[ESPN] 18 years since a player averaged 20+ppg & 14+rpg

You do know that Kareem was past his prime then right?

 

Unlike Yao, Hakeem is an athletic freak. While I don't think he would put up 35 and 18 (more so the 18), I am positive that he would be the best player in basketball if he were in the league today.

 

You do know that Kareem was the starting center for the '86-'87 and '87-'88 championship teams riiight?

 

Cant believe Duncan or Shaq never averaged 20+ppg and 14+ rpg..

 

lol at your signature.

Killing yourself and getting 72 virgins at heaven is more likely than your signature.

 

Olajuwon didn't even play basketball until he was like 16 years old. He was a soccer and handball player in Nigeria. I'm guessing Dwight Howard probably started at a much earlier age. Dwight Howard is probably closer to his peak than Olajuwon was at the same age.

 

Shaq averaged 13.7 rebounds per game, while scoring 30 points per game, and KG averaged 13.9 rebounds per game, while scoring 24 points per game. I don't understand how those .1 rebounds per game makes Dwight's 21/14 a milestone, but not Shaq's 30/13.7 or KG's 24/13.9.

 

Once his basketbal talent gets close to his atheletic talent, he's going to be tough. Look no further than Amare. People used to talk about him just being a dunker, but now he knocks down jumpers and 15ft jumpers. Once again, his basketball skill is catching up with his atheleticism.

Not to knock, but that's why I think yao has peaked. His basketball skill and is slighty above his athelticism. There isn't much that he'll improve on from a skills point. The key is how long he can keep his skills up to his atheleticism.

There will never be another dream, but Howard has gotten better every yr. Not to mention he's 22. Imagine him at 26 and the game really slowing down. The one thing is even if he's not scoring, he's rebounding and blocking shots. If he gets his ft shooting to 75%, that 2 pts per game right there.

 

Even though many people knocked Amare for his limited offensive arsenal his rookie year, it was still evident that he had the potential to be a very good offensive player. His shooting touch wasn't refined, but it was smooth and natural. (as evidenced by his rapid improvement in ft%) His handles were above average for a big man and he had a great touch around the rim. While one certainly can't rule out that Dwight will blossom offensively, it's by no means a certainty that it will happen.

 

First if he shoot 75% FT, he will not get so many intentional fouls and when his talent pick, his athleticism will be gone, or at least not as superior to other as it is right now. Look at Carl Landry how he has slow down with his bad knee, Amare can't even play in the playoff because he wasn't as explosive as before. And yes he is 22 but playing in the NBA will short your athleticism, just looked at T-Mac.

As the season progress his numbers has gone down instead of up, and he is not double team that much, when he gets better we have to wait and see how he does when team design defense just to stop or denied you from getting the ball throwing deferents defense, double teams, help defense, fronting, zone, etc.

 

all your posts really suck.

 

but do you understand how hakeem's 20/14 season was a milestone?

 

Might be marginalizing the rebounding a bit much. Yes its a big part of the argument and always has been. Howard's outrebounding 2nd place by more than 1 board and 3rd place by almost 3, literally head and shoulders above the competition.

I do agree 30 and 13.99999 is better than 20 and 14 and they shoulda maybe included plaers who were close

 

The statistics aren't even remotely comparable. The big men Dwight goes up against in the eastern conference are a complete joke, and it is only through lack of respectable competition that DH is able to put up big numbers via brute strength and no skill. If he had played in Dream's era, he'd be another Kevin Willis. Good player, but nothing special.

 

Blasphemy!

 

don't call me until he can avg 4.5 blocks a game..

there will never be another Hakeem. period.

 

Actually I am serious.... As someone already mentioned Hakeem was a FREAK of NATURE...

D. Howard is only of third of what Hakeem was and he is avg close to 20 pts and 14 rbs and that is without another Superstar on the team like T-Mac...

So YES.... I am serious..

 

^^ Who sets the milestone for DH???
Don't think DH is better than Shaq or KG.

 

I think most people underestimate DH, he's already better defensively than Shaq has ever been but i have to agree that he isn't better overall than him or KG. I don't think Dwight is good enough offensively to ever reach that level. But he is only 22, He can end up being better than both of those guys if he put together offensively.

 

He's too mechanical in his movement to ever have anything close to the type of offensive arsenal Dream had. Howard's best bet is to develop a short jumper (I don't think he will do that either with his shot mechanics) and a jump hook (would be a devastating move and more realistic for him).

His numbers are NICE this season but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they are the best numbers he ever puts up. I know people will disagree because he is so young but I think he has nearly reached his peak skill wise. He has sort of caught teams off guard as well. If his game doesn't develop teams will find way to slow him down. I would not be surprised to see him average 21/13 or something for years to come but I don't ever see him making that leap to becoming a guy who gets his stats on a WINNING team when the defense is geared solely to stop him. He needs to teamed up with a truly talented scorer so that he can wreak havoc on the boards and defensively. He truly is a guy who is cut out to be an insanely good Robin to someone else's Batman.