I still struggle to comprehend how Dream was as good a shooter as he was, while doing almost everything (hand placement, elbows, etc) fundamentally wrong.
I'm just going to chalk it down to supreme athleticism/coordination tbh. Some people just have it I guess and don't have to worry about the nuances as much as those of us who don't.
Back in the day, I usually played in the post and copied Dream's moves. I had a decent jump hook if my defender was under 6'3", an up and under that depended on slow-footed defenders, and an arcing baseline fadeaway that I could hit about 35% of the time from 8 feet in. Alas, my body type was more reminiscent of late-stage Barkley than prime Dream. What I lacked in speed and quickness I made up for with an inability to jump more than about 10 inches. I could box out like a boss though. During this Finals, I would go out in my driveway and shoot one free throw with no warm up before each game. If I made it, the Rockets would win and if I missed it, they would lose. Amazingly, that's how it played out through the first 6 games. I don't think I've ever been under as much pressure as I was when standing alone in my driveway with basketball in hand before game seven. I didn't want to take the shot. But I summoned the courage and let fly. Swish. Rockets win! So, I think I too get some credit for that first championship.
later in the 90's, Kevin Willis had all the elbow and knee pads. Dude was not shy about throwing his 'bows around either
Dude was fully yoked, reminds me of pics of Danielle Hunter on the Texans. I would have loved to watch a practice with a Willis v Thorpe in-the-paint-drill Alas. I did get to watch Dream vs Larry Smith and then Dream vs older Moses Malone, pickup game style, in the very early 90s
Maybe part of it? I get that you need to be physical on D, maybe not call ticky-tack b.s. when the guy with the ball is basically just touched, or breathed on, or whatever
Kevin Willis was roughly equivalent to what James Johnson is today except he didn't need martial arts to scare the daylights out of many opponents. His biceps and elbows were enough The difference is he was a legit productive player for a very long time. In the last half of his career, the NBA got tired of his dirty play and painted a target on his back for the refs to blow whistles.
Fun Fact: Herrera led both teams in FG%. With those 2 teams being top 5 defenses of the 90's, literally making every player shoot horrible, an efficient shot maker was a big advantage. So Herrera was a true difference maker
For a look at true Hakeem ability: at 1:05:15 til 1:05:30 Hakeem blocks the shot. He is the very last man at that end of the court. But Hakeem OUT RACES everyone beating them all down the court to the other basket. Finishes with an alley oop dunk. For a true center, near the end of a grueling exhausting game, that is covering a ton of ground being faster than everyone. When lobs were not even part of the game then, making plays on both ends. {This vid should start at 1:05:15 at that sequence}
Anthony Mason was the most effective defender on Hakeem I ever saw*. Dude was about 6'5" but his center of gravity was so low and he was so strong that he could body up and push Hakeem around in the paint *Other than all 6 of the George Karl Supersonics who were playing an illegal zone on him at once.
The Knicks were fierce but not dirty, as far as I can remember. The Jazz (Stockton/Malone/Hornacek/etc) were dirty as hell. I don't think I've ever hated a team, just because of how they played, as much as I hated those Utah teams.
The closest thing we have to Dream is Amen. But Dream was bigger and could shoot. It seems Amen just is always there and makes smart plays at a higher level / speed than anyone else on the court. At times it was hard to comprehend everything that was happening while watching Dream because it was unbelievable how much skill, strength and speed he played with. Literally everything everywhere to anybody all at one time. After a couple of minutes of watching him you would start to think he could catch the ball he just threw. He was much easier to watch on television than in person for sure. Just amazing.
Did you get to watch him at UH? Early years with the Rockets? He was an absolute athletic freak of nature.
Both, I think that Ralph was the better of the two until the injury. Sampson was the most complete player maybe ever, until the two championship years of Dream. We have been blessed with great talent over the years. I am excited about this year, too. Amen, Sengun,& KD. Hopefully a healthy Eason. A bigger role for Smith and Shepard, and a lesser role for FVV. Along with the other new free agents. It feels like special things are happening.
