When Shaq can chase down today's equivalent of KJ (Stephon, Steve etc.), then he can be ranked higher defensively. Mango ------------------ Eat more spinach! Live long and prosper! Donate blood! Smeg will be assimilated. Now...back to updating The Serious Police Files.
Shaq has bad defense? And he cant stop rik smits from getting his shot off? Shaq ranked 3rd in blocks in the season with 3.03 a game. Rik Smits only avg 10 points against shaq. ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris FAN CLUB
Shaq ranked third in blocks this season (and most of that was on help defense). I believe his career avg is less than 3 a game, more like 2.5. Rik averaged few points because he missed a lot of wide open shots. When Smits challenged Shaq, he was able to get his shot off against him. I never said Shaq sucked on D. I said his D has to improve before he can be placed in the "greatest centers ever" category. ------------------
Best Centers: Tied for the top spot - Russel, Wilt and Kareem (We could argue forever about these three and still get nowhere.) 4. Hakeem Olajuwon - Two Finals MVP's back-to-back doing everything. And he beat his closest comparisons convincingly (Ewing in 94 and Robinson in 95). After winning the 95 championship, Sports Illustrated commented that he may be the best player in the world not named Jordan. 5. Moses Malone (How come none of you guys remember this guy? Remember in the '83 Finals? He absolutely manhandled Kareem. And he was also one of the most ferocious rebounders of all time. I really believe Rodman had nothing on this guy.) 6. Willis Reed (We only know him for his legendary Game 7 appearance when he was injured. But this guy was extremely gifted. Great jumpshot, great rebounder, played good defense, and was very strong.) 7. Shaquille O'Neal (Say what you want. He's more talented than what we give him credit for. He is currently suffering "Wilt" syndrome.) 8. Nate Thurmond (Thunderous shot-blocker. Never got credit because his prime was during Wilt and Russel's time. And when they left, Kareem came on the scene. He also had a decent jump shot.) Tied for No. 9 - Patrick Ewing (If Michael Jordan didn't beat his ass all the time, he and Olajuwon could have written a different story for the NBA), David Robinson (had all the skills but not the leadership. If it weren't for Tim Duncan, he'd be like Patrick Ewing) and Bill Walton (pot or not, the man was Kareem's biggest nemesis during the 70s. Honorable Mention - Dave Cowens (loads and loads of heart), Artis Gilmore (he really was a raging bull), Wes Unseld (you think Hakeem is undersized? Watch this guy play!), and that guy from Detroit back in the 70s. ------------------ "One who conquers others is strong; One who conquers himself is mighty" - Lao Tzu
