Greatest Center of all time!

bigben

Senior member
Jan 8, 2000
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Ok,

this is an arguement my roommate and I have all the time. If you are going to ask this question, you have to explain your criteria.

Think.

If greatest meant that they could beat the other centers one on one, it would be shaq in his prime (say 3 years ago) - Probably

If it were for the most impact on his team, there are a lot of centers who have played with crappier teammates than Kobe and with crappier coaches that Phil Jackson - Not Shaq.

If it were for statistics - Wilt for 100 points and his scoring averages and utter domination or Kareem for his all-time statistics

If it were for moves, you would go with anyone but shaq. How about Hakeem with the Dream or the Kareem sky-hook?

And if it were for championships, there is only one player who has won the most championships in these league, and has won them both as a coach and a player...you figure it out...

So what do you mean?

 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
5,888
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Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!

Shaq is not unathletic. For a 300+ lb. man, or any man for that matter, he's pretty mobile.
 

nitsuj3580

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2001
2,668
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Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

umm..Ewing had a pretty decent jumper. I hate the Knicks but when Ewing took a jumper, it usually went in.

Those two championship Rockets teams, Hakeem was just ridiculous. I believe he led a 4-0 sweep of the Shaq-led Magic :)

 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!

Shaq is not unathletic. For a 300+ lb. man, or any man for that matter, he's pretty mobile.

If he's within 4ft. of the bucket.. The man has NO mid range anything.. He depends completely upon his unmatched size... He could've been the best of all time but was to lazy..
 

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
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Originally posted by: IamDavid
Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!

Shaq is not unathletic. For a 300+ lb. man, or any man for that matter, he's pretty mobile.

If he's within 4ft. of the bucket.. The man has NO mid range anything.. He depends completely upon his unmatched size... He could've been the best of all time but was to lazy..

Yeah.

I shudder to think what he could have become with a work ethic like Karl Malone.

amish
 

nitsuj3580

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2001
2,668
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If he's within 4ft. of the bucket.. The man has NO mid range anything.. He depends completely upon his unmatched size... He could've been the best of all time but was to lazy..


Yah, 3 championships in a row, can dominate anyone in the post, and Top 50 player ever. Geez, what a lazy SOB

Could you picture Shaq running mountains like Malone does and lifting weights? that just wouldn't be fair. I'm very interested to see how Shaq bounces back next year
 

Cycad

Golden Member
Oct 18, 2000
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1)If it were for the most impact on his team, there are a lot of centers who have played with crappier teammates than Kobe and with crappier coaches that Phil Jackson.

To make this argument for Shaq all you have to do is look at the Laker's record without him and with him. easily the best.

2)If it were for statistics.

Wilt does have an edge.

3)If it were for moves, you would go with anyone but shaq. How about Hakeem with the Dream or the Kareem sky-hook?

This is a ridiculous statement again. Shaq whether you want to accept it or not does have some of the best footwork and speed of the great centers (especially in his prime and not so much last year). You also have to remember that no Center has ever been his size and I am sure that no one his size is gonna be able to handle the ball as well as he does. He is also a great passer from the post which a lot of guys are not.

 

AU Tiger

Diamond Member
Dec 26, 1999
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Will Perdue!

The man has 4 NBA Championship rings including three in a row despite having to play with that no talent having Jordan. ;)
 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
5,888
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nitsuj3580, Shaq had ALLOT of help for those three. Shaq is not bad or nothing he just didn't live up to his potential..

And Ewing was pretty good but nothing like Hakeem or some of the older centers...
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!

Shaq is not unathletic. For a 300+ lb. man, or any man for that matter, he's pretty mobile.

If he's within 4ft. of the bucket.. The man has NO mid range anything.. He depends completely upon his unmatched size... He could've been the best of all time but was to lazy..

He does what he has to do, and what he did lead to 3 straight NBA championships, and was a strong contender for a 4th.

Why would he WANT or NEED to change anything about his game? He dominates, plain and simple.
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
3
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Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: IamDavid
Hakeem is his dominate years could take on anyone.. No other center had a jumper or mid range game...

Shaq= Un-athletic, very large cry baby!

Shaq is not unathletic. For a 300+ lb. man, or any man for that matter, he's pretty mobile.

If he's within 4ft. of the bucket.. The man has NO mid range anything.. He depends completely upon his unmatched size... He could've been the best of all time but was to lazy..

He does what he has to do, and what he did lead to 3 straight NBA championships, and was a strong contender for a 4th.

Why would he WANT or NEED to change anything about his game? He dominates, plain and simple.

i agree that Shaq dominates and will probably will be among the best centers of all time.

what i COMPLETELY disagree with, is when Cycad says Shaq has the best post skills ever or has more post moves than Tim Duncan.

 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
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wilt, he was the mj of his era, in terms of dominance, and it wasn't just because of his size. He was an incredible scorer around the paint, beyond dunks.

russell was awesome too, duncan is phenomonal as well and will be considered as one of the best too.

shaq is the most dominant ever, but unlike mj and even wilt, its not because of his basketball skills. He can play tho, but he's no duncan.
 

Ynog

Golden Member
Oct 9, 2002
1,782
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Its not Shaq for the simple reason that - backing in is a Foul, they don't call it today
but in Russell, Wilt and Kareems days it was a foul. I would say that Russell would
just edge Wilt in overall game. I mean when he was with the Celtics they were pretty
unbeatable.

Russell had 5 MVPS and the Celtics had 14 Straight Championships.