Would Hakeem do any better with this roster/coaches?

Yup, probably worse.

 

Well, you'd basically be removing two players, because Hakeem and Dwight play the same position. So the hypothetical needs some work on your part.

btw: we are going to make the playoffs.

 

Hakeem would do better. Is it a championship squad? No. Not even a coach.

 

Lillard and Hakeem? WCF at least.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/25/5542838/nba-rules-changes-lebron-james-michael-jordan

Very different game when Dream played.

 

Hakeem will take this team to the finals no questions asked.

This team very talented but its dealing with many issues. Attitude, conflicts, dumbass philosophy, work ethic...

 

So Hakeem and bring back Thornton?

He'd have zero rebound help and the Brewer, JB connection would negate any good Hakeem could do. Also, if we're talking young Hakeem, he'd punch most of the players by the third quarter for their stupidity and not being able to get him the ball.

 

I don't care who the coach is but if you put Hakeem on this roster and give him a decent SG (top 10 since essentially you are removing Harden and Dwight who is a top 10 center) say like Beal or even Middleton, you are going to go pretty far.

Look Hakeem was a real leader. He had championship DNA, he would make all his teammates better, coach or not he would be the coach on the court leading from the front. We wouldn't have broke chemistry, petty player arguments and conflicts. He would display a work ethic as a leader that the others would be forced to follow. They'd want to give up something extra and play all out just seeing his work ethic. Players would leave everything on the court.

If you are a role player, do you give your everything for a No D guy who hangs out at the strip clubs or for a guy who eats, lives and preaches basketball. Dream's attitude and approach towards basketball would be infectious.

 

You put Hakeem and a shooting guard equal to Dwight and the team solves its biggest problems. Leadership, chemistry, and defense.

 

You mean shooting, rebounding, and perimeter defense?

No, it wouldn't really fix any of those.

Hakeem is great, but this team has talent issues across the board.

 

Uh, no. He'd improve those as well. Keep trying.

 

How in the hell is Hakeem going to fix outside shooting and perimeter defense?

He might be a marginal improvement over Dwight in rebounding, but that is about it.

 

First of all, you originally said "shooting", not "outside shooting". It should be obvious how he'd improve the team's shooting as a whole.

Secondly, regarding perimeter defense, having Olajuwon means not having Harden, and if Harden were replaced with a top 10 SG, then our perimeter defense would automatically improve. Plus, with Olajuwon protecting the basket, our perimeter defenders could play tighter defense. The worst-case scenario is that they'd funnel the offensive player into Olajuwon, who is a better defender than Howard.

 

By drawing the defense the same way he used to draw the defense. Not having Harden automatically improves the perimeter defense and having the quickest, most agile center to funnel guards into worked pretty well back in the day.

 

Probably there would be a bunch of threads about Hakeem's turnovers, about why he can't shoot 3's, and why DMO should start instead and we can trade Hakeem for Lillard or Harden or Westbrook or whoever.

 

Sorry, we already miss open shots. Getting good looks isn't our problem.

Any defensive gains you might get from Hakeem over Dwight, you lose by not having Harden's offense.

Not saying that Harden is better, but no, this team would really not be any different with Hakeem. Way too many non-star problems.

 

Hakeem is probably the best two way player to ever play the game. We're def better because the defense would be stellar. Hakeem can guard 1-5, Ariza the same... we'd be awesome with Hakeem. Mark it.