Granted, Shandon broke down and let Carter drive by him but Hakeem should have put an old school hurt on him...make him go to the line at the very least. Never, EVER, let someone dunk the game winner over you. That coming after Dream hit a couple of clutch baskets down the stretch. Pitiful. Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
I think it's better that Hakeem didn't foul him for two reasons. 1.)I don't think Hakeem would have had a chance to foul him before Carter go up in the air. When Carter's up in the air, there's almost no way of stopping him. Plus, Hakeem cannot jump like he used to. So I got a feeling that it would have been an AND 1 play. 2.)The only way to stop Carter while he's in the air is to foul him hard. And then he might hurt himself and then there'd be another flagrant called. This time on Olajuwon. ------------------
So, just let him drive by and slam it uncontested with :01 second on the clock?? I don't understand the logic. I guess at this point a loss doesn't matter so why risk injury? Why guard him at all then? Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
Here's Hakeems take on the play: ""That was unreal," Olajuwon said after Carter beat him to the rim. "He took off from waaaaaay ... His explosion is too crisp. You can't react. I was trying to cut him off. He accelerates in flight. It was amazing. Amazing. I just had to let him go. I moved to get there, and he was there. Amazing." The younger Hakeem would have challenged him and not stood in awe. Like I said, it really doesn't matter...a win would not have turned the season around at this point...but it still would have been niced to see some sort of attempt to stop the play. Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
It would've also hurt our chances for a higher draft pick. Then you would've posted "Hakeem helps us win, and still manages to hurt the team". Hakeem should've just let Carter dunk, so we could lose and have a chance at a higher draft pick. He couldn't make the play. Carter can jump high. Didn't he just win the dunk contest. Sheesh, way to find a way to blame the Dream once again. I like your disclaimer: "Granted, Shandon broke down and let Carter drive by him..." Where were the other three guys on the floor for the Rocks? Man, the guy just can't win... ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Old School, I think you're grasping for straws here. Don't grasp too hard or you'll make my devil's advocate sub-concious start appreciating Dream again. ------------------ ------------------------------------- it's the snow, i'm not a mo...
Yes Carter can jump high...real high. So Dream should just turn his head and let him dunk the game winning basket? Not challenge him at all?? Well, that's exactly what he did. Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
I'm a big Dream backer...this is the first time I've piled on this season. It just bothered me to see Hakeem stand there... especially after he hit those 2 clutch baskets. I don't think that's grasping for anything. Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
Dream just got beat to the basket. If you watch a replay, you will see Dream take a look at his guy who takes a step towards the sideline and Dream takes a step in that direction. As Dream starts taking that one step away from the basket and as soon as Carter see this is when he exploded by Anderson and beat Dream to the basket. Credits to Carter for reading the defense. ------------------ [This message has been edited by OT (edited March 20, 2000).]
You know I thought about this one all weekend and although I was extremely angry by Hakeem's lack of resolve to try and stop Carter, I have come to the conclusion that I'm not going to criticize Hakeem for his play (or lack there of). I WANT this team to lose and I am not going to criticize Hakeem or anyone else for bonehead plays for the remainder of the season that ensures that outcome. I want the higher draft pick, and for me to say anything else about the level or intensity of play that will jeapordize that goal would be ridiculous. Let the tank-a-thon commence with full force! ------------------ The truth is out there.
I gotta agree with Mulder. Hakeem didn't even jump. He didn't even lift his arms. I've been a Dream fan for years but that was just pathetic. Pathetic. Embarrassing. I just hung my head repeating, "He didn't even jump." Couldn't SOMEBODY put a body on Vince? You don't have to intentionally foul, JUST PLAY SOME DAMN DEFENSE! ! ! c-man ------------------
Forgot to mention: I also know it wasn't all Dream's fault. We should have known they'd go to Vince. We should triple-teamed his butt, and we should at least jump. At least try. It was a breakdown in the whole team (and an ugly one). c-man ------------------
You guys are amazing. Sure, Hakeem could have challenged him but the result would have been the same -either a dunk to finish it or he would have iced the free throws. Hakeem made a veteran decision not to get in the way of a foregone conclusion. The play was all over as soon as Carter blew by Anderson. Don't blame Hakeem - blame the defensive strategy. Everyone in the freaking building knew Carter was taking the last shot. We should have double teamed him and forced him to win it from the outside. I'm more upset about the ongoing comedy series of "Kelvin and Carlos finding new and different ways to miss dunks" ------------------ http://rocketdavo.tripod.com
Would Charles Barkley have challenged Vince Carter in that situation? Hell Yes! If Charles Barkley just stood there and watched like that he would of insulted himself and put the blame on himself for not challenging or being out of position, but he certainly would praise Vince Carter and say how amazingly wonderful he is, afterwards. ------------------
What would Barkley have done? Popped a knee while Carter leap-frogged him for the dunk and foul? When it comes to defense, I'd rather have Olajuwon not trying than Barkley hustling his butt off. ------------------
I guess we'll never know because Hakeem decided to plant his feet and watch the slam with the rest of us. Akeem would have never let that happen. Old School ------------------ Just Build It! [This message has been edited by Old School (edited March 20, 2000).]
Gee, I guess Hakeem can do no wrong. If he plays well, you love him. If he plays poorly, you love him. If he shows no effort at all, you still love him. Hell, maybe he just shouldn't get out of bed in the morning - you'd say he was making a smart veteran decision for not bringing down the team! ------------------
Old School, By selectively quoting from my post you have missed the main point. By the time Hakeem had to worry about blocking the shot it was too late. There was a break down in defensive strategy, and it wasn't Anderson's fault either. 9 times out of 10 a guy like Carter is going to take his defender off the dribble(even Mobley does it 8/10) so it was negligent not to double team him. Everyone in the league knows that it is better to force someone to beat from you from outside than give up the easy shot. cman, you infer that in my eyes, Hakeem can do no wrong. Well maybe so, but I take a look at the BBS and see 5 or 6 threads dedicated to criticizing Hakeem and it seems to me that people are focussing their attention in the wrong places. We have WAY bigger problems than Hakeem. ------------------ http://rocketdavo.tripod.com
Carter can jump as high as he wants, the rim is still 10 feet high. Hakeem should have been able to disrupt that shot. What was he thinking, carter wouldn't try to shoot with one second on the clock? Carter has to come to the rim. Hakeem should have blocked that shot. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I'm not the only one who thinks Hakeem should have shown some effort. Charlie Pallilo and Micheal Murphy lit Dream up on the radio yesterday. I saw the highlight again...Hakeem DID have enough time to jump. Granted, Carter would have thrown he and the ball through the hoop but you don't go down watching. Old School ------------------ Just Build It!
