How would Shaq fare against The Soviet Twin Mounts?

[70sFan]

The Soviet Union had arguably the biggest starting bigs in basketball history - young Arvydas Sabonis and veteran Vladimir Tkachenko. Sabonis was talented enough to handle the PF spot and Tkachenko was better offensively (although not as dominant defensively) Mark Eaton. Both were 7'3 and over 280 lbs (Vladimir was over 300 in fact).

How well do you think they would against Shaq both defensively and offensively? Do you think The Soviet Twin Mounts were good enough to contain Big Diesel?

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Effercon]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

[70sFan]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

Lakers swept them, not Shaq. Actually, Shaq played below his normal level against Spurs more times than not.

BTW, Duncan and Robinson are much different than Sabonis/Tkachenko.

[juice4080]

Méchoui for the whole eastern bloc

[Tinseltown]

Let me put it this way. If it had been Shaq playing in the 1988 Olympics and not Robinson then Sabonis never would have even tried to come to the NBA. He'd be too scared.

[Prokorov]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

Are you guys just too young to have actually seen any of sabonis? and i mean the closest equivolet would have been... you know... when Sabonis was actually playing shaq in the NBA{ older broken down portland saboni) s.... considering that version of sabonis did pretty well vs shaq, i think prime/peak sabonis would hold his own.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=sabonar01&p2=onealsh01

Later in like 99-00 shaq really dominated him but sabonis was one foot in the grave at that point... but in 96-97-98 sabonis played shaq as well as anyone (note: he didnt beast shaq or shut shaq down., but this was peak shaq and he gave him his moneys worth on several occasions).

A mobile Peak sabonis... who knows. but he would likely have been the best shaq ever played. and even old broken down sabonis did as well vs shaq as anyone not named rodman

[ronnymac2]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

Are you guys just too young to have actually seen any of sabonis? and i mean the closest equivolet would have been... you know... when Sabonis was actually playing shaq in the NBA{ older broken down portland saboni) s.... considering that version of sabonis did pretty well vs shaq, i think prime/peak sabonis would hold his own.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=sabonar01&p2=onealsh01

Later in like 99-00 shaq really dominated him but sabonis was one foot in the grave at that point... but in 96-97-98 sabonis played shaq as well as anyone (note: he didnt beast shaq or shut shaq down., but this was peak shaq and he gave him his moneys worth on several occasions).

A mobile Peak sabonis... who knows. but he would likely have been the best shaq ever played. and even old broken down sabonis did as well vs shaq as anyone not named rodman

I respectfully disagree man. In the 1997 and 1998 playoffs, we got to see prime Shaq face, as you said, the best NBA versions of Sabonis.

In 1997, Shaq dropped 33 points, 3 OREBs, 3.3 assists, and just 1.75 turnovers per game, shooting 57.8% True Shooting in 38.5 MPG. He got to the line nearly 15 times per game. 38.4 USG% and 121 individual offensive rating are elite offensive numbers.

In 1998, Shaq dropped 29 points, 3 offensive rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4 turnovers per game while shooting 62% True Shooting in 40 MPG. He got to the foul line 10 times per game. 31.9 USG% and 111 individual ORTG.

And Sabonis' offensive number are pretty poor during these playoff series, especially in 1997. This is not a center who played well against Shaq in 1997 and 1998.

[70sFan]

Remember that young Sabas is a totaly different player though - much more mobile and athletic. Not to mention that he wouldn't be main defender on Shaq - Tkachenko is immovable in the post, he is the real monster.

[Tinseltown]

Sabonis had one good game against Shaq in 97 but most of their games were extremely one sided.
http://www.basketball-reference.com//playoffs/1997-nba-western-conference-first-round-trail-blazers-vs-lakers.html

Look at what Sabonis put up in games 2 and 3. Sabonis averaged 2/3.5/1.5 and 5.5 fouls in 18 minutes a game while Shaq crushed the rest of his team

[jaypo]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

Lakers swept them, not Shaq. Actually, Shaq played below his normal level against Spurs more times than not.

BTW, Duncan and Robinson are much different than Sabonis/Tkachenko.

Why is it that in every "Shaq vs. Duncan" type discussion, it's always "TD outplayed Shaq". But when it's pointed out that Shaq gets the upper hand, it's always "the LAKERS won".

Can't have it both ways, folks!

[jaypo]

Oh, and to answer the question, Shaq would have decimated them. He always tried to destroy players like that.

[70sFan]

Pretty well.

The closest NBA equivalent would be the early 2000s Spurs with old Robinson and young Duncan, and prime Shaq swept them in 2001.

Lakers swept them, not Shaq. Actually, Shaq played below his normal level against Spurs more times than not.

BTW, Duncan and Robinson are much different than Sabonis/Tkachenko.

Why is it that in every "Shaq vs. Duncan" type discussion, it's always "TD outplayed Shaq". But when it's pointed out that Shaq gets the upper hand, it's always "the LAKERS won".

Can't have it both ways, folks!

I didn't say any word about Duncan in this thread. It's the fact that Shaq played below his normal standards against the Spurs and even in his best series against Spurs in 2001 he wasn't as dominant as in other series from 2000 and 2001 playoffs. There is nothing wrong with that - he faced amazing defensive bigs.

BTW, Shaq outperformed Duncan in 2001 series and Lakers swept Spurs. It wasn't always as clear though - in 2002 Duncan clearly outplayed Shaq (by a decent margin) even though Lakers won the series.

[70sFan]

Oh, and to answer the question, Shaq would have decimated them. He always tried to destroy players like that.

Did he ever play against a player similar to Tkachenko though? The closet comparison would be last season Eaton against rookie Shaq and based on stats he might have some problems with Big Mark.

I've seen only about 5 not-full games of Tkachenko (and mostly his old self) but he impressed me with his strength. He was just a tank, nobody could move him out of position. He might be too slow against Shaq, but his power is up there with any player.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

Tkachenko is terrifying lol

[jaypo]

Lakers swept them, not Shaq. Actually, Shaq played below his normal level against Spurs more times than not.

BTW, Duncan and Robinson are much different than Sabonis/Tkachenko.

Why is it that in every "Shaq vs. Duncan" type discussion, it's always "TD outplayed Shaq". But when it's pointed out that Shaq gets the upper hand, it's always "the LAKERS won".

Can't have it both ways, folks!

I didn't say any word about Duncan in this thread. It's the fact that Shaq played below his normal standards against the Spurs and even in his best series against Spurs in 2001 he wasn't as dominant as in other series from 2000 and 2001 playoffs. There is nothing wrong with that - he faced amazing defensive bigs.

BTW, Shaq outperformed Duncan in 2001 series and Lakers swept Spurs. It wasn't always as clear though - in 2002 Duncan clearly outplayed Shaq (by a decent margin) even though Lakers won the series.

What you said is exactly what I was talking about. It was never "Shaq vs. Duncan". They didn't cover each other! Shaq played below his "normal" standards because the Spurs were always equipped to contain Shaq- they would routinely sign bigs in the offseason just to have fouls to give. The Lakers covered TD with players like old Ho Grant, Horry, Mark Madson, and Slava. They were ill equipped to handle good PF's. That's the reason any team with decent PF play scored. Cwebb, KG, Sheed all had field days against the Lakers, and it wasn't because of Shaq.

[UDRIH14]

LOL only mentions the season shaq sweep spurs, but doesnt mention the season b4 it? double standards?

and that season the spurs didnt even have there 2nd best scorer who was out injured even b4 the series started, it was kobe that did the most damage in that series not shaq

[Andy_BBall]

Soviet chicken, Erneh

[70sFan]

Tkachenko is terrifying lol

He's not the guy you'd like to mess up with.

Watch on YouTube

That isn't even intentional move. I know Shaq used to kill any bigman in the NBA - even the largest ones, but Vladimir is a real monster. I'm not sure that would be a good idea to try to intimidate Tkachenko.

[juice4080]

the thing with shaq is not only about size..guys who were strong enough to man him up where nowhere near athletic enough to ultimately slow him down and also the fact that he was also quicker faster meant he could generate even more force than a player who was as strong as him but less athletic....unguardable ...there's not a human being that ever lived who could stop him 1vs1