quote:
No doubt Shaq was a dominant big man as as athletic a player as there's ever been. But even in this clip you see how limited his game was. You had a nice turn around short shot, an incredible one handed dunk on a rebound, and a missed hook.

I realize we're comparing apples to oranges, but I think when you see CJ's complete game versus Shaq he comes out on top.

you mention complete game but completely dismiss the defensive side of the ball

quote:
I feel badly for the younger fans here who didn't see CJ live, in the same way some older guys must feel for guys like me that never saw Pete. Not saying that's you, Choctaw...just that there's got to be a bunch of guys that never saw him play and all they have are these shitty quality YouTube videos.

i saw both of them play several times. CJ was amazing...great ball control and shooter. but nobody had seen anything like Shaq before. sure...there were other great centers...but Shaq was different.

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Posted by LSUBS88

Member since Sep 2010

893 posts

Posted on 2/21/13 at 7:51 pm to Choctaw

String music!!!! He was amazing to watch.
We camped out all night on the ramp just to get good seats in the student section.
Then we met a girl who's daddy worked the door at the bottom underneath. He use to let us in 5 min before ebody else. Smooth sailin after that!

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Posted by GeauxTigerTM

Member since Sep 2006

30596 posts

Posted on 2/21/13 at 10:32 pm to Choctaw

quote:
you mention complete game but completely dismiss the defensive side of the ball

I didn't dismiss it, I just didn't highlight it. CJ was a solid defensive player in college as evidenced by the lightning fast steals you can see in highlight reels. But, like Pete, his role wasn't one of a defensive stopper. Shaq on the other hand WAS Mr. Defense, especially while at LSU.

quote:
but nobody had seen anything like Shaq before.

I'd largely agree with that but state again that while dominant he did so almost entirely based on his size and strength. Most of his offensive game was spent with his back to the basket when he wasn't putting back rebounds for dunks. That in NO WAY diminishes how exciting he was to watch...but he was exceptional at a handful of things whereas CJ was far more complete a player.

quote:
.there were other great centers...but Shaq was different.

Shaq was much more like Wilt in that his physical size was so much more than any contemporary to handle that it was hard to gauge how talented he was versus how much his sheer size and strength left opposing players in a position where they could simply not guard him.

And just to reiterate again...I love Shaq both as a player and as a continuing representative of LSU. The fact that I find CJ to have been a better player and all around more exciting is not in any way a shot at Shaq. In my mind's eye, when I think basketball I think CJ's wicked cross over then pull up jumper from behind the three point arc in someone grill all in one silky smooth motion and hitting nothing but net. His play is and was everything I found beautiful about the game.

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