Prime LBJ and Shaq is ridiculous. Doesn't matter who you have got get out of the lane or you're getting dunked on vicious like. Doesn't matter.
They have two unstoppables. Every other team only has one.
Every time there is a debate, someone comes along and plays the "homer" card. GTFO.
It is much closer than you give credit for girl.
Prime LBJ and Shaq is ridiculous. Doesn't matter who you have got get out of the lane or you're getting dunked on vicious like. Doesn't matter.
They have two unstoppables. Every other team only has one.
I don't think Shaq could guard Duncan very effectively either. Shaq is definitely more foul prone than Duncan and Shaq has never been good in the pick and roll defense.
You're telling me a team with Varejao at the PF is going to beat a Spurs team with Parker, Manu, Jefferson, Duncan, and Dice in their primes?
Are you kidding?
Shaq and LeBron can get 35 a game, a piece. It won't matter. Who's going to guard Duncan on the Cavs? Who's going to guard Parker? Manu? LeBron is either going to have to play passively on defense or either a) foul a lot or b) use a lot of his energy.
Sure, the Spurs have no one who can guard the James or Shaq. The Cavs have no one who can guard anyone on the Spurs outside of Shaq vs. Dice. It would be murder every trip up the court for the Cavs defense. Manu and Parker running the fast break and flying off pick and rolls would decimate Cleveland. It would be a of a series.
Boston looks pretty tenacious with that lineup as well.
Spurfan doesn't realize that this le is nothing to brag about. It just means that your team has the most washed up players.
Those kind of les always get their goin'.
Cleveland. Shaq and Lebron in their prime or at the top of their game, is unstoppable.
Honest question: Prime Shaq + prime LBJ or Prime Shaq + prime Kobe?
Or is this an "apples and oranges" question?
Team-wise, I'll pick the Spurs or the Cavs to win the Larry. I like the Mavs but they somehow remind me of the fast breaking Suns, good in the regular season but questionable in the post season.
Team-wise, I have to admit to go with the Celtics or the Spurs. In terms of the most dominant players, the choice is pretty easy: Cavs. A 2000-Shaq together with LeBron? That's just sick!
Concerning the Mavs:
Kidd (1998-2003)
Howard (2007)
Marion (2004-2006)
Dirk (2005-2007)
Dampier (2003-04; in his double-double season with GSW)
They would be sweet as well. Probably not on the top, but definitely a very nice team though.
Other team players would have nightmares the night before and after a game against them![]()
Prime Wallace was better than Dice ever was. And we don't know Rondo's prime yet, so it's impossible to tell. And Prime Allen>Prime Ginobili
Arguments are inexorable no matter which team in prime version is considered best, as we'll never know how well the prime Sheed would work with Ray/KG/Paul Pierce, and it's also impossible to judge if the prime Finley gobbling that many shots a game would be a contributor or a tumor for the Spurs.
The Celtics and Spurs would be the most talented teams, in terms of the individuals' talents only while leaving alone the issues of chemistry and strategies. Apparently it's unfair to involve the Mavs in such a re ed simulated comparison. The boys in blue are plumply all in their primes, or not very far past their primes like Kidd and Marion, while the likes of Finley, Sheed, Shaq.. are already lightyears ahead of their peaks.
Pre-knee surgery Dice was a 20/10 beast with crazy athleticism. It'd be close.
Basically, they're compelling arguments for the Cavs, Celtics and Spurs. Very close between these three.
Both LeBron and Anderson Varejao have been to the finals. They played the Spurs.
Even a past-his-prime Shaq does a relatively decent job on Duncan. What he is able to do is keep Duncan further from the basket than 99% other guys that guard him. Duncan will still score, but Shaq can do a reasonable job without requiring double team help.
AC Green and Samaki Walker say yes.
You talk as if Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, and Anderson Varejao are Larry, Curly, and Mo. They're not superstars or even perennial all stars. But, they are more than adequate NBA players. None of them perfect and none of them equal to the task of completely shutting down those Spurs players, but you imply that the Spurs will be shooting 90% from the field against them. Come on now. Anthony Parker is even a solid defender.Are you kidding?
Shaq and LeBron can get 35 a game, a piece. It won't matter. Who's going to guard Duncan on the Cavs? Who's going to guard Parker? Manu? LeBron is either going to have to play passively on defense or either a) foul a lot or b) use a lot of his energy.
Shaq would guard Duncan. And, Duncan would get into as much foul trouble as Shaq would unless you're going to argue that Dice would guard Shaq, and a Shaq in his prime would dunk every single time down.Sure, the Spurs have no one who can guard the James or Shaq. The Cavs have no one who can guard anyone on the Spurs outside of Shaq vs. Dice. It would be murder every trip up the court for the Cavs defense. Manu and Parker running the fast break and flying off pick and rolls would decimate Cleveland. It would be a of a series.
You underestimate the sheer dominance of Shaq in his prime. Absolutely no one could stop him. Double teams couldn't stop him. And, you have two 40% three-pointers on the perimeter awaiting kick-outs in Mo Williams and Anthony Parker. Oh, , forgot to mention they also got LeBron ing James. No team listed with players all in their prime is stopping the Cavs on offense. None.
Celtics is pretty beastly with their big 3 + Sheed, but prime Shaq and LBJ are too hard to pass up.
People don't seem to remember how ridiculous a young McDyess was. He was a 20/12 guy who had a 42" vertical.
BTW, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and McDyess in their prime > LeBron, Shaq and scrubs in their primes.
To me, it's between Celtics and Spurs.
I absolutely agree with you on this one. - Although a prime Shaq and Lebron would be hard to handle even surrounded by scrubs.
Spurs would be the best all around easy, celts come in close second.. prime 99-00 Finley was a monster and so was Jefferson in 04-05 with the nets, Dyess was a beast with the Nuggets 10 years ago, these 3 guys averaged 22 ppg each in their primes, Dies with 12 boards !!! Theo Ratliff was 12 and 8 with 4bpg with Philly.. Oh yeah those are only the role players![]()
Dyess in his prime was an athletic freak without the consistent jumper he has now.
He was still giving up around 100 lbs to Shaq and still couldn't guard him. And, in his prime, Dice wouldn't be the jump shot threat Shaq or Varejao couldn't help off of if they wanted to double team Duncan.
Parker/Gino/RJ/Duncan have all been to or won the finals. Only Shaq on that team has. I know it is about primes, but everyone except Lebron has already seen their primes in this scenario and none tasted the finals except for Shaq and Bron.Both LeBron and Anderson Varejao have been to the finals. They played the Spurs.
I meant only Shaq on the team had won. I said later in the same quote that Lebron had reached the finals. Left out only Andy.
Originally Posted by DPG21920 View Post
I don't think Shaq could guard Duncan very effectively either. Shaq is definitely more foul prone than Duncan and Shaq has never been good in the pick and roll defense.Even a past-his-prime Shaq does a relatively decent job on Duncan. What he is able to do is keep Duncan further from the basket than 99% other guys that guard him. Duncan will still score, but Shaq can do a reasonable job without requiring double team help.
Not really. Shaq does average against a past-his-prime Tim. Even a prime Shaq was not known as a defensive dynamo. A prime Tim was an offensive wizard. It would have been difficult for Shaq, especially if you put him in the PnR with a prime Tim and TP/Ginobili.
Last edited by DPG21920; 08-28-2009 at 11:51 AM.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)