[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

We alway seem to have lists on here for the greatest players ever at different positions but I’d be interested in seeing what the perspective would be based soley on defensive ability. Here’s my list:

1. Bill Russell – Never saw him play and he played in a time before Defensive Player of the Year awards, All-Defensive Teams and blocks were kept track of but he revolutionized the game from a defensive perspective. A legend, he represented the often heard mantra that "defense wins championships"

2. Hakeem Olajuwon – 2 x DPOY, 5 x All-Defensive First Team, 4 x All-Defensive Second Team. The greatest I’ve ever seen. Combined for 6 blocks and steals per game for five consecutive seasons including one year where he averaged 4.6 BPG and 2.1 SPG. The career blocks leader in NBA history with 3830 also had a staggering 2162 steals over his career.

3. David Robinson – 1 x DPOY, 4 x All-Defensive First Team, 4 x All-Defensive Second Team. Over his 14 year career averaged 3 BPG and 1.4 SPG, including highs of 4.5 BPG and 2.3 SPG in 1992. Yep he got pushed around a bit by Shaq, but really who wouldn’t have been?

4. Dikembe Mutombo – 4x DPOY, 3 x All-Defensive First Team, 3 x All-Defensive Second Team. Long, strong and athletic Mutombo was a defensive prescence in the league for a decade. Led the league in blocks 5 times and rebounds twice and is second overall in NBA history in career blocks.

5. Ben Wallace – 4 x DPOY. 5 x All-Defensive First Team, 1 x All-Defensive Second Team. The greatest undrafted player of all time, was a huge reason for the Pistons success in the 2000s. He more than made up for his 6-9 height in the middle with his strength, hustle, motor and jumping ability.

6. Alonzo Mourning -2 x DPOY, 2 x All-Defensive First Team. Zo was an intense defender who looked like he was on a path to the top of this list before being afflicted by a kidney ailment immediately after winning his second straight DPOY award. Even after coming back and being a shell of his former self he continued to be a dominant defender albeit in lesser minutes. In 2006 at the age of 36 he averaged an incredible 2.7 BPG in just 20 MPG and played an important role in bringing the Heat an NBA championship. Retired with a career average of 2.8 BPG.

7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 5 x All-Defensive First Team, 6 x All-Defensive Second Team. With as many All-Defensive team appearance that he has (not to mention some pretty impressive blocked shots numbers) you might think I would place him higher in my rankings. But the truth is that Kareem was never quite as good defensively as his clippings might lead you to believe. That being said still deserves a spot somewhere on this list.

8. Dwight Howard – 3 x DPOY, 3 x All-Defensive First Team, 1x All Defensive Second Team. Yes I’m biased and yes he is still very young but he has already established himself as a very good defender. Three straight DPOY awards by the age of 25 speaks for itself, and I think it’s safe to say that when he retires he should be in the top 5 of this list.

9. Mark Eaton – 2 x DPOY, 3 x All-Defensive First Team, 2 x All-Defensive Second Team. People often forget about the 7-4 giant but he was a dominat defender in the 80’s and his career average of 3.5 BPG is first in NBA history.

10. Nate Thurmond – 2 x All-Defensive First Team, 3 x All-Defensive Second team. Nate the great was considered the second best defensive center of his era behind Russell. A dominant rebounder he would have surely racked up alot more All-Defensive team selections if the first seven seasons of his career hadn’t been before they existed.

11. Bill Walton – 2 x All-Defensive First Team. Walton was often injured but when he was healthy he was the premier defensive center in the league despite going head to to head with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Moses Malone. If I was just evaluating based on how good all these players were defensively at the peak of their game I’d place him much higher.

12. Marcus Camby – 1 x DPOY, 2 x All-Defensive First Team, 2 x All-Defensive Second Team. Camby has bounced around to 5 teams during his career but he has always made an impact wherever he has played with his shotblocking and rebounding prowess. Despite battling thorugh various injuries throughout his career he has accumulated 10 seasons averaging over 10 RPG and 5 seasons averaging at least 3 blocks per game. Still going strong at the age of 37 he has career averages of 10 RPG and 2.5 BPG.

Just Missed the Cut: Wilt Chamberlain – 2 x All-Defensive First Team. With his size, strength and athleticism Wilt could have been the greatest defender of all time. Unfortunately he gave less than maximum effort (to put it mildly) on the defensive side of the floor for most of his career. It wasn’t until the twilight of his career that he started focusing on becoming a more complete player and became a defensive anchor for the 1972 Lakers team that dominated the league and rolled to their first championship since the early 50s.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Did Shaq ever make an All-Defensive team???

IF not, that’d mean no defensive teams or rebounding titles for one of the greatest centers of all time.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Did Shaq ever make an All-Defensive team???

IF not, that’d mean no defensive teams or rebounding titles for one of the greatest centers of all time.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Yep Shaq made three all defensive second teams. I would place him just outside the top 12 along with guys like Patrick Ewing, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Wes Unseld.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Yep Shaq made three all defensive second teams. I would place him just outside the top 12 along with guys like Patrick Ewing, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Wes Unseld.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Yep Shaq made three all defensive second teams. I would place him just outside the top 12 along with guys like Patrick Ewing, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Wes Unseld.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

There are some that’ll say Ewing was a better defender than Mourning..

Ewing belongs among the top 10 All-Time Defensively….

Eaton was so big,unothodox,awkward and took up so much space..Coaches didnt have an answer for him….I believe even he was surprised how long he played in the league…

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

There are some that’ll say Ewing was a better defender than Mourning..

Ewing belongs among the top 10 All-Time Defensively….

Eaton was so big,unothodox,awkward and took up so much space..Coaches didnt have an answer for him….I believe even he was surprised how long he played in the league…

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

There are some that’ll say Ewing was a better defender than Mourning..

Ewing belongs among the top 10 All-Time Defensively….

Eaton was so big,unothodox,awkward and took up so much space..Coaches didnt have an answer for him….I believe even he was surprised how long he played in the league…

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

 ^Averaging 5.6 bpg in the modern era is just insane.

[JoeWolf1]

 ^Averaging 5.6 bpg in the modern era is just insane.

[JoeWolf1]

 ^Averaging 5.6 bpg in the modern era is just insane.

[iguapops420Participant]

 I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive. 

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive.

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

————————————————————————————————————————–

I thought long and hard about putting the Chief on there, I believe he has the most career defensive rebounds in NBA history but in the end he just missed the cut. Definitly a good mention with him.

Fair enough on Camby. He mostly made this list for his defence off the ball. For man to man D guys like Ewing, Unseld, Shaq, Gilmore and Parish should probably be ahead of him

While Ratliff was a very good shotblocker I don’t think he was overall quite as good defensively as the other guys listed. Not as strong, not as good of a rebounder and not quite as good man to man.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive.

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

————————————————————————————————————————–

I thought long and hard about putting the Chief on there, I believe he has the most career defensive rebounds in NBA history but in the end he just missed the cut. Definitly a good mention with him.

Fair enough on Camby. He mostly made this list for his defence off the ball. For man to man D guys like Ewing, Unseld, Shaq, Gilmore and Parish should probably be ahead of him

While Ratliff was a very good shotblocker I don’t think he was overall quite as good defensively as the other guys listed. Not as strong, not as good of a rebounder and not quite as good man to man.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive.

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

————————————————————————————————————————–

I thought long and hard about putting the Chief on there, I believe he has the most career defensive rebounds in NBA history but in the end he just missed the cut. Definitly a good mention with him.

Fair enough on Camby. He mostly made this list for his defence off the ball. For man to man D guys like Ewing, Unseld, Shaq, Gilmore and Parish should probably be ahead of him

While Ratliff was a very good shotblocker I don’t think he was overall quite as good defensively as the other guys listed. Not as strong, not as good of a rebounder and not quite as good man to man.

[iguapops420Participant]

 I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive. 

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

[iguapops420Participant]

 I personally think Robert Parish should be top 12. Defensive anchor for a team that won 3 championships. He may not have gotten individual defensive acholades, but the anchoring was there. Walton didn’t dominate long enough and IMO, Marcus Camby is one of the most overrated defensive bigs. He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds(which are usualy a lot of times he knocks offensive rebounds out to the perimeter) but when you actualy watch him playing man up D he often times gets eaten alive. 

BTW, no Theo Ratliff? While his rebounding numbers were always slightly low, I’d expect at least an honorable mention.

[ForTheWinParticipant]

TOP TEN

1. Darko

2. Stromile Swift

3. Tractor Traylor

4. Kandi Man

5. Thabeet

6. Greg Oden

7. Nenad Krstic

8. Alexis Ajinca

9. Rasho Nestorovic

10. Dan Godzuric

After these defensive powerhouses,the level of talent really goes downhill.

[ForTheWinParticipant]

TOP TEN

1. Darko

2. Stromile Swift

3. Tractor Traylor

4. Kandi Man

5. Thabeet

6. Greg Oden

7. Nenad Krstic

8. Alexis Ajinca

9. Rasho Nestorovic

10. Dan Godzuric

After these defensive powerhouses,the level of talent really goes downhill.

[ForTheWinParticipant]

TOP TEN

1. Darko

2. Stromile Swift

3. Tractor Traylor

4. Kandi Man

5. Thabeet

6. Greg Oden

7. Nenad Krstic

8. Alexis Ajinca

9. Rasho Nestorovic

10. Dan Godzuric

After these defensive powerhouses,the level of talent really goes downhill.

[JoeWolf1]

 Hey, Rasho Nesterovic averaged 1.7 blocks per game on a championship team.  He was actually a legit defender in his playing days.

[JoeWolf1]

 Hey, Rasho Nesterovic averaged 1.7 blocks per game on a championship team.  He was actually a legit defender in his playing days.

[JoeWolf1]

 Hey, Rasho Nesterovic averaged 1.7 blocks per game on a championship team.  He was actually a legit defender in his playing days.

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

———————————————————————————————————————————————

 

Fortunately for Shaq he never had to defend any other top notch offensive centers in his prime. The only one that was close (Alonzo Mourning) more than held his own.

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

In 1996 when Shaq was 23 (entering his prime), 300lbs, very agile and an All-NBA performer played David Robinson who was 30 (and still in his prime), Robinson put up 36 points on Shaq in their only matchup.

1997 Robinson was injured. In 1998 he came back and played against Shaq in his prime once again and put up 27 points and 23 points in their only regular season matchups.

Now don’t get me wrong, Shaq was a great player and a good defender in his prime (certainly worth an honorable mention) but he wasn’t exactly a defensive stopper like the other guys on this list. Yes with his size, strength and agility he would’ve been a nightmare to go up against (much like Chamberlain) but his effort, awareness, and impact on that end of the court didn’t match that of the offensive end.

 

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

———————————————————————————————————————————————

 

Fortunately for Shaq he never had to defend any other top notch offensive centers in his prime. The only one that was close (Alonzo Mourning) more than held his own.

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

In 1996 when Shaq was 23 (entering his prime), 300lbs, very agile and an All-NBA performer played David Robinson who was 30 (and still in his prime), Robinson put up 36 points on Shaq in their only matchup.

1997 Robinson was injured. In 1998 he came back and played against Shaq in his prime once again and put up 27 points and 23 points in their only regular season matchups.

Now don’t get me wrong, Shaq was a great player and a good defender in his prime (certainly worth an honorable mention) but he wasn’t exactly a defensive stopper like the other guys on this list. Yes with his size, strength and agility he would’ve been a nightmare to go up against (much like Chamberlain) but his effort, awareness, and impact on that end of the court didn’t match that of the offensive end.

 

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

how is shaq not in this… id like to see ANY of those top players have shaq defending them (when he was in his prime) and see what happens…

———————————————————————————————————————————————

 

Fortunately for Shaq he never had to defend any other top notch offensive centers in his prime. The only one that was close (Alonzo Mourning) more than held his own.

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

In 1996 when Shaq was 23 (entering his prime), 300lbs, very agile and an All-NBA performer played David Robinson who was 30 (and still in his prime), Robinson put up 36 points on Shaq in their only matchup.

1997 Robinson was injured. In 1998 he came back and played against Shaq in his prime once again and put up 27 points and 23 points in their only regular season matchups.

Now don’t get me wrong, Shaq was a great player and a good defender in his prime (certainly worth an honorable mention) but he wasn’t exactly a defensive stopper like the other guys on this list. Yes with his size, strength and agility he would’ve been a nightmare to go up against (much like Chamberlain) but his effort, awareness, and impact on that end of the court didn’t match that of the offensive end.

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I saw Hakeem Olajuwon dismantle Shaq in his prime during the 94-95 Finals.  It was one of the best playoff performances and THE best display of pure low post skill that I’ve ever seen.  Shaq was 100% outclassed by Hakeem on both offense and defense.

He played in the same era as a lot of those guys.  1988-1998 was such a good era for centers and Shaq really didn’t stack up defensively compared to a lot of those guys.  He was a dominant force on offense and an amazing physical specimen, but despite being a very good defender wasn’t on the same level, defensively, as Olajuwon, Robinson, Mutombo and Alonzo.

 

[JoeWolf1]

I saw Hakeem Olajuwon dismantle Shaq in his prime during the 94-95 Finals.  It was one of the best playoff performances and THE best display of pure low post skill that I’ve ever seen.  Shaq was 100% outclassed by Hakeem on both offense and defense.

He played in the same era as a lot of those guys.  1988-1998 was such a good era for centers and Shaq really didn’t stack up defensively compared to a lot of those guys.  He was a dominant force on offense and an amazing physical specimen, but despite being a very good defender wasn’t on the same level, defensively, as Olajuwon, Robinson, Mutombo and Alonzo.

 

[JoeWolf1]

I saw Hakeem Olajuwon dismantle Shaq in his prime during the 94-95 Finals.  It was one of the best playoff performances and THE best display of pure low post skill that I’ve ever seen.  Shaq was 100% outclassed by Hakeem on both offense and defense.

He played in the same era as a lot of those guys.  1988-1998 was such a good era for centers and Shaq really didn’t stack up defensively compared to a lot of those guys.  He was a dominant force on offense and an amazing physical specimen, but despite being a very good defender wasn’t on the same level, defensively, as Olajuwon, Robinson, Mutombo and Alonzo.

 

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

^^^ that was against arguably the best post player ever… hakeem dismantled everybody… but i guarentee shaq’s young days were better than any of the cambymans..

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

^^^ that was against arguably the best post player ever… hakeem dismantled everybody… but i guarentee shaq’s young days were better than any of the cambymans..

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

^^^ that was against arguably the best post player ever… hakeem dismantled everybody… but i guarentee shaq’s young days were better than any of the cambymans..

[JoeWolf1]

 Camby was a better shot blocker, IMO, but you could make a good arguement of a young Shaq being a bigger low post presence.  

Shot blocking is a bit of an overrated stat, but not when you’re doing it at the volume of these guys.  If you’re getting 3+ every game then you have to figure you’re altering 5-10 more.

[JoeWolf1]

 Camby was a better shot blocker, IMO, but you could make a good arguement of a young Shaq being a bigger low post presence.  

Shot blocking is a bit of an overrated stat, but not when you’re doing it at the volume of these guys.  If you’re getting 3+ every game then you have to figure you’re altering 5-10 more.

[JoeWolf1]

 Camby was a better shot blocker, IMO, but you could make a good arguement of a young Shaq being a bigger low post presence.  

Shot blocking is a bit of an overrated stat, but not when you’re doing it at the volume of these guys.  If you’re getting 3+ every game then you have to figure you’re altering 5-10 more.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Shaq has openly admitted to playing timid against the Dream that year due to him being Shaq’s idol before he enterd the L. As much as I love the Dream and dispise Shaq, I really don’t think Hakeem could have handled 99-00′ Shaq. That dude was an absolute BEAST.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Shaq has openly admitted to playing timid against the Dream that year due to him being Shaq’s idol before he enterd the L. As much as I love the Dream and dispise Shaq, I really don’t think Hakeem could have handled 99-00′ Shaq. That dude was an absolute BEAST.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Shaq has openly admitted to playing timid against the Dream that year due to him being Shaq’s idol before he enterd the L. As much as I love the Dream and dispise Shaq, I really don’t think Hakeem could have handled 99-00′ Shaq. That dude was an absolute BEAST.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Der Bismack Biyombo der

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Der Bismack Biyombo der

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Der Bismack Biyombo der

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

 He was a pretty decent defender in his days, especially in his prime. The guy was a force on both ends, and when he won titles, he more than held his own on the defensive end. Yes, Hakeem did a great job in the Finals, and he did outclass the younger Shaq. But, he did not exactly shut Shaq down. See for yourself:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=onealsh01&p2=olajuha01

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

 He was a pretty decent defender in his days, especially in his prime. The guy was a force on both ends, and when he won titles, he more than held his own on the defensive end. Yes, Hakeem did a great job in the Finals, and he did outclass the younger Shaq. But, he did not exactly shut Shaq down. See for yourself:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=onealsh01&p2=olajuha01

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

 He was a pretty decent defender in his days, especially in his prime. The guy was a force on both ends, and when he won titles, he more than held his own on the defensive end. Yes, Hakeem did a great job in the Finals, and he did outclass the younger Shaq. But, he did not exactly shut Shaq down. See for yourself:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=onealsh01&p2=olajuha01

[ghrghrParticipant]

Shaq wouldn’t be able to match Olajuwon’s speed, and Hakeem wouldn’t be able to match Shaq’s strength.

David Robinson is one of my favorite players all-time and a great defender, but Olajuwon humiliated him in the 1995 western conference finals. A prime Shaq wouldn’t be able to stop him either.

[ghrghrParticipant]

Shaq wouldn’t be able to match Olajuwon’s speed, and Hakeem wouldn’t be able to match Shaq’s strength.

David Robinson is one of my favorite players all-time and a great defender, but Olajuwon humiliated him in the 1995 western conference finals. A prime Shaq wouldn’t be able to stop him either.

[ghrghrParticipant]

Shaq wouldn’t be able to match Olajuwon’s speed, and Hakeem wouldn’t be able to match Shaq’s strength.

David Robinson is one of my favorite players all-time and a great defender, but Olajuwon humiliated him in the 1995 western conference finals. A prime Shaq wouldn’t be able to stop him either.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

——————————————————————————————————————

 

ummm…I did

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

——————————————————————————————————————

 

ummm…I did

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

——————————————————————————————————————

 

ummm…I did

[iguapops420Participant]

 Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Wanna show me numbers from 99-00 Shaq. Like I said, hewas lazy most years, but that year he was the absolute best center. I’d match him up against any big of any generation and proof would be there.

[mwalling2117Participant]

Great list, But I think Akeem should be #1 based on the quality of opposition.  Russell only had one quality center he ever had to guard, while "the dream" played during the hayday of the center position in the NBA.  He had to guard the likes of: Shaq, The Admiral, Ewing, Alonzo who are 4 of the top 10 centers all time.

[mwalling2117Participant]

Great list, But I think Akeem should be #1 based on the quality of opposition.  Russell only had one quality center he ever had to guard, while "the dream" played during the hayday of the center position in the NBA.  He had to guard the likes of: Shaq, The Admiral, Ewing, Alonzo who are 4 of the top 10 centers all time.

[mwalling2117Participant]

Great list, But I think Akeem should be #1 based on the quality of opposition.  Russell only had one quality center he ever had to guard, while "the dream" played during the hayday of the center position in the NBA.  He had to guard the likes of: Shaq, The Admiral, Ewing, Alonzo who are 4 of the top 10 centers all time.

[llperez]

shaq losses points for being one of the worst pick and roll defending centers of all time. I mean he made mike bibby look like allen iverson.

[llperez]

shaq losses points for being one of the worst pick and roll defending centers of all time. I mean he made mike bibby look like allen iverson.

[llperez]

shaq losses points for being one of the worst pick and roll defending centers of all time. I mean he made mike bibby look like allen iverson.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

If you need me to repeat myself then I’ll copy and paste from my previous post:

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

Now I’m a huge Zo fan but I’ll be the first to admit that his offensive game wasn’t as complete as Hakeem, Robinson or Ewing. So if Alonzo was capable of scoring on Shaq in his prime I don’t see why they would be incapable of it.

Also if he "was lazy most years" then he doesn’t really deserve to be on this list. If I had just taken into account a few peak years instead of a career of defensive play then I would have placed Wilt, Dwight and Walton in the top 6 or 7.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

If you need me to repeat myself then I’ll copy and paste from my previous post:

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

Now I’m a huge Zo fan but I’ll be the first to admit that his offensive game wasn’t as complete as Hakeem, Robinson or Ewing. So if Alonzo was capable of scoring on Shaq in his prime I don’t see why they would be incapable of it.

Also if he "was lazy most years" then he doesn’t really deserve to be on this list. If I had just taken into account a few peak years instead of a career of defensive play then I would have placed Wilt, Dwight and Walton in the top 6 or 7.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

If you need me to repeat myself then I’ll copy and paste from my previous post:

For example in 1999-2000, both of their prime seasons, Mourning scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in their first meeting (albeit on just 7-18 shooting, nonetheless he held Shaq to just 17 points on 5-17 shooting). Second game against Shaq, Mourning had 33 points and 13 boards.

Now I’m a huge Zo fan but I’ll be the first to admit that his offensive game wasn’t as complete as Hakeem, Robinson or Ewing. So if Alonzo was capable of scoring on Shaq in his prime I don’t see why they would be incapable of it.

Also if he "was lazy most years" then he doesn’t really deserve to be on this list. If I had just taken into account a few peak years instead of a career of defensive play then I would have placed Wilt, Dwight and Walton in the top 6 or 7.

[PlatypusParticipant]

 Bill Lambieer

[PlatypusParticipant]

 Bill Lambieer

[PlatypusParticipant]

 Bill Lambieer

[iguapops420Participant]

 You never once saw me say that Shaq deserved to be on the list either. Simply that for one single season he was the best center of all-time. I never said Shaq was a top defensive center out there, but since you’re saying I did, I will say this, since you gave Camby a spot for simply being a good helpside shotblocker, then Shaq most certainly deserves to be there because not many even DARED go in the lane with him there. You knew you were either getting swatted or sent to the floor. Shaq may have been the worst P&R defender of all time, but he made up for it completely. 

BTW, Zo hit a lot of JUMPERS. Same with Robinson. None of those guys even TRIED posting up on Shaq consistently. And you literally showed me one match up from 99-00.

[iguapops420Participant]

 You never once saw me say that Shaq deserved to be on the list either. Simply that for one single season he was the best center of all-time. I never said Shaq was a top defensive center out there, but since you’re saying I did, I will say this, since you gave Camby a spot for simply being a good helpside shotblocker, then Shaq most certainly deserves to be there because not many even DARED go in the lane with him there. You knew you were either getting swatted or sent to the floor. Shaq may have been the worst P&R defender of all time, but he made up for it completely. 

BTW, Zo hit a lot of JUMPERS. Same with Robinson. None of those guys even TRIED posting up on Shaq consistently. And you literally showed me one match up from 99-00.

[iguapops420Participant]

 You never once saw me say that Shaq deserved to be on the list either. Simply that for one single season he was the best center of all-time. I never said Shaq was a top defensive center out there, but since you’re saying I did, I will say this, since you gave Camby a spot for simply being a good helpside shotblocker, then Shaq most certainly deserves to be there because not many even DARED go in the lane with him there. You knew you were either getting swatted or sent to the floor. Shaq may have been the worst P&R defender of all time, but he made up for it completely. 

BTW, Zo hit a lot of JUMPERS. Same with Robinson. None of those guys even TRIED posting up on Shaq consistently. And you literally showed me one match up from 99-00.

[iguapops420Participant]

 BTW, You wanna see Dwight Howard’s number’s when going against REAL competition at the 5?

Noah 16 pts on 6-11 shooting         Dwight 13 and 12 on 5-12 shooting

Horford 16 and 10 on 50%             Dwight 14 and 13 and 6TOV on 5 on 5-11 shooting

Bynum 10pts 18 rebounds  27mts    Dwight 22 and 15 in 43 mts (anyone who watched this saw bynum punk howard when matched up against each other over and over)

Kwame 14 and 5        Dwight 15 and 7

—————————————————————————————————————–

Just saying, Dwight gets rocked by players as well. Doesn’t make him any less intimidating or worse thn anyone of these players.

 

[iguapops420Participant]

 BTW, You wanna see Dwight Howard’s number’s when going against REAL competition at the 5?

Noah 16 pts on 6-11 shooting         Dwight 13 and 12 on 5-12 shooting

Horford 16 and 10 on 50%             Dwight 14 and 13 and 6TOV on 5 on 5-11 shooting

Bynum 10pts 18 rebounds  27mts    Dwight 22 and 15 in 43 mts (anyone who watched this saw bynum punk howard when matched up against each other over and over)

Kwame 14 and 5        Dwight 15 and 7

—————————————————————————————————————–

Just saying, Dwight gets rocked by players as well. Doesn’t make him any less intimidating or worse thn anyone of these players.

 

[iguapops420Participant]

 BTW, You wanna see Dwight Howard’s number’s when going against REAL competition at the 5?

Noah 16 pts on 6-11 shooting         Dwight 13 and 12 on 5-12 shooting

Horford 16 and 10 on 50%             Dwight 14 and 13 and 6TOV on 5 on 5-11 shooting

Bynum 10pts 18 rebounds  27mts    Dwight 22 and 15 in 43 mts (anyone who watched this saw bynum punk howard when matched up against each other over and over)

Kwame 14 and 5        Dwight 15 and 7

—————————————————————————————————————–

Just saying, Dwight gets rocked by players as well. Doesn’t make him any less intimidating or worse thn anyone of these players.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

Regarding Shaq didn’t Hakeem dominate him quite a bit in Shaq’s early years when they matched up for instance the 1995 Final when Houston swept the Magic. With Shaq his main defensive presence was perhaps just his sheer size, if he had had the defensive game of some of the other guys mentioned then you just wonder how great his defence could have been. But he’s still one of the greatest of all time.

Bill Russell would be number one on my list of defensive C’s.

[HitsterParticipant]

Regarding Shaq didn’t Hakeem dominate him quite a bit in Shaq’s early years when they matched up for instance the 1995 Final when Houston swept the Magic. With Shaq his main defensive presence was perhaps just his sheer size, if he had had the defensive game of some of the other guys mentioned then you just wonder how great his defence could have been. But he’s still one of the greatest of all time.

Bill Russell would be number one on my list of defensive C’s.

[HitsterParticipant]

Regarding Shaq didn’t Hakeem dominate him quite a bit in Shaq’s early years when they matched up for instance the 1995 Final when Houston swept the Magic. With Shaq his main defensive presence was perhaps just his sheer size, if he had had the defensive game of some of the other guys mentioned then you just wonder how great his defence could have been. But he’s still one of the greatest of all time.

Bill Russell would be number one on my list of defensive C’s.

[Author]

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