<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Here, then, are five options for the Wolves in thwarting O'Neal or, at least, minimizing the carnage: 1. Don't let him dunk The key here is to let him shoot over the defense, with his hooks and flips and other stylings, as long as he's shooting up or across rather than down. That means beating him to spots and holding position, which sounds easier than it is because of O'Neal's bulk and footwork that has gotten so good at sealing off the man guarding him. 2. Deny him the ball That means a lot of fronting, sometimes using defenders on both sides of him. But playing behind O'Neal in the post is an invitation to ICU. Then again, New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank -- back when he was the newly named Nets genius -- had his players sage into the middle in a game after the All-Star break. The Lakers' perimeter shooters picked them apart and New Jersey got smoked on its home court. O'Neal only had nine points at halftime but L.A. already led 49-35. 3. Keep him guessing This means different defenders, different intensity, different angles. Not unlike what the Wolves did defensively against Sacramento's point guard in the just-completed series. The Wolves have at least five players lined up to defend O'Neal: Ervin Johnson, Michael Olowokandi, Madsen, Miller and Gary Trent. Everyone else will help in traps. This, mind you, does not necessarily suggest a Hack-a-Shaq approach. Too often, when referees see a stream of defenders checking into and out of the game against O'Neal, they assume those guys are there to foul, so quick whistles follow. The Wolves want to make the big man play against different opponents, not get sent to the line by them. (Keep in mind, O'Neal has made only 40 of 106 free throws so far in the playoffs.) 4. Make him work on defense With Nesterovic, the Wolves tried to draw O'Neal outside with the Slovenian's shooting range. That's why Houston's Yao Ming has had some success against him, too. And before the Lakers solved San Antonio, the Spurs relied on Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker to penetrate and draw the big man into foul trouble. The Wolves don't have much offensive punch at center, but they still need to make O'Neal work. "You've got to make him come out and guard people," Saunders said. "You've got to make him defend pick-and-rolls. You can't let him stay in the paint and play, pretty much, a one-man zone." That means Ervin Johnson setting screens out front for Sam Cassell or Latrell Sprewell. It means Madsen using any trick he learned in three years of nasty duty. And it means Olowokandi entering the playoff fray, after a worthless Sacramento series. That said, it must be noted that O'Neal has been a livelier, more committed defender of late. Instead of lazily staying back on pick-and-rolls, he is more active. Plus, he has Karl Malone helping him out away from the basket. 5. Everything AND the kitchen sink The proper question ought to be, what won't the Wolves try against O'Neal? Look for double teams, sometimes triple teams. Some coming late, some early. Their zone defenses, shelved against the Kings, could get dusted off. Then they will enlist the referees' help, and do their best to demonstrate that the big man swinging his elbows nose-high on a move to the hoop sometimes can be classified as an offensive foul. </div> Link
Thing is though, he's too strong, regardless of how many men we put on him. People could probably take him on when they were on the offensive end, but if he was, he'd simply dominate us. Not of our centers can take him, plus KG is really good yes, he could manage to probably contest, but Shaq is just too heavy, too muscular and too strong. He could simply move on into the paint during his lazy days which is like all the time. I think the best bet would be to steal Rebs. from him or try to make him use what handle he has. Also get him to pass, he may be a good passing center, but they aren't really supposed to be and it'll catch up to him. Maybe Hack-A-Shaq would work in this series, but that'd be a desperate move.
They need to take pointers from Malone. If you see the opponent is stronger than you, pull the chair sometimes. Karl made Duncan look foolish with that move. If Shaq is trying to back you down, pull the chair, when he learns not to, play him straight up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">They need to take pointers from Malone. If you see the opponent is stronger than you, pull the chair sometimes. Karl made Duncan look foolish with that move. If Shaq is trying to back you down, pull the chair, when he learns not to, play him straight up.</div> What's that if you don't mind me asking? I'm sorry to bother you, but I don't know what that is. Is that when you have them lean on you and then pull away?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">Is that when you have them lean on you and then pull away?</div> Yep
