I was watching tonights game, and I was thinking the difference between the two. One thing i'd like to say is that, when the two faced off Hakeem was actually very close to the age Shaq is right now but that didnt stop him from putting up numbers around 30/12/3(blocks)But my real point is, Has shaq ever beaten a good team in a 7 game series? I've never really thought about it, but it seems like his 3 rings are undeserving. Espically when saying he's better then Hakeem for having 3 to Hakeem's 2. The talent level the two have faced in the finals is no where on the same level. Also, look at the 3 finals series he has lost(soon to be 3 at least) He has played very driven teams in those series. The 95 Rockets,the 04 Pistons and the 06 Mavs. In fact, whenever he's played a great team in the finals he's not been known to show up. This might sound like a rant, but it's actually a valid point. Playing agaist Penny Hardaway,Horace Grant, Shaq is no where near playing a team like the sixers with Mutombo,AI,and Eric Snow.
I do think his 3 rings came against weaker teams if you will.But I'll give him credit, they had to go through the Spurs most of those years, and that's a good enough team to win all of those champioships themselves.But you may have a point, Hakeem did win against more talented teams than Shaq has.
You bring up some good points, like Melo said he mainly faced weak eastern conference centers in his 3 peat. However I don't think it's fair to discredit him at all because of the people he faced in the finals, he doesn't control who he plays. When Shaq made it to the finals with Orlando he played against the finals MVP in Hakeem but that didn't stop him.What did he put up in those 4 games Orlando got swept?29 PPG, 11 RPG, 2 blocks and 2 assists I wasn't surprised Orlando got swept in that series, there team was really Anfernee Haraway and Shaq against Hakeem, Clyde Drexler and a good supporting cast in Vernon Maxwell and Otis Thorpe. He put up better stats then Hakeem, yeah Hakeem was older but you forget Shaq was just coming out of college and had only been in the league around 2 years.This series against has Dallas been pretty sad, he hasn't been getting many touches and he hasn't been playing agressive when he does get the ball. He has 2-3 people surrounding him instantly and giving him the foul which results in free throws for him, sadly he is shooting around 40% from the line in this years playoffs, an all time low in his career.
I agree has played much weaker teams. However, he has made up for it. If I'm not mistaken, I believe in those 3 years, he averaged something like 36, 12, and 3 BPG. The guy dominated like no other has before, and also consider that he did it one year aginst Dikembe.Plus, his three teams were great. Everyone is always talking about how greatness is measured by your team, and Shaq was the anchor of three incredible teams, one of which is widely regarded as a top five team ever.It's like, we are ripping Shaq for having too good a team compared to his opposition, yet we judge him by how good his teams are. I think we basketball fans need to find a damn middle ground!
