[Chron] Jerome Solomon - Olajuwon vs. Shaq

so, according to Solomon, you can't seriously argue that O'Neal was better, you can only argue that he was more dominant?

Let's go to the dictionary:



Main Entry: 1dom·i·nant
Pronunciation: \-nənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin dominant-, dominans, present participle of dominari
Date: circa 1532
1 a: commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others <the dominant culture> b: very important, powerful, or successful <a dominant theme> <a dominant industry>


So he wasn't better, he just prevailed over all others more, was more important, powerful and more successful - just not better.

 

Hakeem may have gotten things done with more finesse, but Shaq is just a powerhouse.

Nice article. Thanks for the read. I may not necessarily agree with everything there but it provided me with more insight.

 

Shaq was/is a great player. Hakeem was simply better.

 

Agreed. Their styles differed but they were both dominant offensively. Hakeem was better defensively and I cant see anyone argue otherwise. Shaq had holes in his game which you could exploit and which has been exploited.

 

Shaq was more dominant from a physical standpoint. He could dominant any other player by simply bulldozing them to the hoop.

Hakeem has more skills and was far more well rounded.

Look at the Categories Hakeem was elite in for any NBA player

Points
Rebounds
Steals
Blocks

And for centers, he did well in Assists. But he finished top 10 all time in steals!!! Holy cow man. A center? Think of all the great guards and realize Hakeem has more steals!

Hakeem has more agility, more moves, more speed, a better shooting touch, and better hands then Shaq.

I can't believe anyone would pick Shaq over Hakeem. You put Hakeem with the Lakers and he'd have 6 or 7 rings.

 

Was this a topic of conversation recently in the media? It doesn't make sense to initiate a conversation on this kind of topic and at the same time say, "let's not talk about this again."

I've only seen one poll of a large number of experts on this topic, and it was largely in Shaq's favor. Both are great players, but you have to be blind not to at least acknowledge the case for Shaq:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-GreatestCenters

Henry Abbott, TrueHoop.com (HA)
Greg Anthony, NBA analyst (GA)
Andrew Ayres, ESPN.com NBA editor (AA)
Jon Barry, NBA analyst (JB)
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Magazine (CB)
Ric Bucher, ESPN The Magazine (RB)
John Hollinger, ESPN.com Insider (JH)
Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com Page 2 columnist (SJ)
Tim Legler, NBA analyst (TL)
Jamal Mashburn, NBA analyst (JM)
Jim O'Brien, ESPN.com Insider (JO)
Chris Ramsay, ESPN.com NBA editor (CR)
Jack Ramsay, NBA analyst (JR)
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com Insider (CS)
Ken Shouler, ESPN.com (KS)
Marc Stein, ESPN.com senior writer (MS)
David Thorpe, Scouts Inc. (DT)
Kiki Vandeweghe, NBA analyst (KV)
Royce Webb, ESPN.com NBA editor (RW)
Jeff Weltman, Scouts Inc. (JW)

They were all asked to rank the top 10 centers ... 10 down to to 1 (10 being the best).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;HA&nbsp;&nbsp;GA&nbsp;&nbsp;AA&nbsp;&nbsp;JB&nbsp;&nbsp;CB&nbsp;&nbsp;RB&nbsp;&nbsp;JH&nbsp;&nbsp;SJ&nbsp;&nbsp;TL&nbsp;&nbsp;JM&nbsp;&nbsp;JO&nbsp;&nbsp;CR&nbsp;&nbsp;JR&nbsp;&nbsp;CS&nbsp;&nbsp;KS&nbsp;&nbsp;MS&nbsp;&nbsp;DT&nbsp;&nbsp;KV&nbsp;&nbsp;RW&nbsp;&nbsp;JW&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total
Kareem&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;174
Wilt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;173
Russell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;168
Shaq&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;142
Hakeem&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;130
Moses&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;76
Walton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;56
Robinson&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;51
Mikan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;46
Ewing&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;--&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;23

 

Pretty homerish but whatever. He can say whatever he wants to, I guess. But we all know that if it was Olajuwon with 4 titles and O'Neal with 2, he'd be arguing that the barometer for greatness is the number of championships won.

 

I totally agree with that statement. If L.A. traded for Hakeem in Kareem's declining years, They would have been Showtime for another decade!

 

Players who have said Hakeem is better.

1) Michael Jordan - Has played against both.

2) Robert Horry - Has played With and against both.

3) Alonzo Mourning - Has played against both and played with Shaq.


A lot of the the commentators and sportswriters have fallen in love with the "Most dominant" concept and considering this poll was taken during Shaq's era I am would not be surprised at them tilting in Shaq's favour. Offensively I dont see how Shaq was so much better that he can be called most dominant. Defensively Olauwon is far better. Hakeem in playoffs was a completely different animal. Stats show this.

It would be stupid not to acknowledge the case for Shaq. I just havent come across convincing explanations or reasoning why Shaq is better to sway my mind and I say this as a basketball fan of both players.

 

They were both pretty good, but I know who I would take at the end of the game.

However many of solomon's arguments are weak. He talks about shaq not taking his teams to the final four, well those cougar teams were pretty good even w/o hakeem. Also shaq played 60 more playoff games and they both have similar playoff stats.

I thin hakeem was better, but I hate blind homerism articles.

 

Yeah, Solomon's writing and the arguments he used are pretty bad.

Arguments I would use are:

1) Shaq's refusal to defend pick and roll
2) Shaq's poor FT shooting liability in closing moments of the game. Kobe has saved Shaq a number of times.
3) A lot for versatility from Hakeem on offense and defense.
4) Hakeem was a much better on the ball and off the ball defender
5) Hakeem faced better competition and out dueled his center contemporaries in playoffs.
6) As good as Hakeem was in regular season, his playoff numbers were even better across the board, on offense as well as defense.
7) Shaq had flaws in his game which could be exploited. Hakeem did not have any such glaring deficiency in his game .

 

+1. You can also add in there Shaq's lack of an offensive arsenal. Honestly I really like Shaq but to say he's better than Hakeem is a stretch.

 

It's a tough call but to me it's a bit like the Lebron vs. Kobe comparison.

If I need a guy who is physically unstoppable and who can show up on almost any team and make it a contender then I go with Shaq (Lebron). If I need a guy with unparalleled skills (but who is less dominant physically) to show up in a big game and take whatever assignment is necessary to win whether it be score 40 points or guard the opposing team's best player as well as be able to ice the game down the stretch then I pick Dream (Kobe).

 

According to Solomon, you could remotely argue that O'Neal was more dominant and that argument would be wrong.

"All they can even remotely argue is that Shaq was a more dominant player. Which is incorrect."

 

Hakeem > Shaq. Hakeem was an over all better player skilled wise. He could shoot the mid range jumper with the best of them, he had amazing quick foot work, his dream shake was unstoppable, he could run after a fast break and get the weak side block ask Rod Strickland...

 

Namely the Lakers would likely not have broken up. Shaq's ego was too big next to Kobe's ego. I think Dream could have lived with Kobe being the leading scorer/star.

 

First he says number of championships do not matter, and then he mentiones the amount of times Hakeem made it to the final four in the NCAA. That is not being consistent.

That being said, IMHO, shaq was the better offensive player, But Hakeen was the better defensive player. And Hakeems offense was much better than Shaq's defense. Furthermore Shaq couldn't hit a clutch free throw to safe his life, so that made him pretty useless in crunch time. So overal Hakeem was the better player.

 

Russell is so overated.

DD

 

One argument is very strong, and that's the one about Shaq being swept 6 times, and only getting 1 win 3 times. That is a telling stat, considering all the help Oneal has been blessed with during his career. The only players who have had it better are Russell, Magic & Bird. If you are truly so dominant then there is no excuse to get sent home so early 9 times when you have never really been on a bat team, outside of your rookie year.