im really hoping for the spurs to win this series (tho i still hate them for crushing the knicks in '99). timmy duncan is just so much better than shaq... i miss the showtime lakers, they had great players, played great basketball and won a lot of championships. nowadays they only win championships...

Tim Duncan is better than Shaq?

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Yeah, I mean, the entire NBA hasn't been drafting and developing centers around the characteristics of Shaq. It's not like GMs around the league are dying to get a center that can match upto the measurements and dominant qualities that Shaq set the standard for.

Tim Duncan is a fantastic player. I like him and think he's a great player. Comparable to Shaq? Negative.

peace.

tim duncans not a center.. why compare.

although, tim duncan definately has better moves than shaq. shaq is all size, no finesse.

the only center i can say that played against shaq and was definately better than him is Hakeem Olajuwon...but this was before he had knee surgery.

Greg Ostertag is all size, no finesse.

Rony Seikaly is all size, no finesse.

etc.

Shaq is all size, all game. He isn't about finesse-- keep your eye on Mr. Bryant for that. Shaq's game is quite simple, man.

He's a low-post, dominate-by-size, quick-release player. His job is very, very basic: dominate the other team in the low-post area. With this task in mind, he executes so cuffing well that he has single-handedly altered the requirements and procedure by which NBA centres are regarded, and can control the pace of an entire game himself.

And you're right about the illogicality of comparing Duncan to Shaq. I just found it hilarious that someone can actually, honestly say that Duncan is a better player than Shaq.

peace.

i dont know what sport shaq is playing, but its definitely not basketball...

as for the duncan-shaq comparison, just look at the season stats: duncans got more rebounds, blocks, assists, steals...and not to mention the free throws...

btw i used to be a huge shaq fan during his rookie season (i have his jersey), but what hes turned into is just...

don't compare those two players... they play different positions.

Stats don't tell you who is the better player.

Shaq is the most dominant player in the league. And he has plenty of finesse. If you know anything about basketball, shaq has GREAT footwork, a beautiful touch off the glass for such a big guy, and is a great passer out of the post, something Tim Duncan is definetly weak at (i.e Game 2 - 10 TO's). He's also extremely agile for a big man. You realise that if it was just street ball, you'd see shaq taking the ball up the court, and shooting jumpers for fun. He's also developed a little crossover, which he used in the first series against Portland.

About him fouling his defender? Give me a break... they (Shaq and Kobe) get mugged on a nightly basis in games. Maybe if everybody didn't hit Shaq so hard, he wouldn't try to react with a little strong play of his own. Watch him after he feels he gets hacked, he'll come back down and punish his defender in response.

Don't be a hater, Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers have earned their 2 titles.

shaq been playing for what, ten years now? and he didnt dominate anyone up until two years ago. the skill hes got (and hes got plenty, ill admit) is entirely based on his experience in the league. now when duncan came to the NBA he was more or less a complete player, due to the four years he played at college, rounding off his game there.

its just a general difference in approach, style and attitude between the two, and its not hard for me to pick my guy there.

It's irrelevant who you like more out of the two. You're making it out as if Duncan is half the player Shaq is, let alone better?!

Dude, get it through your head-- Shaq dominates.

He controls games.

Coaches alter their gameplans in accordance with the night he's having.

Duncan is talented, good, etc. etc.-- but he's not in Shaq's galaxy. Duncan just does not have the PRESENCE that even a cardboard cut-out of Shaq would.

And gimme a break, man-- Shaq has always been dominant. You don't need huge media spotlight or what have you to be a dominant player of Shaq's grandeur. Anyone who knows anything about basketball, let alone the NBA, knows that Shaq has dominated the league for years.

You think that the scouting and drafting of centers in relation to Shaq's features began after the Lakers won the first of two championships in 2000? hahahahahahaha. It's been happening for years. Shaq was due his glory, but he dominated for enough time-- it wasn't a mystery that the guy would be around for years and that his size and style was the next step in the "evolution" of the NBA center.

peace.

shaq didn't dominate a few years ago? errr? are we talking about the same shaquille o'neal? duncan=elegance; shaq= dominance

shaq didnt do a whole lot of dominating in '98 or '99 when the lakers got swept out of the playoffs by utah (ostertag!) and san antonio, did he? theyre just lucky phil jackson is coaching them

utah didn't win thanks to ostertag, and at san antonio robinson was quite good at that time (now he's not)

hahahaha.

Mentioning Greg Ostertag as the reason Utah knocked out the Lakers is quite possibly the funniest comment ever on this website.

I mean, yeah, I forgot-- Shaq only has two rings (and lots more to come.. deny at risk of being upset later), while Ostertag-- hell, even the great Malone and Stockton have so many more.

And you're right about Phil Jackson. He's probably the only coach who knows how to control the massive ego-wars in the dressing rooms. There are loads of teams with many good players, but only a coach like Jackson knows how to maintain the puzzle pieces intact.

peace.

im sorry u didnt get the irony concerning ostertag in my comment. but im happy it made u laugh, albeit for the wrong reason. if shaq had dominated back then, he wouldve eaten the center-less jazz for breakfast...but he didnt.

anyways, my team didnt even make the playoff this year, so lets just forget about it... :)

duncan is more talented.

shaq is bigger.

obviously shaq is so much bigger than centers in the game that yes, his stats are going to be better. well, at least his points per game and sometimes rebounds and blocks and perhaps a few other big man stats..

now timmy probably could play center, but with robinson, there's no point. just leave time available to score.

i miss manute bol :\

The stats don't even matter.

The ONLY thing that matters is the championship. Everyone knows that.

It doesn't matter who wear pink underwear or who has better passing abilities or who can dunk the best.

Shaq is paid to do various tasks, and he gets them all done better than anyone else, period.

peace.

spurs have the home advantage this game but the lakers have a need to steal one from them.

mavs all the way. =D

Go Lakermen!! :)

its easy to score when you foul your defender every single time you get the ball

you really are the cutest thing i've ever seen.

anyway, i just lost 4000 xsbucks AGAIN.

i duno anything bout NBA, but GO LA!!

Shaq's size makes up for any deficiencies he may have. Stopping him in the low post ain't fun. $100 on LA.

ye most ppl that aren't really into the game, like me would choose La Lakers just because of there big name