When can Shaq play with Andy or Z?

landphil · Post #1 » by **landphil** » Sat Aug 1, 2009 3:19 pm

I know it is crazy to think that we could throw Z and Shaq out there for any extended, or even short, length of time at the 4 and the 5 positions at the same time but is there any situation you guys do see that working? It doesnt necessarily have to be a specific team but what kind of system and what kind of players does the other team have to have on the floor for this to work for even a short while?

Same thing goes for Andy and Shaq? At least Z can stretch the floor with a mid range shot but Andy doesnt have one and neither does shaq, so in what situations do you see the Shaq/Andy partnership working?

Post #2 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Aug 1, 2009 3:52 pm

The Cavs actually played Wallace and Varejao together, to think they wouldn't play Shaq and Varejao together is just wrong. I think that at present they will be the starters unless the Cavs make a PF move during the season trading Z.

Benedict_Boozer · Post #3 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Sat Aug 1, 2009 4:03 pm

For better or worse Mike Brown will def throw out Shaq/Varejao.

As Outlaw said he played Varejao/Ben Wallace for huge chunks of time. He sees the game from the defensive end only, that's how he coaches.

Shaq/Z could play together against taller front lines like Bynum/Gasol or Dwight/Gortat, etc. Or against teams where the PF wasn't a scoring threat off the dribble.

Niko23 · Post #4 » by **Niko23** » Sat Aug 1, 2009 5:37 pm

See this cracks me up about how Andy and Shaq cannot play together.

Here is the play that we will run in the 4th quarter.

Lebron has the ball at the top with DWest and Mo spread at the corners. AV sets a screen for LB at the top and as usual LB goes right to the rim. Now, he has a few options:

1) If the OP center steps in, Shaq has an easy dunk.
2) If the OP center backs off, LB has an easy dunk and 1.
3) OP player guarding West or Mo steps in to help, LB passes to shooter for open 3
4) If OP center steps in and OP wing rotates to help on Shaq, Mo or West have an open 3 or Shaq has an easy seal for a dunk.

I can see this run over and over and over and over.........

Post #5 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Aug 1, 2009 9:52 pm

It's almost like you've seen the Cavs play before.

landphil · Post #6 » by **landphil** » Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:14 am

I wasnt necessarily trying to sound like I didnt want shaq and Andy being the starters and playing at the same time, I just know that people have said it wont work and I wanted to know in what situations throwing two big guys out there to clog the middle might work to our advantage and really create problems for the other team. I personally like the idea of a very large lineup that can really do things on the inside (Lebron/Shaq/Andy) vs some smaller lineups we could have as change of pace (Lebron/Moon/Z or Moon/Lebron/Z etc. I could go on for days probably).

Does anyone see Z/Shaq being a feasible mix it up lineup? I know it couldnt work in the long run and neither of them are ever or have ever been anything close to a 4 but does anyone think it could work in limited situations and will we ever try it?

boshjonesford · Post #7 » by **boshjonesford** » Sun Aug 2, 2009 6:07 am

You guys are facing us in our home opener i wonder how they are gonna guard the quicknesss and the grate shooting abiliity of Bosh and Andrea,,,,

then again we might get murdered in the paint by shaq,,.,,,

on the positive hand i think that Bosh will bring his A game against Shaq and Cavs due to the Rupaul comment so watch out ...

its gonna be a fun home opener

viewtopic.php?t=934309

InBoobieWeTrust · Post #8 » by **InBoobieWeTrust** » Sun Aug 2, 2009 6:40 am

boshjonesford wrote:You guys are facing us in our home opener i wonder how they are gonna guard the quicknesss and the grate shooting abiliity of Bosh and Andrea,,,,

then again we might get murdered in the paint by shaq,,.,,,

on the positive hand i think that Bosh will bring his A game against Shaq and Cavs due to the Rupaul comment so watch out ...

its gonna be a fun home opener

viewtopic.php?t=934309

Varejao can guard either one of them effectively.

LeBron and Shaq are going to have a field day in the paint against you guys.

eyejayem · Post #9 » by **eyejayem** » Sun Aug 2, 2009 1:00 pm

Actually I think we will see a lot of Shaq and Z especially when we want to slow the game down. I could see Shaq on the low block on one side and Z on the high opposite side. You have a player at the 3 in the corner next to Z. A player at the top of the key and the player with the entry pass from the elbow. Shaq goes one on one and use his great passing to find the open man. Z's man would be the easiest but Z gets an open shot he can make every time. If someone rotates to Z you have an open 3 from the corner or top of the key. If the passer's defender doubles either an open 3 or Shaq passes out and reestablishes better position.

This would likely be a situation against a team that isn't a good 3pt shooting team. So we would already have the paint clogged.

Post #10 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sun Aug 2, 2009 3:11 pm

Like Toronto is going to be a problem. We've dealt with the quickness/softness of Bosh for years.

jnester71 · Post #11 » by **jnester71** » Wed Aug 5, 2009 5:29 am

Toronto wasn't a team I was fearing either based on paper.. but I suspect they will still play the game

Who are the guards in Toronto? Jarret Jack and Bellinelli? Not very scary there

Hedo can be a problem - I think most of us would agree to that

Benedict_Boozer · Post #12 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Wed Aug 5, 2009 4:03 pm

TOR - I like their fans - but we will steamroll them.

If they trot out Bargniani at Center Shaq and Lebron will run a layup drill

Post #13 » by **Rise Against** » Wed Aug 5, 2009 9:36 pm

Benedict_Boozer wrote:TOR - I like their fans - but we will steamroll them.

If they trot out Bargniani at Center Shaq and Lebron will run a layup drill

And we may see a little something like this.

tranjSAIC · Post #14 » by **tranjSAIC** » Thu Aug 6, 2009 5:23 pm

Shaq can play with Andy or Z, if it was 1994.

Gordon Bombay · Post #15 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Thu Aug 6, 2009 5:51 pm

tranjSAIC wrote:Shaq can play with Andy or Z, if it was 1994.

swing and a miss

marc2210 · Post #16 » by **marc2210** » Thu Aug 6, 2009 6:51 pm

Shaq and Z can play together offensively, but not defensively. Neither can guard any PFs. I hope we NEVER see that lineup.

Shaq and Varajao can play very well together defensively but will struggle offensively. Sadly, I think we'll see that lineup alot.

Andy and Z can play together on offense and defense. I dont think we'll see that much though.

If I were the coach I would start Shaq with either Hickson, Moon, or Lebron at PF, and bring Andy and Z off the bench together. Shaq and Z would each play 24 minutes at C, and all of Z's minutes would be with Varajao. If Varajao needed more minutes he could play a couple with Shaq. I really doubt that will happen though, so...

the big man lineup of Shaq and Andy will only work against teams with two big big men.

LA, this is the only team that I actually like Shaq and Andy together against.
Boston, this could maybe work
San Antonio, once again maybe this would work

thats about it though.