The Best Shaq Defender. Who is it?

[TroubleS0me]

Who defended Shaq the best?

[SHAQ32]

Shaq said that early in his career, he struggled against Rik Smits. That obviously wasn't the case in the 2000 finals, though.

[DoctorX]

I would say Tim Duncan was the best Shaq defender I have seen. He primarily guarded him in the '02 playoffs and held Shaq to the worst series of his career at that point.

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[DWhiteMamba]

The 3pt line and modern rules are the best defender against Shaq, because he would have alot of problems staying on the floor against some teams. Other than that probably young Duncan and young D.Rob? People like to prop Hakeem for the 95 finals, but in truth Shaq went off in those finals. He definitely wasn't the reason they lost or were shut down.

[Blazers-1977]

The 3pt line and modern rules are the best defender against Shaq, because he would have alot of problems staying on the floor against some teams. Other than that probably young Duncan and young D.Rob? People like to prop Hakeem for the 95 finals, but in truth Shaq went off in those finals. He definitely wasn't the reason they lost or were shut down.

I disagree, Shaq would instantly change the nature of play in today's NBA as he would be even more dominant down low then he was back then and you can easily play inside-out with him.

[Djoker]

An older David Robinson was the best Shaq defender IMO. In those series from 1999 to 2003 he did a pretty good job limiting Shaq but he did have some help from Duncan.

An honorable mention is Mutombo. In 11 regular season games from 1994 to 2002 he held Shaq to just 22.2 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.2 apg on 49.4 %TS (-3.3 rTS) with 2.7 topg. Then of course, Mount Mutombo got smacked pretty hard in the 5 games in the 2001 Finals.

[No-more-rings]

It probably is Duncan as mentioned, i imagine many will scratch their heads at that but just look at the series they played each other. Shaq never really went off against a Duncan frontcourt and oftentimes struggled if anything.

vs the Spurs in 99: 23.8 ppg 50.6 ts% 49.3 fg%, 0.5 apg 2.25 tov as his team got swept

vs the Spurs in 01: 27 ppg 54.7 ts% 54.1 fg% 2.5 apg 3.5 tov, Shaq played well obviously but he certainly didn't go off

vs the Spurs in 02: this one really stood out Shaq faced a lot of single Duncan coverage and struggled big time 21.4 ppg 44.7 fg% 48.7 ts%

I don't think you'd see any version of Shaq going off on a Duncan led frontcourt the way you did someone like Mutumbo who apparently was too weak to handle him.

[No-more-rings]

An older David Robinson was the best Shaq defender IMO. In those series from 1999 to 2003 he did a pretty good job limiting Shaq but he did have some help from Duncan.

May want to rewatch some of those games then. Drob normally fared poorly in one on one against Shaq. Shaq definitely had more trouble against Duncan.

[Djoker]

An older David Robinson was the best Shaq defender IMO. In those series from 1999 to 2003 he did a pretty good job limiting Shaq but he did have some help from Duncan.

May want to rewatch some of those games then. Drob normally fared poorly in one on one against Shaq. Shaq definitely had more trouble against Duncan.

I seem to recall Robinson bothering him with his length and he was quite strong as well so could at least present a speed bump. But you're right. It might have been Duncan who did better.

[DWhiteMamba]

The 3pt line and modern rules are the best defender against Shaq, because he would have alot of problems staying on the floor against some teams. Other than that probably young Duncan and young D.Rob? People like to prop Hakeem for the 95 finals, but in truth Shaq went off in those finals. He definitely wasn't the reason they lost or were shut down.

I disagree, Shaq would instantly change the nature of play in today's NBA as he would be even more dominant down low then he was back then and you can easily play inside-out with him.

Maybe young Shaq would be fine, but Lakers Shaq who put on weight to help him in the post would have a hell of a time. He was already mocked by the Jazz (correctly) for being a horrendous rick and roll defender. Imagine how he'd guard it in today's game. It wouldn't be pretty. Shaq would get his, but if they're killing you on the offensive end even more does it matter? Remember also that Shaq had stamina issues, it's why he wanted the Lakers to add guys like Ho Grant. He didn't have the energy to play hard on D most of the time, and box out for boards, while also being dominant offensively. Now imagine he has to move around the court 3 times as much as he does now. The guy would be walking dead after 3 quarters. Even Embiid has more stamina given what he's asked to do today.

I don't mean to say Shaq wouldn't be dominant today and "get his", but opposing teams would run him out of the gym. It's why it's such a shame that the Suns (or Spurs) didn't make it to the 2006 finals. The Shaq Heat were DESTROYED when they played the Suns, which I think is an informative glimpse into how he would do today. Shaq would get his, but he'd give up so much on the other end that the top teams would be too good for him. Unless this is young Shaq we're talking about, in which case yeh I think he'd be fine.

[DWhiteMamba]

An older David Robinson was the best Shaq defender IMO. In those series from 1999 to 2003 he did a pretty good job limiting Shaq but he did have some help from Duncan.

An honorable mention is Mutombo. In 11 regular season games from 1994 to 2002 he held Shaq to just 22.2 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.2 apg on 49.4 %TS (-3.3 rTS) with 2.7 topg. Then of course, Mount Mutombo got smacked pretty hard in the 5 games in the 2001 Finals.

As people pointed out; old D.Rob's D against Shaq is vastly overrated. The young Duncan looked much tougher for him to handle. Now young D.Rob is a different story. Shaq hated playing him.

[PistolPeteJR]

Popovich, with the Hack-A-Shaq obviously.

[prolific passer]

I think Shaq always gave credit to Rodman as being the best guy to guard him.
But he's denial about Ben Wallace and how well he guarded him from 04-07.

[Cavsfansince84]

I'd go with Ben Wallace and Duncan but I'd love to see prime Shaq go against prime Thurmond and see how that went.

[LAL1947]

I would say Tim Duncan was the best Shaq defender I have seen. He primarily guarded him in the '02 playoffs and held Shaq to the worst series of his career at that point.

Not for me. Shaq was very unfit from 2002-03, so even Ben Wallace and Yao Ming did good jobs on him from that year onwards. Prior to that, he used to smash Robinson and Duncan.

1) Hakeem
2) Dennis Rodman

I've not seen anyone else able to play defense on Shaq one-on-one in his physical prime like these two could.

3) Mutombo
4) Yao Ming
5) Ben Wallace
6) Here is where I'd put Tim Duncan or David Robinson, altho I wouldn't argue hard against them being 4th or 5th.

[DoctorX]

I would say Tim Duncan was the best Shaq defender I have seen. He primarily guarded him in the '02 playoffs and held Shaq to the worst series of his career at that point.

Not for me. Shaq was very unfit from 2002-03 onwards. Prior to that, he used to smash Robinson and Duncan.

1) Hakeem
2) Dennis Rodman
3) Mutombo
4) Yao Ming
5) Ben Wallace
6) Here is where I'd put Tim Duncan or David Robinson.

You rank Yao ahead of Duncan and Robinson but claim any great defense Duncan played against Shaq after '01 doesn't count but Yao came in the league in '02. So going by your logic Yao's defense on Shaq counts in '02 but not Duncan's. That's pretty stupid logic by you.

You are hater that's what you are. Statistically Shaq only had one great series against the Spurs and that was '01. Outside of '01 he always underperformed against them in the playoffs.

I don't recall him smashing Robinson and Duncan in '99 when he was in shape. He also didn't smash them during the regular season.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by your lack of logic since you are a Laker fan.

[LAL1947]

I would say Tim Duncan was the best Shaq defender I have seen. He primarily guarded him in the '02 playoffs and held Shaq to the worst series of his career at that point.

Not for me. Shaq was very unfit from 2002-03 onwards. Prior to that, he used to smash Robinson and Duncan.

1) Hakeem
2) Dennis Rodman
3) Mutombo
4) Yao Ming
5) Ben Wallace
6) Here is where I'd put Tim Duncan or David Robinson.

You rank Yao ahead of Duncan and Robinson but claim any great defense Duncan played against Shaq after '01 doesn't count but Yao came in the league in '02. So going by your logic Yao's defense on Shaq counts in '02 but not Duncan's. That's pretty stupid logic by you.

You are hater that's what you are. Statistically Shaq only had one great series against the Spurs and that was '01. Outside of '01 he always underperformed against them in the playoffs.

I don't recall him smashing Robinson and Duncan in '99 when he was in shape. He also didn't smash them during the regular season.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by your lack of logic since you are a Laker fan.

What I meant to say is that even Ben Wallace and Yao Ming played good defense on Shaq from 2002-03 onwards... but I don't think they or Timmy could have done so when he was at his physical prime (prior to putting on all that weight)... especially not one-on-one... and I edited my post to say so because I realized the way I phrased it was unfair... and my point was not to belittle Timmy but to give proper credit to Hakeem, Rodman and Mutombo who had to deal with Shaq at his most brutal peak. And yes, I do rank Yao and Ben as being better defenders on Shaq, they were better at it. Shaq could never bully them the way he would Robinson and Duncan. Have you really been able to wipe that from your memory? I'll try to find a video, hold on.

Anyway, I'm not a hater. You're just a Timmy lover, so you can't accept certain things. Seriously, how could you even think to put Timmy over Hakeem or Rodman at defending Shaq... when even the big man will tell you that Hakeem or Rodman were the best at it. It takes two to tango and two can play the love-hate game!

[DWhiteMamba]

Man, Kobe fans are something else.

I never thought I'd see someone rank Ming's D over Duncans. This has to be a joke account. I'm almost sure of it. He's also said Jobe deserved the 2003 MVP and Duncan always had deep support casts post 99.

Take a look at Shaq's 02 series against the Spurs, matched up mainly on Duncan. You'll be surprised.

[70sFan]

Rodman's defense on Shaq is overrated. He didn't do it consistent enough and usually he got a lot of help defending him.

[LAL1947]

Man, Kobe fans are something else.

I never thought I'd see someone rank Ming's D over Duncans. This has to be a joke account. I'm almost sure of it. He's also said Jobe deserved the 2003 MVP and Duncan always had deep support casts post 99.

Take a look at Shaq's 02 series against the Spurs, matched up mainly on Duncan. You'll be surprised.

Man, Timmy-lovers take the cake!

It's almost like they were traumatized by the absolute beat-downs that Shaq and Kobe gave to Timmy and the Spurs during 1999-2000... that they have removed these and other failures from their memories, leaving only the good times behind which they use to judge him... while they hold Kobe, Shaq under the strictest of microscopes for every failure of theirs. I think we need to start holding Timmy under the same microscope too... especially if people are now wrongly elevating him over two players who were better than him just because there is no push-back... and we need to start giving proper credit to Pop's role in the Spurs success, the Spurs FO's great job at team building, and the great depth on their winning teams in the 2000s (you're misquoting me there, I said the Spurs winning teams in the 2000s were stacked... I do not say they always had deep support casts post-1999). Also, why should I only look at the 2002 series and ignore the 2000 and 2001 playoffs? Should we sweep Timmy's 9 point game, the Spurs 39 point loss, and the 4-0 sweep of the #1 seed in the whole NBA under the carpet? Shaq and Kobe bent Timmy and the Spurs over in that series, prison style.

Oh, and they'll even have you believe that we're "unreasonable Kobe fans" or "haters" simply for pointing out obvious flaws in their Timmy-agenda that they don't like ... like when some of them say Timmy was the "best Shaq defender" because of 2002-03 playoffs... and when I point out that Yao Ming was one among a few other players who played better defense on Shaq. You've misquoted me again btw... I did not say that Yao was a better defender than Timmy, just a better defender on Shaq. Yao was defending a bulkier/slower Shaq who became really unfit in 2002-03, they were two behemoths going up against each other and Yao could hold his own against Shaq better than Duncan could. I don't think Yao would have done so well against a younger, quicker Shaq but we have no way of confirming that... and here's a small clip that shows some of his blocks on Shaq, in case you have conveniently forgotten them in your quest to elevate dear ole Timmy. So tell me again, how am I wrong to think this?

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