If Celtics had Prime Shaq now, are we unstoppable?

[slamtheking]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

Hehe, I get the sentiment about Shaq being a weird fit in 2026, but we're talking about prime Shaq and suggesting his output would be prime Jonas Valanciunas. He would be that player... 3 inches and 75lbs bigger, with leaping defending and passing ability. And Jonas was legitimately at the 17/12 level for years in the modern NBA.

Personally, I think he might play 30 minutes a night instead of 40, but could put up closer 25 and 15, with 4 assists, couple steals, couple of blocks. A few nights where he'd be like 18-24 from the field for 45 points and 22 rebounds, a few others where he'd foul out and the opposing center would hit six 3PTs. But overall he'd be [dang] good and have insane mismatches in his favor pretty often.

the only thing that might hold back Shaq's dominance is this current NBA is the officiating.  do the officials stick with current enforcement of traveling/foot shuffling in the paint which is a bit more stringent than in Shaq's prime?  if so, Shaq will get blown for several travels a game, not to mention a few more offensive fouls for bulldozing over people in the paint that had position, so he may have to sit on the bench for more minutes in foul trouble or for TOs control. 

Still, he'd manhandle today's centers in the paint and would almost be an automatic bucket when not whistled for a travel or offensive foul.

[Csfan1984]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

[KG Living Legend]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

 So are you denying,  that Shaq wouldn't  the best player on the team, and the #1 option???

[byennie]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

[KG Living Legend]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

I'm amazed how seemingly intelligent basketball junkies, can completely miss the most obvious parts of the game.

 Prime Shaq would avg over 30ppg 13rpg 4apg 2.5bpg on this year's celtics team. He would shoot 65% in close to he paint and completely open up the court for record setting three point attempts while also being more efficient.

 Do people really not remember how dominant he was?

[Csfan1984]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

It's absolutely about the team and coaching. Not about Prime Shaq

[Goldstar88]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

It's absolutely about the team and coaching. Not about Prime Shaq

Jalen Duren just averaged 20pts/11rebs playing 28mpg. Saying prime Shaq would average 17pts/12rebs in todays NBA, on any team with any coach is just silly.

[Csfan1984]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

It's absolutely about the team and coaching. Not about Prime Shaq

Jalen Duren just averaged 20pts/11rebs playing 28mpg. Saying prime Shaq would average 17pts/12rebs in todays NBA, on any team with any coach is just silly.

The teams don't play the same way. What is so hard for y'all to accept. The team and these coaches don't play any deep post. They shoot threes and more threes. Guys coming to the team have said they were sat because they weren't taking enough threes. The team is all about the three. Look what ever big man does here. Nothing against Shaq this is the team. Look how JB got sent out. They want threes, they don't want a Shaq scoring unless it's a lob play or put back.

[Goldstar88]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

It's absolutely about the team and coaching. Not about Prime Shaq

Jalen Duren just averaged 20pts/11rebs playing 28mpg. Saying prime Shaq would average 17pts/12rebs in todays NBA, on any team with any coach is just silly.

The teams don't play the same way. What is so hard for y'all to accept. The team and these coaches don't play any deep post. They shoot threes and more threes. Guys coming to the team have said they were sat because they weren't taking enough threes. The team is all about the three. Look what ever big man does here. Nothing against Shaq this is the team. Look how JB got sent out. They want threes, they don't want a Shaq scoring unless it's a lob play or put back.

How many 3s is Queta putting up per game. Do you think Mitch Robinson is going to be shooting 3s? Shaq would get so many offensive rebounds and put back dunks. Brad values shooting 3s, but he also values points in the paint. Guess what Shaq did really well?

From Brads end of year presser 2026:

"My general feeling watching us play in really each of the last two playoffs ... was, we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot," Stevens said. "So, we've got to figure out a way to do better in that."

"One of the things that we've got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that. Everybody plays a role in that, but at the end of (Game 7), (Sixers big man Joel) Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions."

That sure sounds like Stevens wants to add more frontcourt depth to complement the current tandem of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza -- or at least pursue a player who can create offense inside the 3-point line.

"I think the biggest thing is, can we generate looks at the rim?" Stevens said. "Yeah, everybody wants to do that, and every one of us would prefer a dunk over a 3. Every single one of us. Those are hard to get, and we struggle to generate them."

[byennie]

This coach and this system would see prime Shaq score 17pts a game and grab 12 rebs. The game change overall would see Shaqs blocks reduced but his steals increased. He would probably still get defensive player of the year votes. People forget how intimidating he was in the paint on defense.

Do they win, maybe they do? Still Shaq wouldn't be as dominate in this system. The threes and spacing would diminish his impact if they refuse to pass him the ball and just make him a screener (see Vuce in our system and Vuce had a decent shot).

 17 ppg per game Prime Shaq??? You must be joking. We have Tatum and what else? Breaking news Shaq is 10 times better than Tatum will ever be.

Shaq is good, this team is just a bad fit. They also refuse to change. So yeah I stand by what I said.

It just doesn't check out as anything other than an exaggerated shot at the Celtics' coaches.

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 and 13 two years ago, past his prime. Shaq was the most physically dominant big man of the past 50 years. It's just not the case that coaches on any team, let alone the Cs, are so blind as to not leverage an All-Time big man just because he doesn't shoot 3s (or whatever the objection is).

It's absolutely about the team and coaching. Not about Prime Shaq

Jalen Duren just averaged 20pts/11rebs playing 28mpg. Saying prime Shaq would average 17pts/12rebs in todays NBA, on any team with any coach is just silly.

The teams don't play the same way. What is so hard for y'all to accept. The team and these coaches don't play any deep post. They shoot threes and more threes. Guys coming to the team have said they were sat because they weren't taking enough threes. The team is all about the three. Look what ever big man does here. Nothing against Shaq this is the team. Look how JB got sent out. They want threes, they don't want a Shaq scoring unless it's a lob play or put back.

We all know that. The thing that refutes your point is that we can find traditional big men in the league with a fraction of Shaq's talent putting up bigger numbers than you suggest.

Duren is a great example. He shoots 95% of his shots from within 10 feet, MORE than Shaq for his career. He's never made a 3PT shot, can't pass, doesn't block shots, and yet he can muscle his way to 20/11 in 28 minutes because he's athletic and big.

But yet, Shaq would put up 17/12.

This is all just a big complaint about shooting 3s that ignores reality. Every team in the NBA, including the Cs, would make a stylistic exception for Shaq and use his strengths. The teams aren't that dumb.

[Roy H.]

The argument is that Prime Shaq would only be worth 7 points and 4 rebounds more than Queta?