Could anyone have made Shaq a "side kick" In the 3peat, 00, 01,02

[Cavsfansince84]

Yeah, but not many.

James Harden, Michael Jordan and Some Kobe years.

Harden in that 00-02 period? idk about that. He's not going to get near the same calls he did in those 17-19 years, wouldn't get away with near the same loosely called dribbling he did and wouldn't be allowed to just spam 3 pters either. Harden and Kobe both seem like strange inclusions. Even MJ, I couldn't see Shaq being seen as a sidekick unless a coach is just too stupid to let him be Shaq which seems unlikely. If anything I think MJ would force him to be more active on defense which just increases his impact.

[Lost92Bricks]

Duncan was better than Shaq in 2002.

[CodeBreaker]

Prime MJ

[penbeast0]

Harden, Duncan, Jordan, do you really think a coach moves Shaq out of the post to make the offense resolve around someone else? It's not who the best player is, it's how you build your offensive structure. With Harden or Jordan, you build around Shaq's ability to draw attention and help clear a side of the floor for them to attack. With Duncan, you go double post with Duncan in the mid on the weakside since Shaq is less bothered by doubles. You also have egos involved and Duncan would probably defer to Shaq as Shaq's repetoire is less versatile; Jordan and Harden would probably end up like Kobe and Shaq with both wanting more touches and neither happy.

[tsherkin]

You also have egos involved and Duncan would probably defer to Shaq as Shaq's repetoire is less versatile;

Barely. Duncan had a short jumper. That's the main difference. It did open some pick-and-roll and some face-up stuff. But because he was an inferior athlete, he also didn't have the same success on the offensive boards, nor was he as adept at moving without the ball. And of course, versatility is overrated when you're able to consistently establish and hold deep post position that allows you to smash dunks and draw tons of fouls.

Jordan and Harden would probably end up like Kobe and Shaq with both wanting more touches and neither happy.

Possible. Especially likely with Jordan. Likely less a problem with Harden IMHO, who has shared well with other ball handlers and scorers at various points in his career, and is a volume playmaker.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Early 90’s slashing MJ and peak Steph could get more shot attempts possibly but everything would revolve around Shaq.

I'm going to say KD because this actually reminds me of Durant on the Warriors. Everything revolved around Curry and the opposing defense focused on Curry, but Durant got a higher number of the shots.

Everyone wanted to deny Curry and the Warriors were perfectly content with Durant getting cleaner looks. I imagine it would be the same way with Shaq.

[tsherkin]

Early 90’s slashing MJ and peak Steph could get more shot attempts possibly but everything would revolve around Shaq.

I'm going to say KD because this actually reminds me of Durant on the Warriors. Everything revolved around Curry and the opposing defense focused on Curry, but Durant got a higher number of the shots.

Everyone wanted to deny Curry and the Warriors were perfectly content with Durant getting cleaner looks. I imagine it would be the same way with Shaq.

As an athletic movement shooter who is also quite adept in isolation, he'd be a very good fit, for sure.

[falcolombardi]

I think there are better offensive players, but in order to maximize shaq you kind of must built around his skillset first i think

[OhayoKD]

Early 90’s slashing MJ and peak Steph could get more shot attempts possibly but everything would revolve around Shaq.

I'm going to say KD because this actually reminds me of Durant on the Warriors. Everything revolved around Curry and the opposing defense focused on Curry, but Durant got a higher number of the shots.

Everyone wanted to deny Curry and the Warriors were perfectly content with Durant getting cleaner looks. I imagine it would be the same way with Shaq.

Everyone wanting to deny Curry still ended up with Curry getting less attention defensively than nearly any other offensive engine in the league

[tsherkin]

Early 90’s slashing MJ and peak Steph could get more shot attempts possibly but everything would revolve around Shaq.

I'm going to say KD because this actually reminds me of Durant on the Warriors. Everything revolved around Curry and the opposing defense focused on Curry, but Durant got a higher number of the shots.

Everyone wanted to deny Curry and the Warriors were perfectly content with Durant getting cleaner looks. I imagine it would be the same way with Shaq.

Everyone wanting to deny Curry still ended up with Curry getting less attention defensively than nearly any other offensive engine in the league

The KD years were a "pick 'em" for opposition defenses. Curry wasn't the only one with gravity, after all. KD had 4 scoring titles and an MVP prior to hitting Golden State's roster, and by that point had already logged 3 seasons of 40%+ from downtown, led the league in FT% despite high draw and was a well-known isolation virtuoso. You'd have to be a fool not to send coverage his way, to respect his gravity.

So that goes both ways. Curry benefited from that, but so did KD. And Steph was more of an off-ball guy, and of course so was Klay. What a brutal choice for a defense, right? Two movement shooters, then another guy who happens to be one of the greatest scorers in league history.

Damn.

[falcolombardi]

The idea that curry and durant didnt benefit mutually is pretty wild, because is not just durant who had his best playoffs scoring performances during those years

Warriors playoffs offense and curry playoffs scoring peaked too

[Joao Saraiva]

I think it's possible some players would be seen in 1a 1b situation with Shaq. Make him a sidekick? Shaq is at the top of the mountain peak wise. Along with MJ, Bron, Hakeem...

Those players aren't sidekicks to anyone. They can be 1a 1b at most. It isn't possible to consider em sidekicks, ever.

[SlimShady83]

I was mostly only referring to those who were actually playing during those 3 years as I stated and It proves my point since most are referring to others outside of those 3 years that no one could of made Shaq a sidekick, just pees me off that people (mostly haters) have to use this against Kobe as not being a number 1 option, just because he was playing with Shaq.

Some cases of Duncan being able to, but you also have to Include Shaq's ego back then and I don't think anybody but the goat (Jordan) himself could have made Shaq a sidekick, as great as Bron/Curry Is/was even prime Bron/Curry couldn't have made Shaq a sidekick In those 3 years, Shaq's ego would play a huge part.

Peace out.