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

[Kent]

[dhsilv2]

Hell no people forget Shaq was 7'1 and a legit 330+ lbs closer to 350 he would bully Wemby. Shaq would probably have 20/10 by half time

Don't really think people are forgetting this considering the poll results, lol

On defense it would be something like this:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUVc2hhd24gYnJhZGxleSB2cyBzaGFx

... except this is skinnier younger Shaq

Idk maybe a younger group is voting? Honestly nobody could guard Shaq that's why hack a Shaq was invented. Gobert and Wemby both would end up on posters multiple times a game and have 6 fouls each and negative plus minus and Shaq would probably go off for 40+ points 20+ rebounds and 10+ blocks easily

40+ and 20 rebounds? I'll ignore the blocks.

Shaq did that 4 times in his entire playoff career.

Nobody here thinks Wemby is stopping shaq, look at the votes. But if anything, people are exaggerating who/what shaq was.

[ropjhk]

We need Shaq vs. Yao as further evidence:

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=Exit

This was one of the greatest NBA breakout games of all time by Yao.

Could Wemby do to Shaq what Yao did to him? Yao gave ground but he kept his position around Shaq. He had strength and balance to not fall over and could keep his feet in place to use his length from a good position. Wemby has the length but he would have to find a way to keep a good position. Wemby is not as strong and stable as Yao but he does have agile feet for a guy his size.

Hakeem was able to use footwork and quick hands to defend Shaq, showing that it doesn't always have to be about matching up with strength. Not to say that Hakeem couldn't hold his own but he also often defended Shaq with agility, moving his feet and getting to spots before Shaq. Hakeem would also recover and switch to help defense pretty quickly and that could sometimes catch Shaq off guard or neutralize some of Shaq's passing.

Watch on YouTube

[Lalouie]

one of two things happens to wemby

1...he flops, and he's lying on the floor

or

2...shaq steps into his shot(dunk), wemby bounces like a ping pong ball on a boulder, and he's lying on the floor

[Lalouie]

But Rodman held his ground against Shaq, when other far heavier men couldn't.
Plus he was a rough and tough person, made for the job.
I don't think of Wembanyama as rough or good at holding ground...
Its like wrestling skills and using your legs

It's not about weight, it's about being strong + using leverage/center of gravity. In the NFL there's a saying that "the low man wins", in reference to the OL/DL. That's how a 280lb defensive end can push back a 350 pound tackle. He had the leverage because it's easier to "push up" than it is to "push down" against against someone who has a lower center of gravity.

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.

big guys aren't used being guarded by smaller guys. its an annoyance ,,,like caruso on jokic. but it cant be done ALL the time

but i'd put lebron on shaq. you don't just brush off 255lbs. lebron's smart

[dhsilv2]

But Rodman held his ground against Shaq, when other far heavier men couldn't.
Plus he was a rough and tough person, made for the job.
I don't think of Wembanyama as rough or good at holding ground...
Its like wrestling skills and using your legs

It's not about weight, it's about being strong + using leverage/center of gravity. In the NFL there's a saying that "the low man wins", in reference to the OL/DL. That's how a 280lb defensive end can push back a 350 pound tackle. He had the leverage because it's easier to "push up" than it is to "push down" against against someone who has a lower center of gravity.

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.

big guys aren't used being guarded by smaller guys. its an annoyance ,,,like caruso on jokic. but it cant be done ALL the time

but i'd put lebron on shaq. you don't just brush off 255lbs. lebron's smart

So many of you are picturing Wemby trying to guard Shaq in the post. Much like many people want to see Wemby develop a post game. Wemby isn't a post guy. If you put him on Shaq, he's going to be fronting and using that length, height, and agility to ball denial. Just like on offense, Wemby isn't posting up anyone outside of a guard and even then he might not...

[165bows]

I think some people overstate how Shaq would break Wemby in half. Wemby would definitely make a few defensive plays that would surprise Shaq, given his length and recovery time.

Over the whole game, Wemby wouldn't be strong enough to fight for inside positions with Shaq all the time. He'd get pushed around and end up in very uncomfortable positions. He wouldn't be able to consistently box him out on the boards, which is one of the most underrated aspects of Shaq's offensive game.

I don't think I agree that you want someone shorter than Shaq to defend him by the way. It gives you a decent chance to avoid being pushed around if your guy is strong and has low center of gravity, but that would make you more vulnerable to all the off-ball work. Shorter guy can't front Shaq successfully, can't guard lob passes and Shaq can easily rise over them for hooks and turnarounds. In perfect scenario, you need someone long with strong base, that's the best way to defend Shaq. Duncan did a very good job and of course Yao had plenty of success against older Shaq. Historically, guys like Gilmore and Wilt would be the perfect choices for that.

Wemby wouldn't last one quarter. Shaq lived to punish big men on defense and a guy like Wemby with his clout Shaq would actually try as opposed to his typical.

It would have been in the hard-to-watch category other than bringing out the peak Shaq had to dish out.

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

Missed the point, Shaq relished absolutely relished knocking down a peg or five other bigs with notoriety.

If you don’t think Shaq wouldn’t have had his best half of his career against Wemby you weren’t there or weren’t paying attention.

[msmoore66]

He could just ask him to stop or slow down?

[165bows]

Wemby wouldn't last one quarter. Shaq lived to punish big men on defense and a guy like Wemby with his clout Shaq would actually try as opposed to his typical.

It would have been in the hard-to-watch category other than bringing out the peak Shaq had to dish out.

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

I really wonder what people think Shaq was.

In 216 playoff games Shaq scored 40 points 12 times. He never scored 50, infact 46 is his playoff high. He only scored 30 or more 55 times. Roughly 25% of the time.

Shaq was a big dude, he was a monster, an all time great...but he wasn't super human.

Weird assessment of other posters here. You do remember scores in those eras? 22 teams averaged less than 100 ppg in 2000.

Different times.

[70sFan]

Wemby wouldn't last one quarter. Shaq lived to punish big men on defense and a guy like Wemby with his clout Shaq would actually try as opposed to his typical.

It would have been in the hard-to-watch category other than bringing out the peak Shaq had to dish out.

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

Missed the point, Shaq relished absolutely relished knocking down a peg or five other bigs with notoriety.

If you don’t think Shaq wouldn’t have had his best half of his career against Wemby you weren’t there or weren’t paying attention.

When did that actually happen in real life?

[The4thHorseman]

No, not even close. People shouldn't make threads while drinking, it only makes them look dumb.

[165bows]

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

Missed the point, Shaq relished absolutely relished knocking down a peg or five other bigs with notoriety.

If you don’t think Shaq wouldn’t have had his best half of his career against Wemby you weren’t there or weren’t paying attention.

When did that actually happen in real life?

For those that weren’t there it was roughly ‘94-‘04.

Your empty snark post aside Wemby still hasn’t done jack **** in the league if I need to continue stating the obvious

[bonita_the_frog]

But Rodman held his ground against Shaq, when other far heavier men couldn't.
Plus he was a rough and tough person, made for the job.
I don't think of Wembanyama as rough or good at holding ground...
Its like wrestling skills and using your legs

It's not about weight, it's about being strong + using leverage/center of gravity. In the NFL there's a saying that "the low man wins", in reference to the OL/DL. That's how a 280lb defensive end can push back a 350 pound tackle. He had the leverage because it's easier to "push up" than it is to "push down" against against someone who has a lower center of gravity.

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.

big guys aren't used being guarded by smaller guys. its an annoyance ,,,like caruso on jokic. but it cant be done ALL the time

but i'd put lebron on shaq. you don't just brush off 255lbs. lebron's smart

But why would Shaq care about 255lbs? LeBron is almost a hundred pounds less than Shaq, and 4 inches shorter...
And LeBron is known for flopping, not Rodmaning

[70sFan]

Missed the point, Shaq relished absolutely relished knocking down a peg or five other bigs with notoriety.

If you don’t think Shaq wouldn’t have had his best half of his career against Wemby you weren’t there or weren’t paying attention.

When did that actually happen in real life?

For those that weren’t there it was roughly ‘94-‘04.

Your empty snark post aside Wemby still hasn’t done jack **** in the league if I need to continue stating the obvious

No, please tell me when Shaq had the best half of his career against a great, quality opposing center to prove his dominance. Most of the great 1990s centers played him on even terms and Duncan went h2h with him during his peak to a standstill.

Wemby is young, but he already did incredible things on the court. Diminishing him that he "hasn't done jack ****" would be saying that 1994 Shaq didn't prove anything.

[dhsilv2]

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

I really wonder what people think Shaq was.

In 216 playoff games Shaq scored 40 points 12 times. He never scored 50, infact 46 is his playoff high. He only scored 30 or more 55 times. Roughly 25% of the time.

Shaq was a big dude, he was a monster, an all time great...but he wasn't super human.

Weird assessment of other posters here. You do remember scores in those eras? 22 teams averaged less than 100 ppg in 2000.

Different times.

Did you know the sky was blue?

[dhsilv2]

It's not about weight, it's about being strong + using leverage/center of gravity. In the NFL there's a saying that "the low man wins", in reference to the OL/DL. That's how a 280lb defensive end can push back a 350 pound tackle. He had the leverage because it's easier to "push up" than it is to "push down" against against someone who has a lower center of gravity.

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.

big guys aren't used being guarded by smaller guys. its an annoyance ,,,like caruso on jokic. but it cant be done ALL the time

but i'd put lebron on shaq. you don't just brush off 255lbs. lebron's smart

But why would Shaq care about 255lbs? LeBron is almost a hundred pounds less than Shaq, and 4 inches shorter...
And LeBron is known for flopping, not Rodmaning

What wasn't 350 pounds playing against Rodman...

[bonita_the_frog]

big guys aren't used being guarded by smaller guys. its an annoyance ,,,like caruso on jokic. but it cant be done ALL the time

but i'd put lebron on shaq. you don't just brush off 255lbs. lebron's smart

But why would Shaq care about 255lbs? LeBron is almost a hundred pounds less than Shaq, and 4 inches shorter...
And LeBron is known for flopping, not Rodmaning

What wasn't 350 pounds playing against Rodman...

Ok 300 pounds. Still, LeBron is a short center who isn't known for brutality, so i can't see Shaq caring.

[dhsilv2]

But why would Shaq care about 255lbs? LeBron is almost a hundred pounds less than Shaq, and 4 inches shorter...
And LeBron is known for flopping, not Rodmaning

What wasn't 350 pounds playing against Rodman...

Ok 300 pounds. Still, LeBron is a short center who isn't known for brutality, so i can't see Shaq caring.

Being shorter is an advantage in this discussion...

[JRoy]

Wemby wouldn't last one quarter. Shaq lived to punish big men on defense and a guy like Wemby with his clout Shaq would actually try as opposed to his typical.

It would have been in the hard-to-watch category other than bringing out the peak Shaq had to dish out.

Plenty of worse and weaker bigs survived more than that. It's mythologizing Shaq to the ridiculous degree that always happen when people talk about him. Fans don't realize that Shaq actually didn't push around and dunk on guys on every possession...

Missed the point, Shaq relished absolutely relished knocking down a peg or five other bigs with notoriety.

If you don’t think Shaq wouldn’t have had his best half of his career against Wemby you weren’t there or weren’t paying attention.

True.

VW is not accustomed to that physical style, especially when Shaq did not get whistled for offensive fouls.

On the other end Shaq wouldn’t want to come out and guard VW on the perimeter.

[Big_Aristotle]

Prime Shaq with the Lakers? Absolutely not.
Young Shaq with the Magic? Maybe a bit

That's with 90's and early 2000 rules. In current rules, Shaq would foul out every game if he didn't adjust his game.