Shaq vs. Perk

[drza44]

I actually think starting Shaq would be more valuable against Orlando than against the average team, because:

1) Shaq also does a good job on Howard 1-on-1.  With his size and strength he is able to keep Howard from his spots as well as anyone

2) More importantly, on offense Shaq

a) forces Howard to respect him instead of playing help defense.  The importance of that can't be overstated, as Howard's help defense is the crux of their interior defense.  No more Howard shutting down Rondo's driving lanes with impunity.  No more Howard leaving Perk to help Lewis against a posted KG.  With Shaq on the floor, Howard has to stay home, which is huge.

b) Shaq can draw fouls.  If Shaq can get Howard into foul trouble, which is actually a reasonable bet, it changes the whole complexion of things.

 

[Who]

I actually think starting Shaq would be more valuable against Orlando than against the average team, because:

1) Shaq also does a good job on Howard 1-on-1.  With his size and strength he is able to keep Howard from his spots as well as anyone

I would be more concerned with Shaq's pick and roll defense against Orlando than his post defense against Howard. No concerns on his post defense. Howard's low post repertoire is too limited to cause concern here.

There will be a couple of regular season matchups against Orlando to experiment with before the playoffs. We'll have a better idea of how much of an issue (or non-issue) it is after those games.

[Brendan]

I think starters maximize what's left of Shaq's offensive game and minimize his defensive weaknesses. I don't think Perk's offense gets the same boost with the starters and his D is always going to be good.

Perk may not even be second string center. It's plausible that we'd have a three center rotation of Shaq / JO / Perk - especially if Perk has any set back in his recovery.

[BballTim]

  Even if you do consider Shaq the starter the other four starters are going to play as many minutes without him as they are with him. It's not like he's going to get the lion's share of the minutes with them. Right now Baby's getting the most minutes with them including virtually all of the late game minutes in close games.

[wdleehi]

ha ha ha, BballTim,  You didn't like that image?  I think it would be a hoot...Perk's scowl, Shaq's grin...other team's offense wouldn't know what to do!  ha ha ha

  I was a little more worried about *our* offense with those two in the game...

Shaq is quite capable of getting offensive baskets (put backs, dunks....rondo's alley opps passes.  Perk is not really an offensive threat no matter who he plays with...he does get some, but it is his defense the team loves.

  Shaq's going to have a lot less room to operate if he's playing with Perk than if he's playing with KG who's frequently pulling a big 15 feet from the basket.

Shaq and Perkins aren't going to ever be on the floor together unless some sort of meteorite/fouls takes out all of our other bigs.

I would put them out there against the Laker pair of Gasol and Bynum.  Perk has shown he can defend Gasol with the best of them.  Really put a physical hurt on them.  (short term mind you)

[kozlodoev]

I think starters maximize what's left of Shaq's offensive game and minimize his defensive weaknesses. I don't think Perk's offense gets the same boost with the starters and his D is always going to be good.

So what? The goal shouldn't be to get the most out of Shaq, but to do what's best for the team. The two don't necessarily coincide.

[Fafnir]

ha ha ha, BballTim,  You didn't like that image?  I think it would be a hoot...Perk's scowl, Shaq's grin...other team's offense wouldn't know what to do!  ha ha ha

  I was a little more worried about *our* offense with those two in the game...

Shaq is quite capable of getting offensive baskets (put backs, dunks....rondo's alley opps passes.  Perk is not really an offensive threat no matter who he plays with...he does get some, but it is his defense the team loves.

  Shaq's going to have a lot less room to operate if he's playing with Perk than if he's playing with KG who's frequently pulling a big 15 feet from the basket.

Shaq and Perkins aren't going to ever be on the floor together unless some sort of meteorite/fouls takes out all of our other bigs.

I would put them out there against the Laker pair of Gasol and Bynum.  Perk has shown he can defend Gasol with the best of them.  Really put a physical hurt on them.  (short term mind you)

I'd be worried about help defense from the two of them, both are so used to being the C in our defensive rotations. Combine that with Shaq's very poor mobility and I think we could get hurt off the bounce while they were out there.

You're right though, if we can get Perkins on Gasol that's a match up I like. Gasol does not feel nearly as comfortable against Perk as he does KG.