I agree with you on this Cory. Definitely because of the position...getting a center that can dominate like Shaq is a sure ticket to the finals.

I am glad you understand!

Swoop, the reason you are wrong is because you are forgetting to account for him being on a poor team.

This isn't anti-Jordan, this is me saying that the position is not as strong overall.

Like Mutt said earlier....the center position historically is the way to go. Like the other guy that made the point about Rice being the best in the NFL, but you would still take Marino.

Jordan was never on the worst team in the NBA. Look at what happens to guards in this league when they get sent to terrible teams....

In the NBA, a dominant center means more than a dominant guard. In all cases. I am willing to bet the farm that every GM in the league would make the same decision.

Shaq ain't pretty. He isn't the cut throat guy that Jordan was, Kobe is, whatever....but he is more dominant overall.

Im curious to see what happens to Wade if he has surgery or not, reports say, itll come out this week if he'll go under the knife or not

Dikembe Mutumbo.

Yao Ming.

I'm no NBA expert but I'm sure there are a few more.
The thing is that we define a "dominant player" because he's on a dominant team. If Mutumbo had won 6 championships and Shaq none, you'd be saying Shaq wasn't a dominant center, just someone who was freakishly tall.
Even if his scoring and blocking numbers were exactly the same for his entire career.

Jordan.. he can single handily win games on his own, not to mention hes the big ticket when it comes to merchandise sales and tickets

Jordan Rules!

I got your point cory...I too will also choose Shaq over Jordan only because I want to have an instant result without even changing the roster, but if this would be for a long term plans I will choose Jordan and change the roster of the team to compliment Jordan's style of play.

Your question is somewhat vague and basically impossible to answer without knowing more about the team. Since you say the team is "terrible", I'm going to deduce that it has trouble scoring, most likely a poor point guard and no depth. I agree with you on the rarity of a dominant center, especially these days. However, Shaq needs to receive the ball in position, he has to rely on his teammates to get him the ball in the flow of the game. Jordan on the other hand was able to create his own shot without his teammates assistance much like Kobe is able to do.

I completely disagree with you that you can't shut Shaq down. When Shaq was in his prime, he often was triple teamed and forced to pass out of the block to his teammates who had open shots. Many times the Lakers would kill a team even though Shaq had a sub par game, because the other team took him out of the game and hoped that his teammates couldn't hit open shots. Jordan however always had the ball in his hands on the perimeter and was extremely difficult to take out of a game.

So basically, if the team is "terrible" as you say, then they probably have a lack of scorers, which would mean that other teams could double/triple team Shaq knowing that his teammates would have trouble hitting open shots. Dominant centers have thrived on teams that had good outside shooting, because teams couldn't always double team in the paint for fear that their good shooters would get open shots. As you phrased your question, Jordan is a much better fit for a "terrible team". If you had phrased the question, "If a GM had the first pick in the draft or had to choose one player to start a team", I'd most likely have answered Shaq.

Yep....agreed.

Good points and well thought out.

Wrong,

You take Jordan.

You make some accusations, but they are unproven, and in fact totally wrong.

"I take Shaq. Shaq has taken 3 different teams to the finals. I am a Kobe fan. I was always a Jordan fan. But you can shut either of the two down if you can dedicate your resources to doing it."

Jordan Rules and triple teams, while possibly may have slowed him down, never stopped him, and made for lots o easy layups by the other players.

You can't shut a guy like Shaq down. He is the most dominant player of all time.

He is an ape, but Bulls always shut him down, and in fact they never took the Bulls and Jordan down.

Shaq never beat Jordan,
Jordan makes all other playerss on the team better
Shaq can make the players on his team worse, by being a ball hog.

Shaq can't make a free throw, hack a shaq was far more effective
strategy then the jordan rules.


But moreso, if you put a Jordan on your team, your team will NOT suck


Bulling basketball and ball hogging never won championships, the heart sould and dedication of the competiveness between the line playing of Jordan will always win championships.

Winning championships on 3 teams means nothing, teams are built around them when the cash is there and the lame free agency trade of today makes it possible for everyone to raise their hand and say I WANT A RING

Wining it on the same team 5 straight years.... Now thats a story of a legend

Shaq was not in his prime against the Bulls.

That's a tough question.

The key is that the rest of the team is terrible, then I go with Shaq hands down.

If the team is a finals contender, I'd go with Jordan.

I'd take Jordan anytime ... "hack a shaq" always works coz he can't make the freethrows ... he can't score without anyone passing the ball to him ... Jordan has the most amazing crucial game highlights if you want to make noise in the playoffs..

Jordan won defensive player of the year 1988 also 9 time all defensive first team most of those years he also won the scoring title he was the most complete basketball player ever there will never be anyone even close A.I is the only offensive player to even test his numbers and no guard is even in the same argument defensively

Shaq isn't even the best center of all time

Jordan's prime lasted longer than Shaq's. :2 cents:

Knowing what we know now you have to take Jordan. But if you didn't know anything about either of the two and you were drafting you would take Shaq as it's easier to evaluate potential in a big man than an off ball guard.

BTW two big men were selected before Jordan in his draft class. One of them was dominate and you could build a team around.

Shaq isn't even the best center of all time[/QUOTE]

BINGO!!!

Go with the big man always. Another reason why Oden should be #1 over Durant...especially if the Celtics get the pick.

I'd take Jordan and then go to Eastern Europe and get some big strong white boys to stand in the paint and take fouls.

100 percent agreement on that statement.

I remember when Jordan was sick with the flu and had to be carried off the court...He was still scoring on muthafuckas and leading them through the playoffs...

Shaq would be on the bench with a double breasted suit on if he got a runny nose...The only thing Shaq has is body mass...Jordan had Skill, Attitude, Defense, and Leadership abilities.

Oh, and Jordan was winning even when they didn't even HAVE a center.

Now if you said Wilt Chamberlain or Jabbar, you have an argument..but even still I'd pick Jordan.

Agreed.

And I still choose Shaq.

He should have flip flopped the statement to be accurate. On a terrible team, all star centers have struggled. On teams with a decent point guard and above average outside shooting, dominant centers have thrived because they get the ball in position and teams can't double as much. Terrible teams need players who can create their own shot, hence Jordan. Also, Shaq has greatly underachieved his whole career in the block shot and rebound categories, and certainly has never been regarded as a dominant defensive player.

Jordan got shut down? when?

I take #23 anytime

It all comes down to this...

Do you build your team around the greatest player to ever play the game, who has always hit game winning shots, or...

Build your team around a dominant center who will be fouled at "cruntch" time and will only make 1/2 free throws.

Jordan is the answer

jordan

:)

Jordan in a heartbeat

Hey WegCory, you seem knowledgeable about the NBA, come playoff time you wanna bet some $$ on playoff series :P

I know the NBA like the back of my hand =X

Patrick Ewing was a great center that didn't win a championship. I think he is by far the best center to not win a championship. The list for guards can go on forever.

But the question comes up, WHY didn't Ewing win any championships? Same reason Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley and many others - Jordan.

In their prime I would take Jordan. But in their first few years I would take Shaq. Shaq had a bigger impact on the Magic as a rookie then Jordan did with the Bulls. I bet even Shaw would take Jordan in his prime over himself.:2 cents:

Great question man, I love debating NBA dream match ups.

After considering both men's strengths I would have to go with Jordan.

Shaq demands double teams. So does Jordan.

Shaq plugs up the middle. Jordan won several All D first team honors.

Shaq scored 30 pts a game. So did Jordan.

Shaq makes his teamates good. Jordan makes them better.

Aside from being an amazing player himself, Jordan was the ultimate hardwood general. He could inspire his teamates to play better and made heros of NBA Joes such like John Paxson, Horace Grant, Luc Longley etc (cmon, where would they be without Michael... really.)

When Jordan wasnt in the mix the Bulls struggled. Miserably. When he was with the Bulls, they broke NBA records.

Jordan has that 1 advantage over Shaq and it is enough for me to take Jordan first.

- Bas

The question involves one season, not building a team : )

i'd take Jordan.

the team who can shut him down was bad boys pistons and he came with a way to beat them, at his prime.

without any good supporting role, shaq can't win either

his free throws is his worst enemies...

yes, center can change the game, he is the most dominant player ever, but to win games,.. i still think i'd take jordan...

it's the cempetitive drive, determination, etc etc, that put MJ the best player there is.

in a joking manner..

can't i take Greg Ostertag?

You know what i mean :)

You guys are also forgetting that Jordan stayed with a team longer than Shaq does. Really if you know what these two players developed into I don't see how you can choose Shaq. The Magic did and they didn't win with him. The Bulls picked Jordan and they won 6 times.

Again, put them both on terrible teams. It isn't about who sells shoes, it is about which position is stronger by default.

That is really what the argument comes down to. Jordan is better. But go back and read what Mutt wrote, he nailed it.

And just as you say "Jordan won 6...Shaq lost with Orlando..."

How old was Shaq when he took Orlando? Was he actually in his prime? How old was Jordan?

Did Jordan take multiple teams to the finals?

The center position is more nessecary for a fast winning season. Centers have a smaller window for being dominate. Guards last longer.

Based on that logic you'd have to take Jordan because his prime would last longer, hence more winning seasons for you as the GM.....hence more offseasons to make moves to try and build a winner around your star.