RealGM

Who would be the better big man combo

Stoudemire and Duncan... Shaq and Howard have comparable range and would conflict every time down the floor unless Howard bought into a specialist role as a rebounder and weakside help defender.

Duncan would be the center and Amare has the jumper to play the high post, work more pick-and-rolls and generally stay the Hell out of Duncan's way.

EDIT: IF Howard decided to take that specialist role, though, it's be maybe a different story because they'd have more defensive punch and better rebounding.

Shaq+Howard would just be too strong for Duncan+Amare. Prime Shaq was on the 2000 All NBA defensive 2nd team (behind a prime Alonzo Mourning). Amare is a weak link here defensively, and because of that, it's got to be Shaq+Howard.

Its not which pair you would take AGAINST the other, its which you would want overall. Yes shaq and howard could overpower duncan and amare, but that isnt the question, which tandem would be better in the long run

Both would be incredible. Amare and Duncan probably compliment eachother better, but a Dwight Howard and prime Shaq would just completely dominate any bigmen they face. Howard is grabbing 14 boards a night now, imagine if a team had to worry about both Howard AND a prime Shaq on the boards.

Dwight and Shaq.

shaq and howard

Howard and Shaq.

Shaq>Duncan
D12>Amare

Dwight and Shaq no doubt. Even if Amare and Duncan play better together, you can't ignore how dominant Dwight and Shaq would be even if they conflict each other. They'll be on the offensive class all night long.

you pair duncan up with a scrub who doesnt play defense? gtfo

It's tough to say how they'd work in combination, but individually I'd take Howard over Amare, and prime Shaq over prime Duncan.

Dwight and Shaq would get in each others way. Amare+Duncan.

tsherkin wrote:Stoudemire and Duncan... Shaq and Howard have comparable range and would conflict every time down the floor unless Howard bought into a specialist role as a rebounder and weakside help defender.

Duncan would be the center and Amare has the jumper to play the high post, work more pick-and-rolls and generally stay the Hell out of Duncan's way.

EDIT: IF Howard decided to take that specialist role, though, it's be maybe a different story because they'd have more defensive punch and better rebounding.

I fully agree. Imo Howard and Shaq might a bit too redundant for a particular team. Neither of the players are capable of hitting a mid range jumper or setup plays from the high post.

UDRIH14 wrote:you pair duncan up with a scrub who doesnt play defense? gtfo

Amare's a scrub?

rsavaj wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Amare's a scrub?

I didn't hear Duncan calling him a scrub when he was dropping 35+ on his head every night

NO-KG-AI wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I didn't hear Duncan calling him a scrub when he was dropping 35+ on his head every night

Duncan was too busy thinking about the next series..where he won his 3rd title..

but anyways, Amare isn't a scrub, my man Udrih just hates him obviously lol..I hate Amare too, but I respect his game..

HarlemHeat37 wrote:but anyways, Amare isn't a scrub, my man Udrih just hates him obviously lol..I hate Amare too, but I respect his offense..

Corrected...

Though to be fair to Amare, his help defense is actually a lot better than it used to be (I saw that pretty clearly in the PHO/LAL game and elsewhere this season) but he's a freaking AWFUL man defender.

Prime Shaq was on a level above everyone. This would be a much more fair comparison(not to mention their games fit better too) if it was Shaq + Amare vs Howard + Duncan.

I think everyone would take Howard and Duncan unless they were die hard shaq fans