re: Jay Bilas Melts Down after Shaq wins in the Vote vs. Lew Alcinder (Kareem) Vote Next Round

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Shaq didn’t let a 6-8 guy dominate him every year the way Wilt did, it just wouldn’t happen.

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Didn't the great Shaq Lakers dynasty get stopped by a Detroit Pistons team with a 6'8" center?

I agree Kareem should be in the conversation with Jordan and Russell for the GOAT. I think we have to separate these two things to be fair. The GOAT discussion is based on accomplishments and what that player did and overcame in his time against his peers. You can’t cross eras to compare careers but you can when talking about a head to head matchup. You can see a guys agility, physicality and speed and you can use what he did easily vs what gave him trouble and use that in a matchup analysis against another player from a different era. It’s no different than predicting a matchup vs two players who’ve never faced each other or a common opponent. You also have to account for any rule changes and things like that.

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Yes they did though Wallace was 6-9 not 6-8 but that’s one time not 4 so not exactly comparable. Wilt didn’t just lose to an undersized Russell he also lost to an undersized Willis Reed, also only 6-9, in the 1970 finals.

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That 6’10” Dream DOMINATED Shaq in a finals BY HIS OWN WORDS. On top of that he said he never dominated Dream. So what’s your point.
If you average 28 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists against Russell and totally shut down the middle blocking shots. Including 27 and 4 assists during the playoffs.

You discredit the entire coaching staff and all the other players on the C’s. Red was the great a coach.

So quit trying to argue about Wilt and discredit what the man did. 30 pts; 22.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists FOR HIS CAREER.

Wilt

O’Neal certainly was not faster or better running the floor. O’Neal himself admitted he wasn’t a great rebounder, which Wilt was. Wilt was a better shot-blocker and a better defender, especially in space. Wilt certainly was a better leaper than Shaq. Rules-wise, Wilt was not allowed to back forcefully into defenders to establish position inside as Shaq did. Wilt had to use finesse to gain position and did, which is why he never fouled out of a game. Wilt had much greater stamina than O’Neal did. And, you do know that players at one time (Wilt’s era) were measured without shoes and socks, whereas in later eras (Shaq’s for example) players were measured in their shoes. These items are not said to denigrate O’Neal at all. Just trying to be objective, though you may disagree.

And, you might know this, the lane was first widened because of George Mikan. It was widened a second time because of Wilt Chamberlain in 1964. And, Wilt used to get hacked ALL the time, long before Hack-a-Shaq.

By the way, I used to hate the Lakers, and Philly, and by extension Chamberlain. But, I saw them all play. Shaq was able to get away in the NBA with far more physicality than Chamberlain; however, the league was able to get away with far more physicality on Chamberlain than O’Neal.

Lastly, do not underestimate the effect the implementation of the three-point line had on opening up the lane and reducing the opportunity for collapsing defenses and double teams. Even after the legalization of zone defenses, it is a game changer for affecting defensive and offensive spacing.

Wilt is the best center to ever play. If you think not, you need you head examined. Some stats weren’t even kept in most seasons he played. If you think he can’t jump, just look at HJ in video. He was also the strongest man to ever play in NBA.

(no message)

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Shaq wins in the Vote vs. Lew Alcinder (Kareem)

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ohhhhh boy, it's clear the people selected skill and build over college accolades bc obviously Shaq's stats did not translate to WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS when at LSU despite being coached by Coach Brown and surrounded by the talent he was surrounded by. Yet somehow Bird and MJ advanced all the way to the Finals, interesting.

In 1957, Frank Macguire’s North Carolina team triple-teamed Chamberlain and won 54-53, in triple overtime to win the NCAA finals. Wilt scored 23 points. He was also named Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament.

Back then, Freshman were ineligible to play. So, Wilt only played at Kansas for two years. Perhaps, more importantly, legendary coach Phog Allen retired after Wilt’s freshman year at age 70. Also, only one team per conference went to the NCAA tournament then. Kansas finished second in conference the next year (Wilt missed three games that season) to Tex Winter’s Kansas State squad but split with them during the season. No shot clock in those days either, so a stall was often employed with a lead.

While at Kansas, Chamberlain ran the 100-yard dash, shot-putted 56 feet, triple jumped more than 50 feet, and won the high jump in the Big Eight track and field championships three straight years.

In that era and close to it....(Alcindor), Kareem, was somewhat in the minority as far a height. He did not always have to play against equal competition. Great player, no doubt, but I think Shaq had more even competition.