I think that a lot of people forget that Hakeem's and most of Shaq's careers were spent with the illegal defense rule. I really liked that era better. Can you imagine if team's were forced to wait until Yao had the ball to double team? That's how the big men could go for 50. When's the last time a big man had that kind of game?
It's his dream team, so he obviously could dream of playing on a team side by side with those all time great players.
I'm a big fan of Yao and I enjoy watching him play but my top pick for center at this point is still Shaq (if he's healthy). This is ONLY when Shaq plays with other top players. If Yao plays with other superstars, he's nothing, he's not an offensive force. But Tmac is not in teh picture for guard choices for me though. I'd pick, togehter with Shaq: KG for PF, Battier SF, Allen SG, and Kobe for PG.
Why are you surprised? Do you think if they asked Yao to pick his dream 5 he would pick T-Mac at the 2 guard? McGrady is a young guy, I am not surprised that he would pick the most dominant center of his generation at the 5, not to mention that him and Shaq are friends and they both have -- or used to have -- residence in the Orlando area. I doubt he got to fully appreciate any other great center beyond Shaq, he probably didn't even start to pay attention until his teenage years, not to mention that he was a big fan of the Shaq/Penny duo growing up as a kid in Orlando.
Yao will never ever dominant as Shaq in low post, because he cannot jump. But if Yao can develop mid-range jumper to a lethal weapon and add a few face bucket moves, he will reach that dominance level as a B-ball player.
to all of yall lovin on shaq......i only have one thing to say, he sux. his game is so one dimensional and if you want to get technical he charged ALL THE TIME but was not called for it. he cant shoot for ****, sux, AND NEVER COMPARE HIM TO THE DREAM.....dream=beautiful fluid game .....shaq=ugly brutish game that is only quasi legal! (plows over people)
Shaq is a freak of nature. Have you ever seen a guy who is 7-1 and has muscles on his muscles? Nobody in the NBA has his size and strength, and Shaq used it to it's full extent in the prime of his career. And his speed was scary. He (rarely) even had some fast breaks all by himself (that block on Hamilton and layup at the other end is a old example) and he even throws alley-oops to Kobe Bryant. of course, his shooting was comparable only to Ben Wallace and Wilt Chamberlain.
If you want to say that Shaq got away with a lot offensive fouls, I can say that Hakeem got away with a ton of travels.
Yao has a great jumper, and I'm comfortable with him shooting a 15ft any day of the week. But he doesn't have the quickness and the handles to dominate face to the bucket, and I think that more than anything else is what will limit his growth.
add to the fact that he cant jump , which leaves his short jumpers late in the fourth to be off. I would choose Hakeem then Shaq then Yao.
That is a bit weak, McGrady choosing himself at the 3. All those shots he was heaving up late in the Kings game sure gave an impression he thought very highly of himself on a legendary level Shaq Way Back over Yao Now for sure.
Since Mac did it, I'd personally take: Chamberlin Olajuwon (remember he played 4 with Sampson) Bird Jordan Magic Now, THAT is a dream team.
I have to agree with Jeff's picks. I can barely even think of anyone else worth considering over those guys. Shaq has more raw power than Dream, but the FT shooting is too much of a liability. If the NBA allowed 7 fouls instead of 6, Shaq would have prob scored 4 fewer points per game over his career. Anyway, for the fun: maybe Russell > Chamberlain (very debatable). I take Oscar Robertson as 6th man.
Actually Dream was the center and Sampsion was the 4 but who cares. You can put Dream at the one and its cool with me.
Great team. After this team lost one game where Bird shot 0/6 3 pointers, or Magic had 4TOs, or MJ missed a dunk, or somehow Olajuwon blocked Wilt's shot, then this board will have about 20 threads trying to trade them away ...
