Who would YOU pick? Shaq or Jordan?

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 6:14AM

after reading this article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-sptschmitz07060702jun07.column?coll=, I posed myself the same question..

plmk what you think.. I pick Shaq.. as he is the most dominant force the league has known for the past 10 years, and many years to come. Jordan could be stopped, Shaq can't..

ChrisDaBalla · June 7, 2002 6:18AM

I'd choose Shaq probably because there were guys who could compete with Jordan, although most never got close, but with Shaq he is practically unstoppable. Chris.

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 6:19AM

my point exactly

CaliKev · June 7, 2002 6:20AM

GO MIKEY!!!!!

CaliKev · June 7, 2002 6:20AM

i fart on you two

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 6:20AM

you wanna come to Belgium and say that in my face sucka!?

ChrisDaBalla · June 7, 2002 6:20AM

hey it's only the truth

autobilia · June 7, 2002 6:48AM

Jordan.. no doubt. Jordan has outside and inside game. Better at the free throw line. And makes the players around him better. Jordan was Mr. Clutch. Jordan made his team better. When you think of the Bulls, you even think of Ron Harper, Luc Longley, and Bill Wennington. That's because Jordan got the entire team involved. Bulls never had a dominate center and still look at their championship rings. Jordan was the best all-around player in the game.

kinger793 · June 7, 2002 6:49AM

COULD HE STOP SHAQ...THE ONLY PERSON IVE SEEN BLOCK A SHAQ SHOT IS BOBBY JACKSON HAHA.

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 6:53AM

lol that's funny, all of those things you say about Jordan, you can easily say about Shaq too, the only thing you can't say about Shaq is that he's better at the FT - line, but that's improving

+ Shaq is more dominant on the defensive end than Jordan was.
Shaq makes ppl around him better too.. look at Kobe, Fisher, Fox, Horry, way better than the supporting cast of the Bulls
Jordan was indeed mister clutch.. but he failed a lot too.. not many ppl know that but he really flunked a lot too..
And oh.. when the game is on the line, Shaq is clutch too.. he will make his FT's when it's necessary, you can be very sure about that..
+ Jordan could be stopped, Shaq can't, not one on one, not one on two, not one on three, not one on four, not one on five.

kinger793 · June 7, 2002 6:56AM

MAYBE ONE ON FIVE, BUT THEN HE COULD JUST DISH IT OFF AND SOMEBODY ELSE COULD MAKE THE SHOT. LOL.
KINGER793

mattdogg · June 7, 2002 7:17AM

actually, Gerald Wallace and I think Mike Bibby blocked Shaq too.

I'm sure lots have blocked shaq but I don't think any1 could shut him down. I think he would be a better pick than Jordan, even tho I like Jordan a lot more.

heavyd5424 · June 7, 2002 7:20AM

not even close- jordan by far

no one is ever going to be able to do the things mj has done and may still do. look what he did with the bulls- made everyone around him better- he is the best of all time and he would help a team more than shaq- all shaq has is an inside game- he cant shoot, he cant hit a ft- he isnt as good all around as mj

JRCCRUM · June 7, 2002 7:33AM

shaq is a great player, but he is no jordan. myself he might make the top 10 of all time someday. there is a lot of players thru the years that were better than shaq. like larry bird, pete maravich, jabbar, wilt, dr.j o robertson bill russell and others

shaq will go down with the the talent of the likes of bill walton

thanks
ron

autobilia · June 7, 2002 7:34AM

Shaq barely hitting free throws. Shaq can't dribble. Shaq can't hit 3 pointers. Shaq is the best center in the NBA, BUT look at his competition. Nah, Shaq would have had a rougher time if he was playing when Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, etc. were in their prime. Who is Shaq's competition in that position? Now, let's look at Jordan. He's played again Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, etc. all in their prime. Shaq dunking over Vlade Divac, Dikembe Mutombo, Elton Brand, Shawn Bradley, Ervin Johnson, etc. isn't all that impressive. If Shaq gets the ball outside of the paint, ain't much he can do.

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 7:35AM

*sigh*
heavyD please stick to football and baseball..

mattdog: I dunno if they blocked him.. but ya gotta admire Shaq, after all his injuries, during the season, during the play-offs and even during the series with the Kings, he still couldn't be stopped..

heavyd5424 · June 7, 2002 7:37AM

excuse me? stick to football and baseball? how many nba games have you been 2? how many times have you seen jordan play? anyone who is 7 feet tall can dunk a f@$#% basketball!! he cant shoot, dribble, or hit a 15 foot free throw. anyone who has watched jordan (even out of his prime) knows that he is the best and he can make good players out of just about anyone

autobilia · June 7, 2002 7:40AM

<< excuse me? stick to football and baseball? how many nba games have you been 2? how many times have you seen jordan play? anyone who is 7 feet tall can dunk a f@$#% basketball!! he cant shoot, dribble, or hit a 15 foot free throw. anyone who has watched jordan (even out of his prime) knows that he is the best and he can make good players out of just about anyone >>

hehe. I got a chance to see Jordan play in 1990

Everytime he went up for a dunk, there was a huge flash from all the cameras going off. I still have the program from that game (pre-season game). It was the Bulls vs. Washington Bullets )Horace Grant vs. Harvey Grant.

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 7:43AM

o..k..

Shaq barely hitting free throws. -> did Chamberlain hit his FT's? did Mikan hit his FT's? no they didn't, Chamberlain didn't even reach the 50% during his career
Shaq can't dribble. -> erm.. have you ever WATCHED him play? my gawd, he has the best body control I have ever seen for a man his size
Shaq can't hit 3 pointers. -> yea well.. have you ever seen a TRUE center shooting 3's? Sabonis could shoot 3's, and that's it..

And Duncan is no match for Shaq's position? I have seen teams quadrupleteam (lol) him, you don't call that competition?

+ we are talking about 2 different positions here.. this is like comparing apples to pears..

oh and if Shaq gets out of his paint.. he will pass, he has one of the sweetest passes I have ever seen from a center.

and to end this: shaq will go down with the the talent of the likes of bill walton -> I will not even give a reaction on this..

NewYorkIndians · June 7, 2002 7:48AM

heavyd, you need to stick to any sport besides basketball. All the things you said Shaq can't do is because he is a CENTER! Centers don't go shooting 3-pointers, centers don't go dribbling down court, and centers normally don't have a good freethrow percentage! As for shooting, he has the best percentage in the game.

autobilia · June 7, 2002 7:52AM

<< o..k..

Shaq barely hitting free throws. -> did Chamberlain hit his FT's? did Mikan hit his FT's? no they didn't, Chamberlain didn't even reach the 50% during his career >>

Has Shaq ever scored 100 points in a game?

<< 
Shaq can't dribble. -> erm.. have you ever WATCHED him play? my gawd, he has the best body control I have ever seen for a man his size >>

You notice Shaq has to look at the ball while dribbling. He is good for his size because he is coordinated, but still can't dribble without looking at the ball.

<< 
Shaq can't hit 3 pointers. -> yea well.. have you ever seen a TRUE center shooting 3's? Sabonis could shoot 3's, and that's it.. >>

True center... dunno about true center, but there are a lot of big players who can hit the 3. Van Horn, Nowitzki, K-Mart just to name a few.

<< 
And Duncan is no match for Shaq's position? I have seen teams quadrupleteam (lol) him, you don't call that competition? >>

Duncan is not a true center. He is also a Power Forward. That's why he and David Robinson can play at same time.

<< + we are talking about 2 different positions here.. this is like comparing apples to pears.. >>

Oh really. Remember Magic Johnson played all 5 positions in one game (even center).

<< oh and if Shaq gets out of his paint.. he will pass, he has one of the sweetest passes I have ever seen from a center. >>

If Jordan gets out of the paint, he can either shoot the 3, drive to the hole for a dunk, or drive to draw a double team and dish it off, or beat someone off the dribble for a short jumper. Shaq has 1 option, Jordan has many.

<< 
and to end this: shaq will go down with the the talent of the likes of bill walton -> I will not even give a reaction on this.. >>

hehe Shaq would dominate Walton.

SlipKnot515 · June 7, 2002 7:57AM

you shouldnt even try to use the argument "we are talking about 2 different positions here" when you are the one trying to compare them in the first place.

NewYorkIndians · June 7, 2002 7:59AM

Autobilia, you can compare many people like that. For example, Shaq and David Wesley. We all know that Shaq is by far better than Wesley, but Wesley can do all the same things you said Jordan can do:

If Jordan gets out of the paint, he can either shoot the 3, drive to the hole for a dunk, or drive to draw a double team and dish it off, or beat someone off the dribble for a short jumper. Shaq has 1 option, Jordan has many.

But by saying that, it doesn't mean that Wesley is a better player, he just has more options, and the same goes for Jordan.

kinger793 · June 7, 2002 8:02AM

SHAQ CAN'T DRIBBLE THAT GREAT, BUT HE DOESN'T NEED TO..WHEN YOU'RE 7 FEET TALL ALL YOUR TEAM HAS TO DO IS PASS IT TO YOU AND YOU WILL WIN THE GAME.

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 8:02AM

um.. like I said.. we are talking about 2 different positions here, you want Shaq to cut to the hole, do a 360, pass the ball behind his back and then go over 2 screens and hit a 3?!

and to give an answer to ur questions..

No Shaq did not score 100 points, Wilt was the only big man besides Russell in those days, and the same question goes out to you, has Jordan ever scored 100 points?

Van Horn, Nowitzki and K-Mart are ALL Small Forwards or Power Forwards, none of them are centers..

Duncan plays a lot on center, especially since Robinson's back is aching.. so you just consider him the center of the Spurs..

Magic played all 5 positions yes.. Shaq plays PG too.. for fun

Jordan never played center either..

Jordan has a career 3 point shooting average of .328 , so please..
Shaq has many options, he can attract the double team, dish the ball to the open guy or to the guy penetrating, he can shoot hooks, turn around jumpers, or he can drible in the paint and go for the easy 2

and again.. Shaq is WAAAAAY more impressive on the defensive end than Jordan EVER was

Undertaker · June 7, 2002 8:03AM

Slipknot: this discussion isn't even ABOUT the thread.. that was just the question who you would pick to build your team around.. not about who's better

NewYorkIndians · June 7, 2002 8:05AM

It's going to be hard for Autobilia to argue with all those things you just said dead man

autobilia · June 7, 2002 8:06AM

<< Autobilia, you can compare many people like that. For example, Shaq and David Wesley. We all know that Shaq is by far better than Wesley, but Wesley can do all the same things you said Jordan can do:
>>

that's when you get into numbers and stats. Compare those.. Wesley would quickly disappear.

<< 
If Jordan gets out of the paint, he can either shoot the 3, drive to the hole for a dunk, or drive to draw a double team and dish it off, or beat someone off the dribble for a short jumper. Shaq has 1 option, Jordan has many.

But by saying that, it doesn't mean that Wesley is a better player, he just has more options, and the same goes for Jordan. >>

Wesley have those options, but have those options and executing those options effective separates the 2.

NewYorkIndians · June 7, 2002 8:10AM

Wesley have those options, but have those options and executing those options effective separates the 2.

That's true. But that just makes the point for Undertaker and myself. Shaq and Jordan are effective at different things since they are bot totally different types of players with different positions. We just think that Shaq overall is more effective.

KBryant1 · June 7, 2002 8:20AM

shaq got my vote.

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 9:14AM

during reading about who was better shaq or jordan someone made the point that shaq dosen't have any competition today at the center position . no more ewing,hakeem or robinson's in their prime. thats why when the question is posed who would you take to start a team today shaq or jordan , that is the main reason why you'd have to take SHAQ. because in todays game theres no one who even comes close to shaq at his position. if you were coaching a team, coaches always try and exploit the biggest mismatch. well theres no bigger mismatch in the game right now then shaq going against any center

yanyak5 · June 7, 2002 9:23AM

excuse for interrupting but has anyone seen it?

autobilia · June 7, 2002 9:25AM

Jordan was good in every aspect. He was good on offense and defense. As the Kobe fans brought up, Shaq wasn't on that defensive team.

Remster · June 7, 2002 9:31AM

Auto said it best.Jordan was practically unstoppable and took over a game...Motivated his team...It's no coincidence that when players left the Bulls during those years they were never as good.Mr Clutch personafied

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 10:02AM

like byron scott said himself, ask the coaches in the league and they would agree . it's shaq. always take the dominant big man when available. ecspecially one as dominant as shaq.

YanksFan · June 7, 2002 10:11AM

There is a big difference between being great(shaq) and being the greatest(mj). In Orlando, they tried to build a team around shaq, went to the finals and lost. Without Kobe, Shaq wouldn't have any rings. Shaq is great, not the greatest, he has no competition, while Jordan had tons of big names gunning at him, and he kicked everyone of there *sses. He built a team he was drafted by, didn't leave for the money, didn't have a guy like Kobe to dish the ball off to, but he had more rings, more MVP's, more scoring titles, dominated the game like no other.

someone threw up a comparison to the Jordan & Shaq argument with a Wesley & Shaq arguement. Sure wesley can drive to the hole, dunk, shoot 3's, do 360's, and pass. Can he do any of those as good as Jordan, hell naw.

If I had to build a team around 1 individual, it would be Jordan.

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 10:31AM

i'll tell you what. jordan and his bulls should be grateful that they didn't have to face the lakers of the 80's ( not the weak laker team they beat ) as well as the great celtic and sixer teams. the bulls took advantage of a weak period in the nba.

autobilia · June 7, 2002 10:36AM

<< There is a big difference between being great(shaq) and being the greatest(mj). In Orlando, they tried to build a team around shaq, went to the finals and lost. Without Kobe, Shaq wouldn't have any rings. Shaq is great, not the greatest, he has no competition, while Jordan had tons of big names gunning at him, and he kicked everyone of there *sses. He built a team he was drafted by, didn't leave for the money, didn't have a guy like Kobe to dish the ball off to, but he had more rings, more MVP's, more scoring titles, dominated the game like no other.

someone threw up a comparison to the Jordan & Shaq argument with a Wesley & Shaq arguement. Sure wesley can drive to the hole, dunk, shoot 3's, do 360's, and pass. Can he do any of those as good as Jordan, hell naw.

If I had to build a team around 1 individual, it would be Jordan. >>

Actually, without Shaq, LA wouldn't make it to the Championship. The difference between Jordan and Shaq is that Jordan makes the players around him better. Shaq wants to be the man. That's why he and Penny Hardaway didn't get along and same reason he and Kobe were into it. Jordan use to do that when he scored 40-60 points a game. He then dropped his average down to 23-33 ppg and got the entire team involved. Looked at Scottie Pippin's first 3-4 seasons. Each year, he improved in every category. Jordan was a player/coach type person which made Phil Jackson's job easy. Of course, Kobe would want Shaq. If he picked Jordan, Kobe would be the man coming off the bench to relieve Jordan.

autobilia · June 7, 2002 10:38AM

<< i'll tell you what. jordan and his bulls should be grateful that they didn't have to face the lakers of the 80's ( not the weak laker team they beat ) as well as the great celtic and sixer teams. the bulls took advantage of a weak period in the nba. >>

?? The Lakers & Celtics & Pistons were great when Jordan played. Remember , Jordan started playing in 84-85 (Don't let that 86/87 Fleer RC fool you). Jordan just didn't have a supporting cast until Pippin entered the league and Horace Grant.

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 10:40AM

i understand that his rookie year was 84. my point was that he didn't win a title with the bulls until after those other great teams had been broken up. his 1st ring was against a pretty weak laker team. magic was in the latter part of his career

YanksFan · June 7, 2002 10:41AM

kobecollector-The majority of the teams in the NBA are weak today, whats your point?

Auto- grrrrrr.... you say what I wanted to say with less words and sounded better. jerk

autobilia · June 7, 2002 10:42AM

<< 
Auto- grrrrrr.... you say what I wanted to say with less words and sounded better. jerk

>>

Hehe, I've been called worse.

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 10:49AM

Yanksfan, my point was in reponse to one of your posts where you stated that jordan had alot of big names gunning for him. i just feel that jordans rings are somewhat overrated because if you take that bull team and stick it in the 80's you wouldn't see jordan with 7 rings. just my opinion

ilya · June 7, 2002 10:57AM

Lets also compare Tim Duncan to Tracy McGrady... this is totally DUMB!

oh yeh, shaq can't drible, even though for his size he's good, but he only does that cross over like once in every 5 games
he can't shoot FTs. No, Chamberlaine couldn't either, but his only match back then was Russel. For Shaq, it's only Mourning or Mutumbo now
He can't shoot 3s cuz he doesn't need to. he's an inside player only

Perosnally, i would probably pick Shaq to build the team around RIGHT NOW (can't stop him), but Jordan overall. he's a much more complete player, and is the best clutch player of all time

autobilia · June 7, 2002 11:01AM

Kobe >> you never know. Jordan was putting up big numbers in the mid 80's without Pippin & Grant. Remember, Scottie Pippin didn't come along until after the 3rd season of his career. Pippin was one of the best versatile players in the league. Remember when Jordan left to play baseball, Pippin still carried the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals (without Jordan). That's the type of impact Jordan had on his teammates. He made them play to their full potential.

autobilia · June 7, 2002 11:05AM

<< Lets also compare Tim Duncan to Tracy McGrady... this is totally DUMB!

oh yeh, shaq can't drible, even though for his size he's good, but he only does that cross over like once in every 5 games
he can't shoot FTs. No, Chamberlaine couldn't either, but his only match back then was Russel. For Shaq, it's only Mourning or Mutumbo now
He can't shoot 3s cuz he doesn't need to. he's an inside player only
>>

heh Mourning? Mutombo? You gotta be kidding me. Neither player have solid offensive numbers. What was the Heats record this season? hehehehe
Mutombo is tooooooooo skinny. Just about everyone in the league has dunked on Mutombo. Notice you rarely see that finger waving in the air anymore. Chris Webber did better against Shaq than Mourning and Mutombo.

ilya · June 7, 2002 11:05AM

put Russel in the late 80s-early 90s, he wouldn't have 10 rings either (or however many he had)

put LA of today into the era of Chicago's peak, they wouldn't win 3 rings either (3rd coming now)

ilya · June 7, 2002 11:06AM

auto, tha'ts my point man

he got NO ONE against him now
those are probalby the 2 better examples (taking centers only)

autobilia · June 7, 2002 11:11AM

<< put Russel in the late 80s-early 90s, he wouldn't have 10 rings either (or however many he had) >>

Dunno about that. That's hard to say. Since not much dunking went on back then, players had more shooting skills and technic.

<< 
put LA of today into the era of Chicago's peak, they wouldn't win 3 rings either (3rd coming now) >>

You got that right. Who on Lakers now could have guarded Jordan in his prime? And while everyone focused on Jordan, who would guard Scottie Pippin? And remember Steve Kerr has the best 3 point %. Then, of course, you had John Paxson and B.J. Armstrong from the outside. Oh, and when Rodman joined. With him and Horace Grant in the inside, there goes the rebounds. Remember, Rodman knew how to get under Shaq's skin.

ilya · June 7, 2002 11:12AM

yep, i guess Kobe fans are gonna say that Kobe could guard Jordan.. lol

KOBEcollector · June 7, 2002 11:25AM

lol, of course we are. i'll tell you what kobe would've been tougher on jordan than jeff hornecek and byron russell were in that finals series

Who would YOU pick? Shaq or Jordan?

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