Who is going to guard Shaq?

[Toine43]

Doc's decision to start Scal for Perk has worked out perfectly so far, with Scal playing solid defense and doing suprisingly well on offense. But on Monday, I can't imagine Scal getting the nod at center. Doc doesn't like to play Garnett against normal centers, so it's even less likely that we'll see The Big Ticket against the abnormal Shaq. Realistically, the Celtics have three options:

1) Start Glen Davis. This is the obvious choice because Davis technically plays center, and amongst the healthy Celtics his body type is most suited to play Shaq.

2) Start Leon Powe. I don't see this happening. The only reason I bring it up is that Leon actually has some experience playing Shaq, and he didn't do a horrible job against him. I know because I was there for that debacle of a Pierce-less, Big Al-less, Wally-less, Delonte-less, Kevinn Pinkney-and-Allan Ray-full game. Amazingly, the Celtics only lost by 3. 

3) Start Scal knowing that he has no shot, but hoping for the best.

You hate to switch around your starting lineup for specific matchup problems (right Avery Johnson?), but to me a change will have to made Monday night.  I vote Big Baby into the starting lineup because he's got the body to at least make an attempt on Shaq. Certainly, the Celtics are catching the Suns at the wrong time with Perk out and Shaq on fire, but hopefully Boston will find a way to play around the matchup problem.

Since I doubt Baby will have enough energy to go head to head against Shaq for 35 minutes, we'll probably see some Powe against the big fella. And like I said, Powe has played center against Shaq in the past and held his own, so don't be surprised to see him out there at center not completely embarrassing himself.

[Chris]

It's going to be very interesting.  Shaq has been rejuvenated this year, and the C's really don't have anyone who can handle him without Perk.  My guess is Davis will see a lot of time on him, but more than that, I think the C's will do their best to front him, and try to stop him from getting the ball.  It will be really interesting to see though.

[dark_lord]

our best bet is to be aggressive offensively in taking it to the hoop, in hopes of getting shaq in foul trouble so it limits his minutes on the floor.

[Who]

Glen Davis

[RebusRankin]

Davis, then Powe and you likely see some time for the Notorious P.O.B.

[Chris]

Davis, then Powe and you likely see some time for the Notorious P.O.B.

I doubt we see POB unless everyone else fouls out.  He just doesn't have the strength to cover Shaq.  He would end up under the basket every time, and Shaq would just dunk over him.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Well Doc mentioned in some article in recent days that he'll probably start Scal, so either him or Garnett will be on him to start things off. Big Baby should be on him otherwise. It's a back to back for the Suns, so Shaq might not be at his best.

[Fafnir]

Well Doc mentioned in some article in recent days that he'll probably start Scal, so either him or Garnett will be on him to start things off. Big Baby should be on him otherwise. It's a back to back for the Suns, so Shaq might not be at his best.

Shaq usually takes one of the back to backs off. I'm not sure if he'll do so before they play the Celtics.

[Toine43]

Well Doc mentioned in some article in recent days that he'll probably start Scal, so either him or Garnett will be on him to start things off. Big Baby should be on him otherwise. It's a back to back for the Suns, so Shaq might not be at his best.

Shaq usually takes one of the back to backs off. I'm not sure if he'll do so before they play the Celtics.

It would probably be in Shaq's best interest to be really fresh for the Celtics game, because on paper he should dominate.

I wouldn't be surprised if Doc starts Scal, but I would disagree with the decision. To me it just seems like starting Scal is being too cute. You can come up with some ingenious defensive scheme and tell yourself beforehand that you'll be able to contain Shaq even with Scal playing center, but I think when it comes time to play, you'll find out quickly that a lineup featuring Scal at center has no chance.

[Jon]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

[NoraG1]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

Well..Shaq isn't exactly in his prime so he is a little bit easier to deal with but he is still a good player and HUGE. 

[Toine43]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

I agree with the gist of what your saying, except I doubt Shaq's going to out-quick anyone at this stage of his career.

[xmuscularghandix]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

I agree with the gist of what your saying, except I doubt Shaq's going to out-quick anyone at this stage of his career.

oh no? he's playing every other game. its like he has no bumps or bruises and is in the best shape he could possibly be... too bad we didn't land phoenix on a Shaq-less night. 

[amenhotep04]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

Well said.  Teams tried to find someone to guard Shaq and ended up weakening their team.  Shaq's not the player he once was, so he's not going to dominate the game.  He still can make a big difference, but not dominate.  To the best of my knowledge, it's still five on five. They are going to have match-up problems against us as well.  They aren't going to be able to guard Rondo, Paul, or Ray. We won't be able to guard Shaq.  The great one-on-one match-up is going to be at the four.

We have the advantage on match-ups.  It will be a matter of which Celtic team shows up.

[Brendan]

The biggest mistake most teams in the league ever made was trying to find a solution for Shaq.  Quite simply, there isn't one.  If you get a big guy to match his strength, he will out-quick him.  If you get someone to match his quickness, he'll out muscle him.  In the rare case where someone like Big Baby may be able to match him pretty close with strength and quickness, Shaq's got 5 inches or so. 

This futile effort to match Shaq literally ruined teams drafts as big stiffs like Vitaly Potapenko, Todd Fuller, and Sagana Diop all became lottery picks. 

The Celtics should simply go for what makes them best.  All putting a big body out there does is make Shaq's job easier at the defensive end.  If Shaq's going to put up 20 and 10, he'll do it on Scalabrine, Davis, or Powe.  We might as well do what we can do to make him work hard on the defensive end and make our offensive and defensive plan run as smoothly as possible. 

This is actually true for all the great ones, except when you draft the best wing available to go against an MJ or Lebron or whatever - you usually get a good player, when you draft the best big man available to go against Shaq, you get a turd.

TP for you sir.