Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc?

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Could Wemby slow down or stop Shaq 1on1

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No
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Total votes: 217

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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#141 » by Sane » Thu Oct 23, 2025 7:35 pm

Absolutely yes. Skinny Yao slowed him plenty with intelligence and height despite Shaq trying to bully him. By the time Yao bulked up, he was shaq's individual matchup nightmare and would go head to head with him. Didn't last long enough to finally overtake him unfortunately.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#142 » by axeman23 » Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:03 pm

SlimShady83 wrote:
Lalouie wrote:some additional context.

prime shaq weight 100lbs more than wemby
additionally, if wemby were chet's height, 7'1, he would weight 193lbs, 15lbs LESS THAN chet himself :lol: :lol: :lol:


It's a Thursday night for me and I'm on holidays lols, can't wait for the replies tomorow and onwards :lol: :party: FYI I only drink on wknd or holidays :lol: I swear I'm not an alco :lol:


Every day's a holiday somewhere! :lol:
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#143 » by NZB2323 » Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:05 pm

I don’t think they’d have Wemby guard Shaq 1-on-1. I think they’d try and have Wemby front Shaq and have a man behind for defense as the primary way to stop players from passing the ball to Shaq.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#144 » by SlimShady83 » Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:06 pm

axeman23 wrote:Every day's a holiday somewhere! :lol:

lol can't beleive this thread got bumped :)
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#145 » by axeman23 » Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:07 pm

SlimShady83 wrote:
JDR720 wrote:Now, Shaq would actually have the leverage/center of gravity advantage against Wemby. Wemby would be broken in half 1v1. The ideal matchup for Shaq is someone like Rodman, a physically smaller/shorter player yet who is still very strong/stocky.


Wanted to quote the rest, but this will do for now. How would you or others for that matter feel about Draymond Green Guarding Shaq? He has stated in one of his youtube videos can't quote in current state lols, that he would be able to guard shaq in his superteam of the GSW's, hopefully this making sense.

different topic but meh.


Depends: does Green get to kick Shaq in the nuts? :lol:
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#146 » by axeman23 » Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:17 pm

Sane wrote:Absolutely yes. Skinny Yao slowed him plenty with intelligence and height despite Shaq trying to bully him. By the time Yao bulked up, he was shaq's individual matchup nightmare and would go head to head with him. Didn't last long enough to finally overtake him unfortunately.


"Skinny" Ming was still around 60lb heavier than Wemby...
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#147 » by Sane » Thu Oct 23, 2025 11:13 pm

axeman23 wrote:
Sane wrote:Absolutely yes. Skinny Yao slowed him plenty with intelligence and height despite Shaq trying to bully him. By the time Yao bulked up, he was shaq's individual matchup nightmare and would go head to head with him. Didn't last long enough to finally overtake him unfortunately.


"Skinny" Ming was still around 60lb heavier than Wemby...


That's cause he's taller and his calves are disproportionately large. He was still easily and brutally backed down by Shaq before a shot was taken. He just learned to pull the rug from under the post up or just stay in position enough to challenge the shot at its peak.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#148 » by Optms » Thu Oct 23, 2025 11:15 pm

Shaq would ragdoll Wemby. But Shaq also wouldn't be able to keep up with GOATYama.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#149 » by axeman23 » Fri Oct 24, 2025 2:08 am

Sane wrote:
axeman23 wrote:
Sane wrote:Absolutely yes. Skinny Yao slowed him plenty with intelligence and height despite Shaq trying to bully him. By the time Yao bulked up, he was shaq's individual matchup nightmare and would go head to head with him. Didn't last long enough to finally overtake him unfortunately.


"Skinny" Ming was still around 60lb heavier than Wemby...


That's cause he's taller and his calves are disproportionately large. He was still easily and brutally backed down by Shaq before a shot was taken. He just learned to pull the rug from under the post up or just stay in position enough to challenge the shot at its peak.


To DO a rug-pull in the FIRST place, requires the ability to apply some tangible resistance: Something that Yao's lower body allowed him to do, and Wemby's lower body would NOT...
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#150 » by D.Brasco » Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:36 am

Wemby is amazing but prime Shaq would have injured him

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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#151 » by LockoutSeason » Fri Oct 24, 2025 9:06 am

Rik Smits and Rookie Yao both gave Shaq problems.

The two prototypes that fared the best vs. Shaq were short, strong guys with low centers of gravity and extremely tall guys.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#152 » by SlimShady83 » Fri Oct 24, 2025 9:41 am

Look I love you guys, but I did this during the slow offseason and on holidays haha, even during the convo's I admit, Wemby would get wrecked by Shaq facing him and having Shaq catching the ball down low all Shaq would need to do is drop that shoulder and GG - no one in today's game could stop Shaq completely 1on1 even Green admitted this in his interview LOL.

But in saying that like I said during the thread, Wemby would be guarding Shaq in front not behind, or from the weak side as others have said, but because this thread has been bumped due to the Wemby fans and with all due to respect to Wemby/fans not even Wemby can stop Shaq once Shaq got he ball down low and backing Wemby down low, which is what I was getting at when I posted the thread, I'm working on a part 2, stay tuned, will be a doozy :)

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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#153 » by D.Brasco » Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:13 pm

LockoutSeason wrote:Rik Smits and Rookie Yao both gave Shaq problems.

The two prototypes that fared the best vs. Shaq were short, strong guys with low centers of gravity and extremely tall guys.


You can't compare Yao's build to Wemby. Similar height but Yao was over 300 lbs with very large solid legs.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#154 » by mojomarc » Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:28 pm

SlimShady83 wrote:B4 heading off to sleep Aussie time, here is youtube of Rodaman shutting off Shaq, surely Wemby could do same at least for some spurts?



Rodman may have been the best individual defender of all time (he's in the discussion). And Shaq averaged 27/13 against him for his career. I don't think that Wemby's length will really be an issue for Shaq as much as Shaq's bulk and strength would be an issue for Wemby. And let's not forget--while Wemby is definitely quick, Rodman was ridiculously quick, and that's what gave Rodman an even hand with much bigger players like Malone and Shaq.

Shaq had less success against players like Sabonis and Yao, who had massive bulk that could counter him, than he did against longer, less bulky guys. So I think until Wemby puts on about 40lbs or until he develops Wilt Chamberlain strength, Shaq (particularly prime Shaq) would make for a really tough challenge for Wemby. Probably one where he fouls out quickly if he's not careful.

Now what could be interesting is if Wemby is allowed to play off Shaq as a help defender while a really bulky guy bodies Shaq below. If forced to those little jump hooks Shaq used to do, Wemby is quick enough from weakside to get in there and block or alter those shots without having a big chance of getting a foul.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#155 » by MrGoat » Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:50 pm

LockoutSeason wrote:Rik Smits and Rookie Yao both gave Shaq problems.

The two prototypes that fared the best vs. Shaq were short, strong guys with low centers of gravity and extremely tall guys.


Yao Ming was also 300+ himself.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#156 » by elchengue20 » Fri Oct 24, 2025 8:51 pm

No chance, for example Mutombo who was the same bodytype and an elite defender got absolute oliberated by peak Shaq.

These long ectomorphs are not strong in post defense where the priority is strength at the base.

Peak Shaq could only be defended by someone very very strong.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#157 » by og15 » Fri Oct 24, 2025 9:13 pm

LockoutSeason wrote:Rik Smits and Rookie Yao both gave Shaq problems.

The two prototypes that fared the best vs. Shaq were short, strong guys with low centers of gravity and extremely tall guys.

Comparing Yao and Wemby is like comparing Kyle Lowry and Brandon Jennings ability to guard the post because they are both 6'0 to 6'1. It's certainly no secret that Yao had a stocky lower body and that Wemby does not have anything like that.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#158 » by Scalabrine » Fri Oct 24, 2025 9:31 pm

No but Shaq couldn't guard him either.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#159 » by MalonesElbows » Fri Oct 24, 2025 10:26 pm

Could 236 lb Wemby stop Shaq? Not a chance. You needed to be in the 300 lb club like Yao or have a super strong, low center of gravity to absorb his shoulder rams.
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Re: Could Wemby stop or slow down Shaq on defense? 1on1 force him to pass etc? 

Post#160 » by axeman23 » Fri Oct 24, 2025 11:06 pm

D.Brasco wrote:
LockoutSeason wrote:Rik Smits and Rookie Yao both gave Shaq problems.

The two prototypes that fared the best vs. Shaq were short, strong guys with low centers of gravity and extremely tall guys.


You can't compare Yao's build to Wemby. Similar height but Yao was over 300 lbs with very large solid legs.


Even Smits was 15lb heavier and noticably thicker. Also, not sure about Smits really "slowing Shaq down" all that much: Shaq averaged 29 and 13 vs Smits. And this coming from someone who appreciated the face Smits and Indy's frontline overall (the Davis brothers), didn't just roll out the welcome mat for Shaq.

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