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Why Shaq is overrated (thread)
In the 90s, Shaq's teams were 56-31 (0.644 win%) without him. The 96 Magic were 20-8 without Shaq and won 60 games with Shaq missing 28 games. Even with a stacked Magic team, Shaq couldn't get it done.
Despite playing on great teams in the 90s, Shaq had 0 MVPs, 0 rings, 0 defense teams, and 5 sweeps in that era. It wasn't until the 2000s when Shaq had almost no big man competition that he started winning rings and accolades.
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And the few times that Shaq did beat a team with a great big men, he was outscored by Wade or Kobe in almost all those series.
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The exceptions are the 2001 Sixers with Mutombo and the 2000 and 2002 Kings with Chris Webber. Shaq had no problem dropping 33+ ppg and winning Finals MVP, but against the real big man competition and his toughest opponents, Shaq couldn't deliver
Shaq was even outscored by 40 year old Karl Malone when they beat Yao Ming and the 2004 Rockets. Shaq and 40-year old Malone's overall production was pretty much equal in the first round against the Rockets
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Malone - 18-10-3 on 49% with 2 spg and 59% FT
Shaq - 16-11-4 on 52% with 3 bpg and 30% FT
Malone had 16 fouls, Shaq had 22 fouls
Both had 11 turnovers
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Shaq - 16-11-4 on 52% with 3 bpg and 30% FT
Malone had 16 fouls, Shaq had 22 fouls
Both had 11 turnovers
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When Shaq didn't have Wade or Kobe shouldering the scoring load against teams with good big men, he was
0-4 against Hakeems 1995 Rockets (outscored every game by Hakeem)
0-4 against Rodman's 1996 Bulls (and shut down every time Rodman switched on him)
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0-4 against Hakeems 1995 Rockets (outscored every game by Hakeem)
0-4 against Rodman's 1996 Bulls (and shut down every time Rodman switched on him)
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1-4 against Malone's 1997 Jazz (shot under 50%)
0-4 against Malone's 1998 Jazz
0-4 against Duncan/Robinson's 1999 Spurs (shot under 50%)
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0-4 against Malone's 1998 Jazz
0-4 against Duncan/Robinson's 1999 Spurs (shot under 50%)
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Shaq's performances against teams with great big men is quite embarssing considering Shaq is often called the most dominant player ever.
And then you have to consider that in Game 7 of the 2000 WCF, in Shaq's MVP and 2nd place in DPOY season, he disappeared and allowed Kobe to lead the team in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks to save the Lakers from blowing a 3-1 lead against Portland.
