2017-2018 Boston Celtics: No Irving! No Hayward! No Brooklyn Pick!

[godfather]

The game changing has nothing to do with me. Its facts. If you can't see the league has changed then I don't know what to say. Why don't Cavs have a big monster? Why don't GS have a big monster. We should make you in charge because you must know more then they do

I'm not trying to insult you here. I'm not, I actually don't like doing it unless I'm provoked. So don't take offense to this. But honest question, and there's nothing wrong if you're being honest and haven't seen him play.

Have you ever seen Shaq play? And I'm not talking about the fat, old, broken down Shaq on the Cavs, Celtics, Suns, and later on against the Heat either.

There's not a big man in today's game that comes remotely close to him. So comparing him to any center today, is just faulty alone. Because they don't resemble Shaq at all.

We've never seen a guy so big, strong, explosive, and athletic as him since maybe Wilt.

If you went small against Shaq, he'd score 60 by halftime, or everyone would be fouled out.

7 foot big men that were both athletic and strong, could not handle him alone. Why would some 6-8 guy do any better?

 

[Cavatt]

Shaq had the 2nd highest FG % of all time after Artis Gilmore. There just isn't an equivalent guy. He just plopped it in there and was very accurate. It would be a nightmare for any team in the league to deal with.

 

[Cratylus]

I'm not trying to insult you here. I'm not, I actually don't like doing it unless I'm provoked. So don't take offense to this. But honest question, and there's nothing wrong if you're being honest and haven't seen him play.

Have you ever seen Shaq play? And I'm not talking about the fat, old, broken down Shaq on the Cavs, Celtics, Suns, and later on against the Heat either.

There's not a big man in today's game that comes remotely close to him. So comparing him to any center today, is just faulty alone. Because don't resemble Shaq at all.

We've never seen a guy so big, strong, explosive, and athletic as him since maybe Wilt.

If you went small against Shaq, he'd score 60 by halftime, or everyone would be fouled out.

7 foot big men that were both athletic and strong, could not handle him alone. Why would some 6-8 guy do any better?

This x 10.

The only guy who could guard athletic Shaq straight up was Hakeem, and he's one of the all-time greatest defensive players in the history of the game. Hell, not even Ewing or Robinson could handle him. If Shaq were playing now, he would flat out rage against EVERYONE. There isn't a single player in the league now who could handle him.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

This x 10.

The only guy who could guard athletic Shaq straight up was Hakeem, and he's one of the all-time greatest defensive players in the history of the game. Hell, not even Ewing or Robinson could handle him. If Shaq were playing now, he would flat out rage against EVERYONE. There isn't a single player in the league now who could handle him.

Kevin Love could would take a charge every damn time and win the matchup.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Why don't Cavs have a big monster? Why don't GS have a big monster.

If either of those teams could get a prime Shaq, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

So, the reason they don't have one is because there isn't one to be had

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

These are kind of fun to watch -- you can see his mobility in this prime was freakish for a guy that size. Funny seeing him just destroy an all-world defender like Mutombo at the 3:10 mark.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHKFAuDYqio

 

[OnTheReg]

If either of those teams could get a prime Shaq, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

So, the reason they don't have one is because there isn't one to be had

"Big Monsters," aka players as physically huge, dominating, and athletic as Shaq come around, oh, every 20-30 years or so: Shaq and Wilt.

And, you're right; if Prime Shaq were available today, the Cavs would trade Kyrie, Love, Moondog, Nick Gilbert, and every draft pick they could for a talent like that. And the Cavs would win the next 5 championships.

 

[cavsfever]

Some people need to go take a spin through Youtube to look at early/prime Shaq clips. Dude was amazing, freakish mobility for his size. Sure, he wouldn't be switching out the perimeter to guard a PG shooting a 3 or being a "stretch 5" on offense. But he would still be a devastating weapon offensively and defensively.

 

[Jordan]

Some people need to go take a spin through Youtube to look at early/prime Shaq clips. Dude was amazing, freakish mobility for his size. Sure, he wouldn't be switching out the perimeter to guard a PG shooting a 3 or being a "stretch 5" on offense. But he would still be a devastating weapon offensively and defensively.

Defensively the teams would just box-and-1 zone. Same thing the Jazz do with Gobert. You minimize the movement he needs to make defensively (i.e., he'd only guard the pick-and-roll from the top of the key, otherwise you'd switch) and let him act as a pure rim protector.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Defensively the teams would just box-and-1 zone. Same thing the Jazz do with Gobert. You minimize the movement he needs to make defensively (i.e., he'd only guard the pick-and-roll from the top of the key, otherwise you'd switch) and let him act as a pure rim protector.

Just trying to imagine what he'd be like on GSW is mind-boggling. It would be completely impossible to defend that team. And then defensively, with him being the rim protector/rebounder....

They'd beat teams by 35. Regularly.

 

[Jordan]

Just trying to imagine what he'd be like on GSW is mind-boggling. It would be completely impossible to defend that team. And then defensively, with him being the rim protector/rebounder....

They'd beat teams by 35. Regularly.

I never believe that a team can go undefeated in the regular season; but, that team definitely could sweep the postseason. 16-0 wouldn't surprise me at all. Imagine Shaq setting screens for Curry and Durant!?!?

 

[godfather]

"Big Monsters," aka players as physically huge, dominating, and athletic as Shaq come around, oh, every 20-30 years or so: Shaq and Wilt.

And, you're right; if Prime Shaq were available today, the Cavs would trade Kyrie, Love, Moondog, Nick Gilbert, and every draft pick they could for a talent like that. And the Cavs would win the next 5 championships.

That shouldn't be a debate. I love Kyrie, but I'd forget his name instantly for Shaq in his prime. Him and LeBron, holy shit, they'd win every single year.

 

[Ohio]

I can't even imagine if a young LeBron played with a prime Shaq for as many years as Kobe did.

They never would have lost.

 

[czvo]

Don't forget Shaq was a fantastic post passer, far better than he ever got credit for. If you surrounded prime Shaq with shooters in today's game, you'd dominate.

 

[Akhan7860]

I hope Kyrie is ready for John Wall. Jesus christ is that going to be a fun matchup. I hope both play like superstars.