I'd say that if "that sorry German in Dallas" was born 20 years earlier (and all the other variables were the same), he'd have spent more time working on post-up skills instead of crossover dribble and three-point work, and developed into a "proper" big man instead of a 7-foot forward. But that's not what the game requires as much these days. Shaq is a genetic anomaly, a dump truck with a [S] tattoo. No one else could do what he's done. (Yao might have the physical ability to be like that if he wanted to, but he's too agile to bother.) It's just the times. Frankly, I like it.
I would definately say that size still beats speed in the playoffs. Every team that has a solid inside player, that plays inside-out is successful. Maybe two exceptions... maybe Chris Bosh, but after a couple more years of development, he's there. And Kevin Garnett, no reason... just cursed. Besides that, all of the bad teams are lacking a good big man. Shaq, Ben Wallace, Yao, TD, Pau, J O'Neal. All could be considered centers, all successful teams (when healthy). The game is evolving into a power forward dominant game, but there will come another center before long, whether he be 7'3 or like shaq and 340 lbs. Eventually it will cycle back to a center's game.
Its a shame to see the end of Shaq...I remember watching Hakeem on the downward spiral of his career and how he fell down to the wear and tear of playing so much. NBA big men are great players for a stretch of time...but after about 12-13 years of dominance, they begin to break down...and with all that size, you can see why... And NO, Shaq is not the last center...he's the last of his era...the modern center of today is more athletic (Hakeem like if I could compare them to anyone really)...so give it some time...there will be another 7-1, 7-2 monster of muscle...before long there will be another shaq out there...
When you have a Shaq you evolve to a center dominant game. A good coach plays the players that he has rather than attempt to make a Shaq-like player out of a "sorry German in Dallas," or any other player who is not and can not be capable of dominating the post, such as is Shaq's forte because of all the attibutes that he possesses. I can imagine some dumbass putting Dirk Nowitski in the position to play the same game as does Shaquille O'Neal and destroying what so many of us consider the best basketball talent to hit this town, Dallas. But, I'm a Spurs fan.
Last time I checked, Ben Wallace is only 6'9, the size of most 3,4's, not very tall compared to Tim Duncan & Shaq & Jordan and the bulls won 6 Championships without a dominating big man.
Which is very pertinent to this discussion.
There are a ton of legitimate 3s at 6'9". I just can't think of them.
Two words: Shawn Bradley Go Mavs!
yo i think that we are losing a lot of good centers around here and i dont think we need to lose shaq
yo i think that we are losing a lot of good centers around here and i dont think we need to lose shaq Yeah and we didn't need to lose Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Artis Gilmore, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal and Hakeen Olajuwon either. Here is a newsflash dumbass, playing in the NBA for a long time isn't easy. And since the human body loses effectiveness as it gets older, I really don't think Shaq has a choice.
Does the Ying Yang Mafia ever have a membership drive?
Yea, I'm not sure why Ben Wallace being 6'9 is so important. He is still a center, maybe a short one, but he is the center. He is a center on every video game. He is listed as center on his official team roster. And he blocks shots like a center. He is a center.
