Which current Rocket has the most McHale/Olajuwon-ness?

Well, D-Mo clearly seems to have the most talent when it comes to posting up. He's got some nice touch for a big man. But it's not that hard to be the best on the team when you are going up against Dwight and Asik.

I'm not sure he's the most effective post player... but he has the most natural ability and the greatest potential because he's got some finesse.

 

DMo, plain and simple.

 

DMo, Harden, and Lin should be learning from Dream. DMo because of his speed and finesse, Harden/Lin because they're big for their positions and can post up smaller guards.

Dwight and TJones should be learning from McHale.

Asik needs to work on catching, dunking, and hitting a jumper from the foul line, like Doc Rivers forced Glen Davis to learn.

 

I'm going with McHale for most McHale-ness.

 

Dwight's super athleticism could have hurt his learning during his younger years.

 

Dmo /thread

 

It used to be this guy but he approved DMO!

 

Lin tried a few post ups very early this year and late last year but strayed from that since. Supposedly he utilized that skill a lot at Harvard. Harden posts and then faces up and takes a step back

 

McHale and Hakeem were two of the best low post players of all time. Lets just separate them from any other prospective current Rockets post player right now for the record please.

As far as post moves, all the Rockets bigs have very different styles of post play from each other.

-If Dwight had just slightly better finishing ability with his touch around the rim, his patented drop step, into a left handed hook shot would be right up there with the Dream shake, the Dirk one-legger, or the McHale up and under. Its that good of a move even though it looks methodical, but he gets an open look almost every single time he goes to it on the low block. Finishing that shot is a whole other issue.

-D-Mo is like a blast from the past when he gets going in the post when given the opportunity, but in the Rockets offense, he's going to be playing the 4 80% of the time, and the other 18 to 20% of the time he's going to be the primary pick and roll big which will keep him out of the low block. D-Mo's potential as a low post player will have to be realized later in his career with opportunity. There just isn't enough evidence of him on the low block against starting caliber competition.

-Jones surprised me in the second half of the season with a little post action here and there. Has great potential for being able to finish around the rim, but his post moves will probably be more of a face up game where he can use his speed and athleticism to make a positive move to the basket. I see more Shawn Kemp type of post play in his future than Kevin McHale if the Rockets do decide to feature him more in the half court offensive sets.

 

Tina Thompson has more Olajuwon/McHale tendencies for Christ's sake.

 

Why do people throw McHale in the same sentence with Hakeem. McHale was Pippen to Bird and he would've been second fiddle to Olajuwon. He was never on Hakeem's level.