Best big man-guard duo in the league

[kevC]

I'm not sure if this topic's been covered before but I haven't seen it so...
Now that Shaq and Kobe are separated I think this is a good question.

Here are my choices:

1. Yao and T-Mac: Many have been predicting they will be the next Shaq-Kobe. Double Yao, Yao kicks it out to T-Mac who is the best wing player in the league(Yes, better than Kobe). Double T-Mac, he kicks it in to Yao who have been steadily showing dominance inside and is getting better by the day. This could create some seriously irritating situations for the opponents. This scenario will only work if T-Mac's willing to give up the ball. We'll see.

2. KG and Sam Cassell: Already the 2nd best duo in the league last year with both KG and Cassell's best seasons. We can all expect brilliance from KG but the big question is can Cassell, in his 30's, stay injury-free and produce like last year?

3. Tony Parker and TD: Tony Parker's quickness + TD's dominance = Maybe another championship with the right supporting cast.

4. Shaq and Dwayne: Although Dwayne Wade has much to prove since his rookie season and his rather mediocre performance at the Olympics, this duo is probably very dangerous just because of Shaq's dominance. I really liked what I've seen in Dwayne last season and if he continues to improve the Heat's 1-2 punch might become and imminent threat.

[VCFAN]

I would put Shaq and Dwayne as #1. Its hard to tell since they havent really played together yet but they but seem eager to work together, plus I love Dwayne Wades style and I think he will definately improve as the year goes on.

[Wormy10]

I honestly couldnt say
I wouldnt put KG & Cassel, although i do like the both of them
I do not like Shaq at all, but i did like the Heat, and still like Wade
Duncan and Parker are a good pick
I wouldnt put Yao and T-Mac there just yet, have to see them play first

[Alcoholic]

I say Yao and T-Mac. T-Mac is in his prime, and Yao is approaching his prime, their best performances are coming in very closely, like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

[Eugene]

I like the Shaq-Wade combo, obviously. But Wade is just a heady, smart player who has crunch-time performer written all over him. A slim, vegeance driven Shaq will dominate the East. It's all on Wade, I think. If he adjust well to Shaq's presence, and I'm inclined to believe he will, then they will be the most dominant duo in the league.

Unless of course,

T-Mac does indeed belong in the same discussion as Kobe Bryant. As my friend Chi said (perhaps the only person I know in the world that I think knows more about the league than I do), "Tracy McGrady hasn't done anything in the playoffs. As of right now, he hasn't proven anything. Playoffs is when the players come to play." And I think he's right. With or without Shaq, Kobe has won in the playoffs. And he played a significant role in those wins (much more than a lot of people give him credit for). With or without Shaq (or Yao), McGrady hasn't done anything to prove himself in the playoffs. Whether or not he's had the opportunity, the fact remains, he has not proved himself in the playoffs.

So my point is this. McGrady has no excuses now. And if he does indeed prove himself (something he's entirely capable of, that I'm not disputing), he and Yao will be the greatest duo in the league for a long time (let's leave the discussion about the killer instinct, something both of those players lack right now, for when we discuss the best big man-guard combos ever).

Here's the reason I don't believe TD and Parker belong in this discussion. Did you notice how Tony Parker disappears in the biggest games? I mean really. He's like a freakin' ghost! He was nowhere to be seen in the Spurs-Lakers series last season after Game 2. Even in the Finals two seasons ago--Speedy Claxton sealed the deal for SA in game 6. I don't know. I find it unnerving that my starting point guard isn't in the game in the fourth quarter of the championship game.

All the best,

Eugene

[Fresh8]

With or without Shaq (or Yao), McGrady hasn't done anything to prove himself in the playoffs. Whether or not he's had the opportunity, the fact remains, he has not proved himself in the playoffs

Mcgrady had the chance to beat Detroit... and New Orleans a year and two years ago... I think I can remeber... or was it only just New Orleans... (I'm confused)

Against New Orleans, T-mac tried to talk himself up! But Baron Davis showed who was boss with two triple doubles and a KO for Mcgrady. And everyone knows bout Pistons and Magic...

But if T-mac doesnt make the same mistake as Kobe... then Yao and T-mac will rule this season. Otherwise, if Parker got any better over the Summer- Tim Duncan and Parker are the best duo. Shaq and Wade have a bit to go...

[j.23]

Mcgrady had the chance to beat Detroit... and New Orleans a year and two years ago... I think I can remeber... or was it only just New Orleans... (I'm confused)

yeah he pretty much carried that whole orlando team, but they were too relaxed and thought they had the series wrapped up at 3-1 .. guess they forgot it's the first team that wins 4 takes the series.

and it was against charlotte.. mcgrady attempted to drive to the basket but baron davis picked his pocket good (one of the best anticipation steals i've ever seen)

[John-John Joe]

Honestly, I have to give credit where it's due. My vote goes to Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton, two players I admire for their unselfishness and hard work. It hurts that they bust our asses the way they did, but I can't find any hate for two class acts like those two.

Jury is out on Yao/Mac and Shaq/Wade because I hate to speculate about anything in the world of sports. You'll always end up swallowing your words in some fashion.......

[MaD_hAND1e]

Any big man/ guard combo with shaq could be on this list. I think Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton shouldn't be considered one of the big man/guard combos in the league, cos Detroit just doesn't play that style, it's an entire team effort for the Pistons, where any one or all of their starters could be leading the team.

Right now, I'm tempted to say T-Mac and Yao, but we haven't seen them play together yet, so we won't know. Also, it is quite hard to predict how T-Mac will play with Yao, since McGrady has not had an all-star level supporting teamate after he started to flourish in Orlando (Grant Hill didn't play his best ball in Orlando). However, I do think Yao can seriously help T-Mac's outside game, since he was already a great outside shooter in the Magic, where he would have to create most of his shots, Yao can draw more attention to the paint and allow T-Mac space to shoot.

[Rens]

Dwyane Wade has a good rookie year, but I think he's one of the most overrated players in the league at the moment.

[Jowe]

Dwyane Wade has a good rookie year, but I think he's one of the most overrated players in the league at the moment.

agreed, also last year the team didn't really have a superstar..
now they have shaq, he'll have to defer more of his shots..

I'd also say Ben wallace, and rip/billups..


i don't really liek teh shaq and any guard statements.. shaq is unproductive if he doesn't have the ball in his hands all the time.

[air gordon]

does this thread mean best big man/guard duo= best stats combined??

can hardly consider shaq/wade or yao/tmac, they haven't even played a single minute together yet

if we're going by chemistry, i'd have to go with webber/bibby

[NNpF]

I was going to say Divac and Bibby or Webber and Bibby. And since Divac is gone then I think by chemistry these two are the best as crawford2NY4real already said.

Maybe now it will be Kobe and Divac? Divac is the best passing big man but only if Kobe will cut to the basket and not sit behind the three point line.

Yao and T-Mac will be the best one-two punch combo in the league. Yao has a great inside game and T-Mac can do pretty much anything.

If Nash stayed in Dallas then Nowitzki and Nash are a great combo. Webber and Bibby and Nowitzki and Nash are probably the most dangerous pick and rolls in the league.

[j.23]

i like duncan/ginobili.. out of everyone on the spurs i think ginobili plays off duncan the best, they have unbelievable chemistry

[.]

Kobe and Vlade.....sounds good

Next to those 2, I dont know which one to pick, I dont believe T-Mac and Yao will be that good or even come close to the Shaq and Kobe generation. They will be the most hyped duo this season, thats for sure.

And I do agree that Dwayne Wade is freakin overrated, hes a good player...but not as great as most people claim he is, Im not saying that he and Shaq wont be a good duo, but I wouldnt be surprised if they would suck playing together compared to the other duos like Duncan/Parker, Yao/lazy eye etc.

[j.23]

i think kobe and lamar would make a good tandem.. depending whether or not you consider lamar a big man or not...

kinda reminds me of mj and pip

[Sauru]

shaq and wade dont belong on this list. how can you rate a combo that has never played a game together? to me a duo is 2 teammates that work together and make each other better, not just a good big guy who happens to play on a team with a good guard.

[Riot]

same with Yao and tmac....

[kevC]

Well, I was looking at it more as a statistical point of view... Sure, we can't ever tell what's going to happen but we can always speculate

[Riot]

if we're going by stats then KG and sam should be on there


yao and tmac, wade and shaq?, td and parker? and how about brand and maggette?

[kevC]

I put Sam and KG and maggette's not a guard

[idiot]

maggette can play sg

[air gordon]

And I do agree that Dwayne Wade is freakin overrated, hes a good player...but not as great as most people claim he is

Dwyane Wade has a good rookie year, but I think he's one of the most overrated players in the league at the moment.

how is he overrated? what are 'most people' claiming him to be?

it wasn't the most hyped rooks ever to come into the league, anthony and james, it was dwayne wade leading his team to the 2nd round in the playoffs, making those clutch shots in the 1st and 2nd rounds. how far back do we have to go to figure out when the last time a rookie has accomplished this? i could remember a certain youngster getting his chance against the jazz but only to fail miserably, airballing twice.

wade's earned the right for some attention. but the praise he's getting is nowhere close to what anthony james are getting

dotorg kevC: rather mediocre performance? wade was the team's best perimeter defender, who by the way was amongst the leaders in steals during the olympics, and he had the most success driving the lane. sure his outside was suspect, but on that team, who's wasn't?

[.]

how is he overrated? what are 'most people' claiming him to be?

To be the best rookie last year.

[Rens]

I've read people saying Wade is untouchable for the Heat, things like that definately make me qualify him as overrated. He has a nice future, but let's not forget he didn't put of great rookie numbers (good ones though), he missed a quarter of the season with injuries, things like that seem to be overlooked pretty often.