Who is going to guard Shaq?

[twinbree]

Shaq is playing against the Raptors so hopefully he doesn't play tomorrow.

[RebusRankin]

I thought Perk would be back?

[Brickowski]

I'm not worried about Shaq.  I'm worried about Stoudamire.  BBD can handle Shaq.  Just force him to shoot from more than 5 feet from the basket.

Every shot that Shaq takes is one less shot for Amare.

[housecall]

according to T.Heinsohn if we use plan #3 in the OP's post,we will find a red scalp on the floor.

[Roy Hobbs]

  BBD can handle Shaq.  Just force him to shoot from more than 5 feet from the basket.

Easier said than done, though, right?  Shaq, despite his age, is still one of the most physically imposing players in the NBA.

[bostonfan23]

I'm not worried about Shaq.  I'm worried about Stoudamire.  BBD can handle Shaq.  Just force him to shoot from more than 5 feet from the basket.

Ohh so that's how you do it, I guess teams haven't tried that over the past sixteen years on him.

Shaq has been the best player on the Suns this season. I've been able to catch a bunch of their games and he's having a very, very good season.

[housecall]

I'm not worried about Shaq.  I'm worried about Stoudamire.  BBD can handle Shaq.  Just force him to shoot from more than 5 feet from the basket.

Ohh so that's how you do it, I guess teams haven't tried that over the past sixteen years on him.

Shaq has been the best player on the Suns this season. I've been able to catch a bunch of their games and he's having a very, very good season.

I agree,ive caught some games and he is playing like a man wanting to win a championship again.tp

[pearljammer10]

I wouldnt worry. No one can guard Shaq anyway. Shaqs performance depends on how well Shaq is feeling that day and how much energy he has to out strengthen the opposing player.

[cordobes]

Every shot that Shaq takes is one less shot for Amare.

And why is that a good thing? Shaq is a more efficient scorer than Amara and it's not really that close.

I agree with you that the concern is a little puzzling though. We might struggle to guard Shaq (although Davis can certainly do a decent job on him), but they will struggle to guard every single one of our players, including Scal.

[housecall]

I wouldnt worry. No one can guard Shaq anyway. Shaqs performance depends on how well Shaq is feeling that day and how much energy he has to out strengthen the opposing player.

I agree and sometimes the less you make him mad the better off you are.

[Bankshot]

BBD might be out for this game because of a strained shoulder.  I feel bad for Powe and Scal.

[Brendan]

In response to a couple things:

1) True, big stiff have always occurred, even before Shaq.  The difference is that there are now more of them.  Furthermore, a lot of them were drafted with Shaq in mind.  I can still remember on the night Diop was drafted we (and the media) were talking about how he had the size and strength to stay with Shaq. 

2) As far s Scalabine being a tough guard for Shaq, that's absolutely true.  And that's why big stiffs don't work against Shaq.  All they do is give him a license to sit under the basket.  This is exactly how the C's beat the Sixers in 2001 or 2002 with Rodney Rodgers at center.  Mutombo either had to drift out to guard Rodney, opening up the middle or if he didn't, Rodney hit wide open threes.

Thus, I see no reason why we can't use the same game plan we've been using (Scal) against Phoenix. 

That and Paul Pierce was an unstoppable one man show at the time. Anyways - you rotate all your big guys, make Shaq work on D, and throw as many different looks as you can. Try to prevent him from getting the ball in dunk range, and foul before he can put a move on further out. Don't foul in close though, he'll likely make it an "and 1", then he gets the points AND you're in foul trouble.

[Brendan]

Also - good chance we don't see Shaq at all, its been mentioned above, but he played against TOR yesterday, and typically that means sit today.

[kozlodoev]

Also - good chance we don't see Shaq at all, its been mentioned above, but he played against TOR yesterday, and typically that means sit today.

On the other hand, if you check Phoenix's back-to-back games up to now, he always sat the first game of the pair. Makes you wonder why he played yesterday at all, given that today's game is obviously more challenging for the Suns.

[Brickowski]

So put O'Bryant on him and play hack-a-Shaq.  I still maintain that its better to have Shaq taking shots than Amare.

A more interesting question is, how is Shaq going to guard Scalabrine?  Scalabrine ought to have an open look at a 3 ball on every possession.