Is Dwight Howard Better Than Young Shaq

[sonic21]

Shaq never won a game in the Finals with the magic and as the main guy... Dwight has just done that... Dwight > Young Shaq

you can't compare the current laker team with the hakeem's rockets

[lefty]

Guess who made the NBA change zone defense to become legal. It was Shaq's dominance that forced the NBA to do so.

If by dominance you mean elbowing people to clear space and score, then yeah

[TJastal]

Howard in his prime is going to be better than Shaq in his prime. He's already made improvements on his FT shooting, something Shaq could never do his entire career.

I'll bet Patrick Ewing is going to be working with him in extensively in the off season to refine his post up game and offensive repertoire in general as well. While I don't think he'll ever possess a reliable 10-15 foot jumpshot he'll improve his short range jump hooks, and the thing is he can go either hand with those much like Pau Gasol and that is a huge advantage.

[LnGrrrR]

Huh?

The above in bold describes Shaq's offensive game to a tee. Please tell me the last time Shaq shot a face up 8-12ft jumpshot. C'mon your giving Shaq way too much credit dude.

Shaq's success was because of his combination of strength and girth. Howard has upper body strength, but doesn't have nearly the girth Shaq had to move players out of his way. That's the only difference I see in their offensive games.

Shaq did have girth to move through players, but he could also at least get around players. Howard, when pushed a few feet from his comfort zone in the paint, can't seem to put his back to the basket and push himself in the few feet needed.

[z0sa]

Shaq did have girth to move through players, but he could also at least get around players.

This is one of Shaq's greatest athletic abilities - he is very nimble "on his toes." He can make quick moves 99% of big men his size and strength can't even dream about, even now at 37 years old. While he has always been a power player, Shaq had the ability to spin right around guys his size or dribble drive past them for hooks.

All this said, Howard definitely falls into the 1% of extremely nimble big men athletes along with Shaq. We all know of D12's incredible athleticism, but he's making something of it with that high speed running hook shot and plenty of finesse plays around the basket with either hand.

Howard, when pushed a few feet from his comfort zone in the paint, can't seem to put his back to the basket and push himself in the few feet needed.

This is where Shaq definitely has Howard beat. Shaq has that baseline fadeaway he pulls out from time to time that can bank or swish as well.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

haha Rappin' Shaq!!!

[Rappin' Shaq]

Me and Dwight....kids there's no comparison, ever
Lay off the pipe if ya think that there's even a sliver
Of a chance that he's anywhere close to my greatness
He's small potatoes, so let's not even debate this

With the Magic young Shaq could wreck a rim with ease
A dominating force never before seen in the league
Wreckx-n-Effect in my tape deck, bumpin Rump Shaker
Zoom a zoom zoom zoom then I jumped to the Lakers

Four rings later I'm the legend that you see today
Dwight couldn't handle a young me any which way
So take these bull comparisons & shove em in ya face
Yo, Dwight Howard, tell me how my ass taste!

[lebomb]

Huh?

The above in bold describes Shaq's offensive game to a tee. Please tell me the last time Shaq shot a face up 8-12ft jumpshot. C'mon your giving Shaq way too much credit dude.

Shaq's success was because of his combination of strength and girth. Howard has upper body strength, but doesn't have nearly the girth Shaq had to move players out of his way. That's the only difference I see in their offensive games.

Shaq could spin and hit the little baseline jumper. I havent seen Dwight even attempt a shot like this.

[Oh, Gee!!]

he's not as fat

[Indazone]

It ain't even close. Young Shaq vs DH would have Shaq eating DH for lunch. DH isn't even as good as Yao.

[JamStone]

Shaq could spin and hit the little baseline jumper. I havent seen Dwight even attempt a shot like this.

By little baseline jumper, do you mean that one handed face-up hook? That's not a jumper.

If Shaq made more than 10 "short jumpers" in his entire NBA career, I'd be surprised.

[Indazone]

Shaq can't hit a free throw and he's worthless outside of 5 feet from the rim.

[lebomb]

By little baseline jumper, do you mean that one handed face-up hook?

, I would even take that from Dwight right now. He has no game outside of a dunk. Ive watched him the whole playoffs, and every highlight is only a dunk. Shaq had better footwork, could spin........hit that lil jumper (half hook) whatever, its still a shot FARTHER out than whatever Ive seen Dwight do.

I like Dwight Howard a lot. I just call it as I see it. The playoffs have shown the weak spots in his game thats all.

[Indazone]

Dwight has no offensive game outside from close in. He doesn't have range and he doesn't have the footwork either. Kareem is right that he has a lot of room to grow. Now can he develop that footwork? Of course he can. But it will take a lot of work one on one with a coach and entire summers of drills.