 50 in a row. Example of big guy with no talent: Sean Bradley. Example of big guy with lots of talent: Shaq. If he had no game, would he put up those numbers every night? He has a huge field goal percentage, some of that can be contributed to dunks, but he sets himself up for them, and he hits a lot of his hook shots.

 

[Stark]

Yes, you just have to be big and fat to win a championship.

You can go back to your hash pipe now.

 

[Electric Amish]

Most other 7 footers don't have his mass. They can't shove defenders out of their way.

What agility, speed, and footwork do you need when you don't go farther then 5' from the basket?

amish

 

[polm]

You can go back to your hash pipe now

Promise ?

 

[Robert01]

I agree, there are quite a few guys taller than Shaq. But the big difference (pun intended) is that those taller guys are smaller than a telephone pole. Secondly, at that height, it doesn't take a lot of talent to put a basketball into a hoop when the basket is only 2-3 feet higher. That, is also the fact that the refs allow him to have a boxing and elbow match everytime he pivots...

Yes, he can do some nice things, but if he was only, say, 6'5", he would be mediocre.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< Most other 7 footers don't have his mass. >>

Most other massive guys don't have his agility, speed, and footwork. They don't stay &quot;trim&quot; because they can't gain weight.

<< What agility, speed, and footwork do you need when you don't go farther then 5' from the basket? >>

Shaq is as agile and quick a guy as they come. If you were say a somewhat average sized person of 6' 180lb. and went against a defense of &quot;NBA quality&quot; guys 5'7&quot; 140 lb., I doubt you would dominate as Shaq has, and will.

Or perhaps you're just a Lakers hater. Most who make these arguments are.

 

[EvanFerguson]

well, it's obvious that his size doesn't *hurt* his skills.........


but you can't attribute everything to just one thing, like height......

 

[polm]

I dont even care about basketball. Look I understand how impressive it is that a guy his size moves at all. I just get sick of him pulling the same shot 75% of the time. It is UNSTOPPABLE because of his SIZE, not his SKILL....right ?? That little hook he does. Unless you were his size, it wont get stopped. He could make those shots standing still too, so none of the speed or agility matters.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< I agree, there are quite a few guys taller than Shaq. But the big difference (pun intended) is that those taller guys are smaller than a telephone pole. >>

And Shaq is to blame for this?

If Garnett/David Robinson/Duncan/and players of that type were to balloon up to 330 lb., the only basketball they'd play is in the wheelchair games, or at best they'd play for 5 minutes standing under the hoop before dying of exhaustion.

<< Secondly, at that height, it doesn't take a lot of talent to put a basketball into a hoop when the basket is only 2-3 feet higher. >>

And you're speaking from..experience?

<< That, at also the fact that the refs allow him to have a boxing and elbow match everytime he pivots... >>

Although it's really unfair to do this, he *earned* the respect to do so. Like it or not, good players do get calls on their sides more often than not--and Shaq, is that damn good.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< He could make those shots standing still too, so none of the speed or agility matters. >>

You've never seen Shaq play have you?

 

[polm]

Look...why are you so sure that just SHAQ is the only guy that could be that big and move like that. He isnt all that graceful anyway.

 

[polm]

GoldenBear:You've never seen Shaq play have you?

No, but I had a dream about it once, and I imagined he played like that. I have never seen him at all, much less seen him play in reality.

 

[Electric Amish]

I bet any other guy that was naturally his size could do just about the same as him, unless they were completely uncoordinated.

amish

 

[GoldenBear]

<< I bet any other guy that was naturally his size could do just about the same as him, unless they were completely uncoordinated. >>

If you were playing against a bunch of guys 2-3&quot; shorter and 40-50lb. lighter, size alone would not allow you to dominate.

And I'd be willing to make that bet. I'll find you some 300lb. guys, or, I can show you that they're NOT in the NBA, and Shaq is among the few guys that are.