New Team: Jordan/Shaq or Curry/Lebron

[Matt15]

Which duo would you rather build around in todays league?

[No-more-rings]

I’m taking Jordan/Shaq. Curry is the clear worst player for me here.

[pipfan]

Obviously can't go wrong with either group, but give me MJ/Shaq-for the defense

[eminence]

Give me Curry/LeBron for the defense. Shaqs getting cooked worse than Jokic in todays league. I imagine the personalities mesh better as well.

[Dutchball97]

Assuming the personalities are the same Shaq and MJ are probably going to clash harder than Shaq and Kobe did, especially since being an out of shape big man is even more detrimental nowadays than it was in the early 00s. Those first years together would be something very special but I think a LeBron/Curry combo would have nearly as much success and be able to do it for longer with less off-court hiccups so I'd take LeBron/Curry here.

[MacGill]

Shaq/MJ may be the greatest 1-2 punch we never got to see!! But we got very close to it

[dygaction]

Give me the two players who orchestrated the only 3x three-peats with 9 Finals MVPs.

[spree8]

In todays league I’m taking the Orlando version of Shaq… much more agile, explosive, and a terror in transition. Him and MJ would be ridiculously unstoppable.

[ardee]

Shaq/MJ may be the greatest 1-2 punch we never got to see!! But we got very close to it

Holy moly haven't seen you around here in a LONG time.

[ardee]

I am taking Curry/LeBron. LeBron is the clear best player here and I think him and Steph are both better teammates than the other two and will mesh better for longer.

[Eagle4]

Wow I must be bugging because I'd take Jordan/Shaq EAAAAAASILY. People forget Shaq started off very agile and nimble initiating fast breaks, was an actual menace defensively early on in Orlando. He didn't get drafted as the lumbering behemoth he was later on with his stint on the Lakers. Also, who's to say MJ's work ethic and leadership doesn't rub off on Shaq into keeping that shape? Then you have the GOAT, self explanatory.

So you have GOAT-tier offense, elite defense vs GOAT-tier offense, decent defense (Curry is a passable defender at best and LeBron only became an elite defender after '07).

[70sFan]

Wow I must be bugging because I'd take Jordan/Shaq EAAAAAASILY. People forget Shaq started off very agile and nimble initiating fast breaks, was an actual menace defensively early on in Orlando. He didn't get drafted as the lumbering behemoth he was later on with his stint on the Lakers. Also, who's to say MJ's work ethic and leadership doesn't rub off on Shaq into keeping that shape? Then you have the GOAT, self explanatory.

So you have GOAT-tier offense, elite defense vs GOAT-tier offense, decent defense (Curry is a passable defender at best and LeBron only became an elite defender after '07).

I don't think Jordan/Shaq pairing guarantees you elite defense.

[eminence]

Even when he was more nimble Shaq always had a relatively poor understanding of defensive principles, he was never a defensive menace.

I think it guarantees you not having an elite defense (somewhat realistic team building requirements, sure if you can get Duncan/KG as your PF I guess you could still be elite). But MJ+Shaq+regular starters of today (say something like substituting them for Beal/Porzingis on the Wizards). Monte Morris/MJ/Kispert or Avdija/Kuzma/Shaq is not anything like an elite defense.

The Magic were 12th, 15th, 13th, 12th on defense in Shaqs time, in a league much more friendly to his strengths on defense.

[OhayoKD]

Wow I must be bugging because I'd take Jordan/Shaq EAAAAAASILY. People forget Shaq started off very agile and nimble initiating fast breaks, was an actual menace defensively early on in Orlando. He didn't get drafted as the lumbering behemoth he was later on with his stint on the Lakers. Also, who's to say MJ's work ethic and leadership doesn't rub off on Shaq into keeping that shape? Then you have the GOAT, self explanatory.

So you have GOAT-tier offense, elite defense vs GOAT-tier offense, decent defense (Curry is a passable defender at best and LeBron only became an elite defender after '07).

I don't think Jordan/Shaq pairing guarantees you elite defense.

defense is always ignored in these convos. rinse and repeat

[Ainosterhaspie]

Also, who's to say MJ's work ethic and leadership doesn't rub off on Shaq into keeping that shape? Then you have the GOAT, self explanatory.

Didn't Kobe try that? Eventual result was an acrimonious break up. I'm not seeing Shaq responding well to Jordan's prodding and there is likely going to be a good bit of tension over who is the center of the offense.

---

Jordan and Shaq are both elite offensive players no doubt, but the fit and synergy on offense isn't going to be as strong as the James/Curry pairing. Curry might be the best possible superstar fit next to James.

Jordan/Shaq are clearly the better defensive duo, but in today's game their strengths on that end aren't going to be as impactful as they would be in earlier eras.

Shaq would need to be 90s Shaq not 00s Shaq. If my memory is correct the weight gain was a deliberate response to how he was defended. In today's game adding the weight would be a disadvantage so I would assume he would remain the lighter faster version of himself.

Jordan would need a better three point shot and presumably in today's game he would work maniacly to develop one. He probably ends up with strong three point shot, but it's not guaranteed. Without that the adavntage for Curry/LeBron for sure. With it, things are closer.

I also think LeBron/Curry pairing is stronger when one is sitting compared to the other duo. Edge is Curry/LeBron in today's game, probably Jordan/Shaq in 90s and 00s.

[parsnips33]

Somebody in another thread said Bron and Steph are spirit teammates and I love that description. Love the hypothetical fit with those 2

[Cavsfansince84]

Well, to me when you have a duo that should absolutely wreck competition the only thing worth considering are chinks in the armor and I think MJ/Shaq has a larger chink in terms of Shaq's ft shooting. LeBron/Steph gives you two ball handlers to lead the offense when one isn't on the court and will most likely lead to the highest rs/ps ORtg's in the history of the game. So I'd be good with LeBron/Steph. Of course MJ/Shaq are most likely winning rings too so its pretty much splitting hairs here as it is almost whenever you are pairing top 20 players of all time. The result is going to be lots of wins.

[OhayoKD]

Well, to me when you have a duo that should absolutely wreck competition the only thing worth considering are chinks in the armor and I think MJ/Shaq has a larger chink in terms of Shaq's ft shooting. LeBron/Steph gives you two ball handlers to lead the offense when one isn't on the court and will most likely lead to the highest rs/ps ORtg's in the history of the game. So I'd be good with LeBron/Steph. Of course MJ/Shaq are most likely winning rings too so its pretty much splitting hairs here as it is almost whenever you are pairing top 20 players of all time. The result is going to be lots of wins.

Again, I'd reccomend using the frame where they enter the same league and have to wreck each other.

To that end Curry is probably a terrible matchup for Shaq.

[Cavsfansince84]

Again, I'd reccomend using the frame where they enter the same league and have to wreck each other.

To that end Curry is probably a terrible matchup for Shaq.

Well I get your point but again I don't see it as part of the op. So you might be right but I don't think its that pertinent to the thread. If that's meant to be the scenario then it should just be called 'which duo do you favor in a 7 game series'.

[Eagle4]

Also, who's to say MJ's work ethic and leadership doesn't rub off on Shaq into keeping that shape? Then you have the GOAT, self explanatory.

Didn't Kobe try that? Eventual result was an acrimonious break up. I'm not seeing Shaq responding well to Jordan's prodding and there is likely going to be a good bit of tension over who is the center of the offense.

---

Jordan and Shaq are both elite offensive players no doubt, but the fit and synergy on offense isn't going to be as strong as the James/Curry pairing. Curry might be the best possible superstar fit next to James.

Jordan/Shaq are clearly the better defensive duo, but in today's game their strengths on that end aren't going to be as impactful as they would be in earlier eras.

Shaq would need to be 90s Shaq not 00s Shaq. If my memory is correct the weight gain was a deliberate response to how he was defended. In today's game adding the weight would be a disadvantage so I would assume he would remain the lighter faster version of himself.

Jordan would need a better three point shot and presumably in today's game he would work maniacly to develop one. He probably ends up with strong three point shot, but it's not guaranteed. Without that the adavntage for Curry/LeBron for sure. With it, things are closer.

I also think LeBron/Curry pairing is stronger when one is sitting compared to the other duo. Edge is Curry/LeBron in today's game, probably Jordan/Shaq in 90s and 00s.

Shaq was lumbering and on the Lakers by the time he received a 17 year old. Not quite the same as kids coming in, Shaq seeing a disciplined, constant working from the jump in a slimmer body as I stated.

Lebron Curry may have a better synergistic effect but not enough to overcome the gap in defense. With MJ Shaq being essentially a better Kobe/Shaq and we already saw the result of rhat.