In all honesty I don't understand why this guy is still mentoring young centers in the league when he basically sucks at it? He worked with Yao for 4 years and couldn't develop an effective low post game and yet he gets promoted to teaching another no 1 pick and has virtually no success. Sorry but whatever Howard is doing at this point in his career is because of his sheer strength and athleticism. Ewing has taught him next to nothing. Yao's game really changed after spending one summer with Hakeem who taught him to play like a real big man by holding the ball above his chest and making quick decisive moves to take advantage of the defense. I wish Rockets had hired him as permanant consultant to Yao since day 1. Back to Ewing, I don't know what kind of non-existent game he is teaching these guys because its not showing up in their game. I see the same thing with Howard that I saw with Yao 3 years ago. Both take too many dribbles or try to bring the ball low to gather up instead of keeping it high up and attacking the basket, resulting in either a stripped ball or getting tripled teamed by the defense. The Magic need to hire someone better to teach Howard the proper way of posting up players and use size, strength an leverage to dominate the paint. If the Rockets win a championship with Yao as the centerpiece, then the credit should go to Hakeem for showing Yao how to play like a man. As for Ewing, he was never really the definitive big man of his era, his game was too finesse compared to his peers. Perhaps he gets too much of a rep for his days at Georgetown but Hakeem and even his lil b**** (Robinson) trump Ewing as the best center of his time. After this failed venture with Ewing which has been clearly exposed in the Finals, the Magic need to hire someone better. I can name a lot of players that can teach Howard how play effective in the low post. FIRE EWING.
There's no way Ewing would have been praised so much if he didn't play for the Knicks. He is over rated because the played for them, IMO.
Ewing's offensive reportoire consisted of a dunk and an 8 foot jumper that he simply tossed up because he was big and could get it up quick. Ewing's offensive never evolved any more than that. He could not put the ball on the floor and he lost his quickness with the knee problems. He cannot be expected to develop a center with post moves. Face up jumper and open dunk shot. That is all he had.
I hate to have to defend Ewing but the guy averaged 28 points one year. hakeem never averaged that much.
He had a lot more moves than that. He had a bump-and-fade short jumper that was very, very difficult to stop as well as very consistent catch and shoot jumper from 15 feet. He also had very good footwork in the post. It's no accident that he was on the original Dream Team or that he was an MVP candidate for 4-5 years. I don't think his work ethic was all that great as a player. I think he works even less as a coach and from personal experience as well as what I have read he is not a very nice person but he could play the game of basketball as well or better than maybe 6 or 7 other Centers ever.
Ewing was a very good center, but he wasn't a great center like SHaq, Dream, or even Robinson. Those guys were special at their peaks in the NBA. Ewing benefited from playing in New York, where as the other 3 played in smaller/lesser known markets in Orlando, Houston, and San Antonio. He played Jordan in the playoffs 6 times, and played the Bulls a 7th time with Pippen in 1994, and that series went 7 games. The New York-Chicago Rivalry gained A LOT of coverage. Played Reggie Miller in the playoffs many times, who put up some of his best performanes ever in MSG in the the playoffs. He was part of a championship Georgetown Team in College and was the 1st ever Lottery Pick. He helped turn around a horrible team with the help of Pat Riley, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, John Starks, Mark Jackson, Xavier McDaniel, and Derek Harper. To his credit, he did anchor the middle of one of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history. However, Olajuwon was the premier defensive center of the league along with Robinson. Shaq wasn't a great defender, but his presence in the middle made him a great defender at the basket. I don't think Ewing's jumper was better than Hakeem's or David Robinson's. He just relied on it more. Hakeem and Shaq posted up MUCH more than Robinson and Ewing. Robinson could outrun most centers and was also very strong. Shaq was just a big, athletic freak in the 90's, and Hakeem mixed power and finesse with excellent foot work and a nice touch. Lastly, like Robinson, Ewing usually choked at some point in the playoffs every year. Dream and Shaq always elevated their games in the playoffs, but Ewing and Robinson would routinely disappear in the playoffs. In all honesty, Ewing was a very good center and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. However, he did become a little overrated/overhyped because of playing in New York, and having some memorable series vs. Jordan and the Bulls and Reggie Miller and the Pacers.
I may have my facts wrong, and I can't remember of the top of my head when Ewing left Houston, but I'm pretty sure he was the assistant coach during the 05/06 and 06/07 seasons for Yao periods where imo he showed the most growth in terms of offensive arsenal out of the post. I'd agree that in general he is a mediocre coach...mostly because it doesn't seem as if he cares that much. But nobody knows what's going on behind closed doors. Plus, Dwight Howard is what he is, for the time being. First, his offensive game has definitely improved, though still has a long way to go. But that takes time. Maybe you don't remember Hakeem's early years either. It took him a number of years in the league before he developed his hall of fame post moves, despite having arguably the best off-season tutoring possible in his battles at Fonde with Moses & co. Finally, if I am remembering correctly, Yao did not spend a summer with Hakeem. He spent a few sessions max. I actually don't think Hakeem would make a great coach, because it's a different skill-set, and doesn't seem to be something he's interested in at all...which is fine. Hakeem's game was so natural and instinctual...tough to teach. Yao is supremely smart...he has very high basketball IQ. He knows what he can and can't do, he has studied under Ewing, Carrol Dawson, Hakeem, Sikma, etc. He is what he is. Howard has room to grow still, but you can't rush life. You might as well complain about Lebron's coach - maybe if Eddie Johnson was his coach he'd be a better 3 point shooter....
When it is all said and done Ewing wasn't special. He was vastly overrated Dream, Robinson, Shaq, Howard, Yao [the last two barring something crazy] will always be seens ahead of him he is in the second teir in the last 25 yrs His Level is like Vlade, Eaton, Rik Smits, Sabonis, Ewing Rocket River . . and I might take Sabonis, Vlade and a Healthy Smits over Ewing
Ewing supporters keep mentioning the same thing over and over and in doing to so you are establishing my point and case. I just mention in my original post that Ewing was a FINESSE center. His game was all about 5-8 foot jumpers or dunks. He had no go to move like the Dreamshake, baby hooks, drop step like shaq, baseline bankshot or anything you see from dominant low post players. Go watch the youtube videos of his game, he had no back to the basket game PERIOD. He was the Vlade Divac of the 90's.
God damn you guys for making me have to stick up for Patrick Ewing... He's 15th all time in total points and 6th all time in blocks and 23rd in rebounds. He's ahead of David Robinson in points in rebounds and barely behind him in blocks. Don't tell me he was just some guy who got elevated by playing for the Knicks. Nobody is telling you guys to like him, but don't disrespect his accomplishments because he was on the first team the Rockets beat to win a championship.
I swear the internet brings all kinds of criticism....imagine what it would be like if the internet existed as it does now back in the 90's. Ewing may have never won the big one but it's not like he totally sucked which is what some of you are trying to argue.
Nobody is calling out his career as whole or slamming him in any way. He was a great player. The argument here is wether or not he is the prime example for new young centers to follow and learn from or not? Simply look at it this way, Ewing is to Hakeem/Shaq what Webber is to Duncan. Webber was a great player and had the best hands of any PF of his time but his game was more face up than post up. Same thing here Ewing was never a dominant post-up player. He could never back you in the paint and drop the hammer like Shaq or shake you off like Hakeem. All I am saying is when trying to teach young centers how to play the post-up game, Ewing is not the guy you want to go with. His game was never fundamentally sound to the point where you use him as the ideal center to imatate. Howard phiscally is a hybrid between Shaq/Hakeem/Robinson. Strong enough to overpower and muscle his way in the paint yet athletic and fast enough to run the run floor, jump and elevate and throw down the ball with the best of them. The only missing ingedient in his game are strong low post moves and knowledge of how to best use his skill set. He is a freakish player who can change the game forever if given the right tutoring and education.
I'm not a Ewing supporter nor did my post establish your point. I don't like the guy at all but there is no doubt he was a dominant player in the league for well over a decade. How the hell was he a "FINESSE center" when his game, in your own words, consisted largely of dunks? Sure he had go to moves including drop steps, a hook shot and his fadeway in the lane was definitely an effective go-to move for him. Did you ever watch him play? Just because this is a Rockets forum does not mean every player who is not named Hakeem sucked.
Great player has never meant great coach. Not many greats can translate their knowledge over into other players, or even care to. And I thought Ewing's coach role is based on pure prestige myself...He never seemed the coach type. We know Ewing's attitude, some of his quotes and less than good looks brought about plenty jeers. But his on-court game as a center compares to the all time greats. Ewing had a very solid 10 year run of durability and performance of around 23 pts 11 boards 2.5 blocks until age 34. I'd say Ewing is the unofficial cutoff point between top tier and 2nd tier, with him being a little closer to the top tier. If a center wants to be among the best ever they have to be at least better than Ewing. If they're at or around Ewing, 2nd tier.
Reading this makes me wonder if you even watched the man play. And if you did, you've forgotten his game. His biggest downfall is that he played in one of the greatest eras of basketball to-date and came out of college around the same time as some of the greatest players to play the game. He would probably be the best center in the game if he were playing today. BTW, Hakeem turned into a finesse player after the first few years of his NBA career as well, but nobody really knocks that. And the Vlade Divac of the 90's? Please back up your claims. I'll back up mine. You post Vlade's numbers : From basketball-reference.com : His awards : 1985-86 NBA All-Rookie (1st) 1987-88 NBA All-Defensive (2nd) 1987-88 NBA All-NBA (2nd) 1988-89 NBA All-Defensive (2nd) 1988-89 NBA All-NBA (2nd) 1989-90 NBA All-NBA (1st) 1990-91 NBA All-NBA (2nd) 1991-92 NBA All-Defensive (2nd) 1991-92 NBA All-NBA (2nd) 1992-93 NBA All-NBA (2nd) 1996-97 NBA All-NBA (2nd) His rankings in points per game : 1989-90 NBA 28.6 (3) 1990-91 NBA 26.6 (5) 1991-92 NBA 24.0 (5) 1992-93 NBA 24.2 (6) 1993-94 NBA 24.5 (6) 1994-95 NBA 23.9 (6) 1995-96 NBA 22.5 (9) 1996-97 NBA 22.4 (8) His rankings in rebounds : 1989-90 NBA 893 (5) 1990-91 NBA 905 (5) 1991-92 NBA 921 (5) 1992-93 NBA 980 (6) 1993-94 NBA 885 (8) 1994-95 NBA 867 (6) 1995-96 NBA 806 (8) 1996-97 NBA 834 (4) His rankings in blocks : 1987-88 NBA 245 (2) 1988-89 NBA 281 (4) 1989-90 NBA 327 (2) 1990-91 NBA 258 (2) 1991-92 NBA 245 (3) 1992-93 NBA 161 (8) 1993-94 NBA 217 (5) 1994-95 NBA 159 (8) 1995-96 NBA 184 (7) 1996-97 NBA 189 (4)
Ewing wasn't as great as Hakeem and probably a little below robinson but he was a GREAT player and an easy hall of famer. His coaching ability is certainly up for debate but I'm shocked how little respect he's getting for his ability as a basketball player. I'd easily take an in his prime ewing over dwight howard or yao ming. It's not even close. His main setback was playing in the same conference as jordan and then having to face hakeem in the finals. His knicks played the bulls tough and most people think they would have taken them out even if Jordan hadn't retired in 94. Like Malone's Jazz, Barkley's Suns, and Robinson's Spurs(pre-Duncan), Ewing is a victim of playing in a league far less watered down than it is now. Any of his knicks teams in the mid 90's would stomp these lakers or magic, hands down. I can't believe I just defended the man, but as a player he seems to be forgotten just because hakeem was so unbelievable.
I think some of the posters are showing their age... Ewing was not chopped liver. He would easily be the best center in the league, if he played right now in his prime. He'd look unstoppable against these so-called centers of today. I mean used to give those centers (like Shaq, Robinson, and even Olajuwon) fits. When I say fits, that means there were games where he outplayed them. Very easily in top 10-12 centers ever. I thought the Vlade Divac of the 90s comment was funny, but pretty insulting to Ewing. I think what set Ewing back was injuries and work ethic. He would certainly be better than Dwight Howard, if Dwight struggles with Yao and the Lakers front line. There's no way he could match up against these old centers who are far more talented. If you put Patrick Ewing in his prime right now on the average team in this league, like Philly, Chicago, or even OKC...those teams would automatically be contenders for the title. I mean what players right now, outside of DH and Yao could seriously guard Ewing for the entire game. A center, like Mourning (circa 94-96) would destroy these centers right now, average about 5 to 8 more points and 2 rebounds, as he was probably at the end of the elite center list after Shaq, Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing, and Mutombo. Outside of Yao and Dwight, all of the other centers are either slightly above average or worse.
