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

[Boonesmi]

ill cast another vote for little talent

he is big/strong ok very big/strong
but i dont think he is skilled

 

[SuperSix]

He's incredibly talented. To be able to manuever such a large frame so well, is indeed a skill.

 

[CichliSuite]

Basketball is the only game where a physical trait can significantly tilt the odds. That's simply ridiculous.


..my big question is why they bother to play three quarters. There is nothing exciting about dunking back and forth like clockwork with less than a handful of turnovers. Is a 2 point difference any differnt at a score of 12-14 as opposed to 86-88? When so many points are scored, they lose meaning.


Look at hockey, football, soccer....scoring a goal in those games brings a rush that Basketball could never provide. Except for the last few shots. Which brings me right back to my point.

 

[JLindo]

I was listening to a local sports radio show on the way home and people were asking who we could sign to guard him. The caller mentioned Sabonis. NOT! There is no one in the NBA who can stop him. He's too big and strong, and as long as he's allowed to lower his shoulder into defenders and dislodge them to gain an edge without a foul being called, he will continue to be. Look at the tapes. When you can knock Mutombo around the court like he did in the finals (and this is not the only case of this), you can do whatever you want. Is he talented, no. The man can't shoot free throws on a consistent basis and his only real offense is pounding people into oblivion to get a dunk. Any man that size would be able to do that.

 

[tigerbait]

<< stanley roberts (formerly of clippers, some other teams) was 7 feet and over 300 pounds...i wonder where that guy is now? now THERE'S a giant with no talent whatsoever. >>



And we had both Stanley and Shaq here at LSU at the same time. Needless to say, Stanley was overlooked just a little bit.

 

[mosdef]

If Shaq didn't have so much friggin bulk he wouldn't be effective. He can't shoot because the ball is just too ackward in his hands. He just puts up little soft hooks from real close, or jams the ball. I think he is the most valuable player in the league, but I don't think that he is nearly the best baller in the league. That really doesn't take away from him, not everyone can be as big and strong as him.

-mosdef

 

[kingz]

Hey, what if Iverson wasnt as fast? You think he would be as good? What if Montana was blind?

 

[Shmorq]

<< Hey, what if Iverson wasnt as fast? You think he would be as good? What if Montana was blind? >>

Exactly! Shaq taylored his game around his massive size just like other players develop their game around their shooting touch, quickness, etc... He still has to hit the mini-hooks and he's the best passing center in the game. I don't see where you see his lack of talent.

 

[bigd480]

Did any of y'all watch the 1995 NBA Finals... Remember how the Magic got swept and Hakeem routinely whooped up on Shaq despit being 3 inches shorter and at least 50lbs lighter?

Has Shaq's game changed since then? is Mutombo not as good a defender? plain and simple truth is that now Shaq is allowed to elbow ppl in the mouth anytime he feels like... how many times did Mutombo get hit in the Finals?

the ONLY reason he puts up #'s like he does is that he's allowed to cheat... and some may say it's only cheating if he gets caught, and that may be, but it is the reason...

i'm 6'0&quot; 155 and if I play someone 5'7'' and 125 yes I will dominate them every time by backing them in... now you throw in being 7'1&quot; how could you not dunk over everyone, especially if you can elbow them in the mouth?

 

[bigd480]

<< He still has to hit the mini-hooks and he's the best passing center in the game. >>

how old are you? 8? he's not even the 3rd best passing center the Lakers have had... (Vlade and Kareem)... Arvydas has been known to be the best passing center in the league recently...

and mini-hooks? i'm sorry but if you have a rim that's 3 feet higher than you are, have 3 ft arms, and elbow your way to within 3 ft of the basket, you'll realize mini-hooks aren't that impressive..

 

[hpkeeper]

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



GIVE IT UP! PHILIDELPHIA LOST!















just like all you gore whiners... give it up... he lost too.

 

[jcuadrado]

he's just too powerful..if I had his size...I could dunk everytime too..

he aint all that IMHO...he's just big and strong..

 

[Shmorq]

<< how old are you? 8? he's not even the 3rd best passing center the Lakers have had... (Vlade and Kareem)... Arvydas has been known to be the best passing center in the league recently... >>

If I'm 8, you must be a zigote!

First of all, Sabonis averaged half the assists Shaq has. And in case you didn't know, Kareem retired a while ago... therefore not valid under the 'game today'. Vlade also had less assists than Shaq had last year.

And if you're talking about elbows, you should know that Mutombo has dealt far more punishments with his elbow rather than Shaq has throughout their careers.

All I gotta say is that Shaq schooled the defensive player of the year! If that isn't talent, I don't know what is. There have been many big man in the game, like Orlando Miller, who was just that... big. They had no skills to go along with it like Shaq has.

 

[abracadabra1]

some people are born smart, some people are born talented, shaq was born big.
but shaq has been able to use his size and master it so that he can dominate.

it's all about learning yourself and your body best so that you can do what you can w/ it. that's what shaq's done. and he's done it well.

 

[bigd480]

&quot;have had&quot; = includes the past...
Vlade gets less minutes than Shaq, he averages more assists per minute...
I can send you recent links from CNNSI, USA Today, and the Sporting News calling Sabonis the league's best passing center...
Mutombo gets fouls called on his elbows, Shaq doesn't...
I think you were referring to Anthony &quot;Pig&quot; Miller who was a 6'9&quot; 255lb forward...
Shaq gets assists because he's always doubled and there's always an open shooter for him to pass to, that's the nature of the lakers' offense...

at this point i will stop correcting your post... and it's &quot;zygote&quot; with a &quot;y&quot;...


<<

<< how old are you? 8? he's not even the 3rd best passing center the Lakers have had... (Vlade and Kareem)... Arvydas has been known to be the best passing center in the league recently... >>

If I'm 8, you must be a zigote!

First of all, Sabonis averaged half the assists Shaq has. And in case you didn't know, Kareem retired a while ago... therefore not valid under the 'game today'. Vlade also had less assists than Shaq had last year.

And if you're talking about elbows, you should know that Mutombo has dealt far more punishments with his elbow rather than Shaq has throughout their careers.

All I gotta say is that Shaq schooled the defensive player of the year! If that isn't talent, I don't know what is. There have been many big man in the game, like Orlando Miller, who was just that... big. They had no skills to go along with it like Shaq has. >>

 

[Shmorq]

Actually, it's Oliver Miller so we're both wrong.

I said, &quot;He still has to hit the mini-hooks and he's the best passing center in the game.&quot; Kareem is no longer part of the game. Unless you count the charity events.

How ironic that someone that's proclaiming to correct my errors can't correct their own...

Shaq has the highest scoring average in the playoffs of ANY player in the history of the NBA. How anybody can say that he has no talent is beyond me... And enough about the elbows that don't get called. Except for 1 of them, the rest of them were flops which I'm glad the refs realized.

 

[stingbandel]

<< shaq sucks. he cant make free throws worth beans. only reason he's any good is because he can overpower people. >>




if he can make free throws then he is perfect.

If you see Shaq plays, then you know that he is a good player.





Darno

 

[Cyberian]

Really makes you wonder why the owners/coaches keep this lard-ass, no-talent SOB on the team!

 

[huanaku]

Shaq is as agile and quick a guy as they come

LOL. Shaq is not quick. He has an advantage because of his size. He can bump his way in, and off a bump do a close shot. That's not quick. I like shaq's work ethic, but do agree that his size gives him an advantage.

 

[Shmorq]

There's no doubt that size gives him a huge advantage but there are VERY few athletes, if any, in this world that are as big as him AND be as agile as he is.

The sports writers voted him as a member of the 50 all-time greatest NBA players... and he was only like 25 at the time! That's pretty remarkable for someone that has no talent.

 

[bigd480]

yes, 6'9&quot; 315 Oliver Miller

I said: he's not even the 3rd best passing center the Lakers have had...

his career playoff scoring average is 7th all time, though CNNSI could be wrong...

and yes, Shaq has only thrown one elbow, the rest of the time people were just trying to headbutt it...


<< Actually, it's Oliver Miller so we're both wrong.

I said, &quot;He still has to hit the mini-hooks and he's the best passing center in the game.&quot; Kareem is no longer part of the game. Unless you count the charity events.

How ironic that someone that's proclaiming to correct my errors can't correct their own...

Shaq has the highest scoring average in the playoffs of ANY player in the history of the NBA. How anybody can say that he has no talent is beyond me... And enough about the elbows that don't get called. Except for 1 of them, the rest of them were flops which I'm glad the refs realized. >>

 

[Shmorq]

<< his career playoff scoring average is 7th all time >>

Actually, that is correct. He has the highest playoff scoring average in the Finals of an NBA playoffs... which is really only like 15 games but still impressive.

Are you an anti-Laker's fan or just don't like Shaq's game?

 

[bigd480]

I've always been a Rockets fan... I liked the Lakers in the early 90's but haven't paid attention to them since... Incidentally, highest scoring average, one playoff series is 46.3 - Jerry West (Laker)... I was going for Sixers this year because I think Iverson's the most talented player today...

I think Hakeem at his prime exemplified a truly talented center... He's really under 6'11&quot;, not incredibly built, but has awesome moves, footwork, and defense... I seriously doubt Shaq could ever score that much if it wasn't for his size...


<<

<< his career playoff scoring average is 7th all time >>

Actually, that is correct. He has the highest playoff scoring average in the Finals of an NBA playoffs... which is really only like 15 games but still impressive.

Are you an anti-Laker's fan or just don't like Shaq's game? >>

 

[Shmorq]

I was hoping Philly would win too since it's tough to cheer along side these Laker's fans that were missing during the early 90's. But I still contend that Shaq is mad skilled and by todays rules where it's much more physical, none can handle him. It was so evident by the way he took care of Mutombo who is supposed to be the best defender.

<< He's really under 6'11&quot;, >>

I think Olajuwon is in reality 6'9&quot;. He was MUCH shorter than Ewing when they were in the finals.

 

[bigd480]

check this out - pretty funny

I think Rodman can contain Shaq... One game shaq lit up David Robinson for 35 points, then they put Rodman on him and he was 1-11 in those 10 minutes...

And when the Bulls played the Magic in the Eastern Finals, they didn't put any of their 3 centers on Shaq, they used Rodman...