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Which duo would you rather build around??

What era? Today, easily West/Bird who should both be strongly aided by today's NBA. I see each being able to raise their 3PA quite a bit and be very successful and each having good size and range for their position. Add that West is a good POA defender and Bird would be capable of playing the modern 4 defensively instead of being out of position at the 3 as he was in Boston and they should do a great job.

Shaq in an era with center dominance and weak centers like the 70s would make the Shaq/Luka combination brutal; even Kareem had trouble against massively strong physical guys like Moses. In the ABA he would be even more unguardable. Today, however, would be hunted for mismatches far more than they've ever managed with a player like Rudy Gobert. Luka in other eras would still be a big, supertalented scorer and playmaker with defensive issues so similar value.

Luka Shaq, not even close.

Boy, would I pay money to watch Lakers' Luka and Shaq defend a pick and roll.

Luka & Shaq and it's not even remotely close.

Shaq would foul out in 10 minutes in today's soft, flopping league. This game now is for little perimeter players, not strong BIGs

DorianRo wrote:Shaq would foul out in 10 minutes in today's soft, flopping league. This game now is for little perimeter players, not strong BIGs

That's why little perimeter players like Jokic or Giannis thrive in today's league, right?

Offensive fouling every possession and being awarded free throws is, in practice, the same as flopping. (not saying it didn't go both ways and Shaq didn't absorb massive amounts of contact in return)

70sFan wrote:

DorianRo wrote:Shaq would foul out in 10 minutes in today's soft, flopping league. This game now is for little perimeter players, not strong BIGs

That's why little perimeter players like Jokic or Giannis thrive in today's league, right?

Joker isn't a traditional big man and plays nothing like Shaq in terms of physicality

DorianRo wrote:

70sFan wrote:

DorianRo wrote:Shaq would foul out in 10 minutes in today's soft, flopping league. This game now is for little perimeter players, not strong BIGs

That's why little perimeter players like Jokic or Giannis thrive in today's league, right?

Joker isn't a traditional big man and plays nothing like Shaq in terms of physicality

Jokic is an upgraded version of offensive big and is extremely physical. I have no idea what you are talking about.

Jaivl wrote:Boy, would I pay money to watch Lakers' Luka and Shaq defend a pick and roll.

And I would pay money to watch Larry Bird try to defend...anything.

Or attack anything for that matter.

Luka/Shaq pretty easily. Bird has massive physical and skill limitations both ways and there is no chance his shooting is the outlier it used to be now with defenses actually trying as he ups his volume. Even assuming West translates perfectly (including physically), he's too small to cover for Bird on one end and does not have anywhere near the talent the other two have on the other.

OhayoKD wrote:

Jaivl wrote:Boy, would I pay money to watch Lakers' Luka and Shaq defend a pick and roll.

And I would pay money to watch Larry Bird try to defend...anything.

Or attack anything for that matter.

You can do that by watching games, you know?

70sFan wrote:

OhayoKD wrote:

Jaivl wrote:Boy, would I pay money to watch Lakers' Luka and Shaq defend a pick and roll.

And I would pay money to watch Larry Bird try to defend...anything.

Or attack anything for that matter.

You can do that by watching games, you know?

Unfortunately for Bird, it's precisely "watching the games" that calls into question why he's being discussed in the same breath as Shaq or Luka outside of a purely era-relative convo.

"Talent math" is close but Bird/West are much easier to build around. Ditto what penbeast said too... The modern NBA suits both players extremely well. It could be argued that 2 top 10-15 players would rate even higher today.

One_and_Done wrote:Luka & Shaq and it's not even remotely close.

"Not even remotely close" is wild lol, Bird/West are 2 of the best players of all time with complementary skillsets. It's fine to pick Shaq/Luka but please justify your response... I'm curious is all

70sFan wrote:

OhayoKD wrote:

Jaivl wrote:Boy, would I pay money to watch Lakers' Luka and Shaq defend a pick and roll.

And I would pay money to watch Larry Bird try to defend...anything.

Or attack anything for that matter.

You can do that by watching games, you know?

Doing WHAT, now?????????? Why would one do that?

GeorgeMarcus wrote:"Talent math" is close but Bird/West are much easier to build around. Ditto what penbeast said too... The modern NBA suits both players extremely well. It could be argued that 2 top 10-15 players would rate even higher today.

One_and_Done wrote:Luka & Shaq and it's not even remotely close.

"Not even remotely close" is wild lol, Bird/West are 2 of the best players of all time with complementary skillsets. It's fine to pick Shaq/Luka but please justify your response... I'm curious is all

West wouldn't be a star today, and the other 3 would, so it's not close.

One_and_Done wrote:

GeorgeMarcus wrote:"Talent math" is close but Bird/West are much easier to build around. Ditto what penbeast said too... The modern NBA suits both players extremely well. It could be argued that 2 top 10-15 players would rate even higher today.

One_and_Done wrote:Luka & Shaq and it's not even remotely close.

"Not even remotely close" is wild lol, Bird/West are 2 of the best players of all time with complementary skillsets. It's fine to pick Shaq/Luka but please justify your response... I'm curious is all

West wouldn't be a star today, and the other 3 would, so it's not close.

I mean... Based on what? He was extremely efficient during a time when outside shooting wasn't valued liked it would be today. A big, athletic combo guard that played seamlessly with or without the ball in his hands. Sounds like a near perfect archetype for a modern NBA guard

Jaivl wrote:

70sFan wrote:

OhayoKD wrote:And I would pay money to watch Larry Bird try to defend...anything.

Or attack anything for that matter.

You can do that by watching games, you know?

Doing WHAT, now?????????? Why would one do that?

Am I the only one who finds it weird how people who've never broken down tape are the ones most likely to pretend others don't watch?

GeorgeMarcus wrote:"Talent math" is close.

Nope.

t could be argued that 2 top 10-15 players would rate even higher today.

No it can't.