How many of you think Hakeem should play this last year?

I want him to stay. He deserves it.

He won't be posting 20/10 numbers for the season. That's being a little too optimistic. All he needs to do is be a presence in the paint. He needs to get rebounds and he needs to block many shots. He needs to take advantage of mismatches. If that means posting him up for most of the game, so be it.

We have to have a post game or we will get killed in the playoffs. That's a fact.

And it's not about Hakeem earning his $16 million next season. He's already earned it.

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RocketFuel is taking the summer off!

 

I think he should stay if he is healthy, if the dream still has his breathing problems then he should play in a farewell game and retire.

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THE DEAN HAS WRITTEN

 

Hakeem does not still got game, and is not worth 16 mil.

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"Okay KG, next time down, you give Cousin Billy his turn, then he'll give Uncle Joe his turn, then we'll give Shaq a turn."

-Rudy T, in the Dream Team 2000 huddle

 

If he is going to retire, it should be on his own terms and, if that means playing one more season, so be it. I do not want to see him traded, but, if he chooses to retire before next season, I would be fine with that too.

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"No one gets out ALIVE!"
SaveOurRockets.com

 

If Hakeem is still healthy, let him play. I still see glimpses of his brilliant moves. He is still in great condition except for that breathing problem. The experts said that problem could be taken care of with proper rest. He will get his rest this off season. He promise he will make strength and conditioning his priority.

Trust the guy, if he can still play, let him play, let him have his farewell tour and let him leave at his own terms.

This is very important to him, he wants proper closure to his career and again if he can play, give him that.

It will speak volumes to Rockets org if they let him play. It will make it easier for CD or RT to talk to free agents and say this is what we have done to Dream, we're going to do the same thing to you.

It's the right thing to do.

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He should play even if it's only to walk out at halftime and receive his plaque. If you're worried about getting your money's worth the just take a look at Maloney, Augmon, THam, or Cato for that matter. I'd say that 16mil for a legend who puts in a few points a game and displays the class and dedication of our city and our organiztion on a nightly basis in front of a nationwide audience is deal I can live with. If you can't then I hope you stand up and boo during his retirement speach, because you deserve to be dragged from the compaq by your empty chest cavity that has no heart.

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Hakeem does what he wants.
He has earned the right to go out on his own terms even if it means the Rocks must postpone their free-agent ambitions.

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HAKEEM WAS THE DREAM FRANCIS IS THE CREAM

 

What the heck? You can't tell people they can't post. This is a *discussion forum*. Fascist .

Besides, there are already not one, but TWO similar threads. Don't be redundant.

Finally. 20 and 10 still? Please. If Hakeem could be 16 and 8, I'd be thrilled and want him to come back again. BTW, I think that's possible, just not likely.

Is it really supporting Hakeem more to blindly want him to come back? I think there's more understanding in wanting him to be able retire with dignity.


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Some co-workers and I were sitting around the table today discussing basketball and the NBA in general. I'm currently in Dallas, but have lived most of my life in the Houston area, a co-worker there was from Louisiana, another from Rochester, NY, and the last one from Florida. The topic of Hakeem Olajuwon came up and everyone started whooping and hollering when we mentioned the 2 championship seasons. Comments such as "man, he abused David Robinson", "he schooled Shaq", "nobody can stop Shaq, but Shaq couldn't stop Hakeem; he looked like a fool trying to keep up with Hakeem". We started talking all about the moves... the Dream shake, the jump hook, the repeated fakeouts of Robinson, the explosion to block a shot, the hands so quick he'd pick guards' pockets, the blocked shot on KJ after running down one of the fastest/quickest PG's in the league. We all agreed he was an incredible player those years and damn-near unstoppable with the sweetest moves of any post player bar NONE.

Then came reality. The others concluded the conversation with comments like, "Yeah, but man, he sucks now. He should've retired. Did you see how Shaq abused him in that LA game?"

Those concluding remarks sum up why some of us wanted Hakeem to retire early. I'm sure it's the view of others outside of Houston. Go out on top, go out still shining. The past season has done nothing but tarnish his greatness. I read articles several places online that depict him as being some invalid on his last legs; instead of the juggernaut of a player he should be regarded as.

Hakeem is this city's greatest athlete ever. Not Nolan Ryan, not Earl Campbell, not Carl Lewis. Hakeem has always been Houston's and Houston has always been his. I don't care if Hakeem plays another season or not, but if he does, I hope he is at least effective. I don't want to add to the negativity brought upon him by this past season. Hakeem will never be as great as he always was, but I want him to be respected like he always was. If he comes back next season, I'll still pull for him. As a matter of fact I want him to come back if for no other reason than to make up for this season. My heart says he can do it, but only time will tell the truth.

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[This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited April 27, 2000).]

 

i HOPE he plays his last year. hakeem put houston on the basketball map from the final four to the back to back championships. and for some who are turning your backs on hakeem and just forgetting about the past,really should be kicked off this site.

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johnny "red" kerr:i'm glad the bulls did'nt draft steve francis.

dan roan: why!!!!!

johnny red kerr:because he would forever be compared to michael jordan.

 

Great post DoD!! A lot (not all) of the posters in this thread need to grow up a bit. We were fortunate Hakeem played in Houston, and Hakeem was fortunate he played in Houston. Even if you want to delay the inevitable it is the memories in the 80s to mid 90s that mark Hakeem's greatness, not whatever he and the Rockets decide to do in 2000.

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The way I see it, it would probably make more sense for him to stay if he's willing to accept a lesser role.
Lesser doesn't mean a garbage role, but a role worthy of his present ability. There's no way barring a direct act of God that Hakeem is going to get 20/10 numbers again. But he can be productive for short spurts.
However, because he doesn't have (and very likely won't ever regain) the conditioning he needs to dominate, and get into a comfortable rhythm on a consistant basis, he needs to be willing to get and demand less touches.
He's got a pretty decent jumper for a big man. He can take those 15 footers. If the situation presents itself, he can still fade on the low block occasionally. But I can't see us being successful unless that is a third, or MAYBE second option.
But I really hope that he can have at least one year to mentor KT and Cato. (if he stays)

If you ask me, 20-25 minutes a game. He should be able to handle that at his age, and it would give him time to get comfortable...
But hey, he's a big boy. Give 'em his money, and let him decide...

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"There are three kinds of lies:
Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..."
- Mark Twain -

 

I say if Dream can shake the respiratory problems we definitely want hime to play. Reasons?

1. Even splitting time with Cato he is another valid scoring and rebounding option.

2. Even splitting time with Cato he is another defensive presence in the paint. If I remember correctly he was average 3 blocks/game or close to that before the injury and/or breathing problems started.

3. For all he has done for Houston basketball, (U of H and the Rockets) he deserves a final big payday and the opportunity to try to go out on his own terms. We gave that opportunity to both Clyde and Chuck and Dream means more to the franchise and the city than either of them.

4. 15 million dollar cap hit for ONE season. If Cato doesn't pan out we have cash to sign or manuever to draft another center.

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Rockeem: He hasn't been the player he once was for a while. In fact, he's been in decline ever since those two championships. If he'd been healthy, he might have averaged 16 and 9 or something. Good numbers, but not what he once was capable of.

Even last year, it was awful watching him play Shaq. This year, it was painful.


Best case scenario: Hakeem fulfills a role like Ewing currently does. If he can do that, by all means, have him come back.

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Rockeem,

Training camp is less than 6 months away and you need to tell us about the "miracle cure" for his medical condition.

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TheFreak,

I decided to come help you out in this thread.


Not that you needed any help.

Always,
Mango

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Rockeem,

I am probably older than 60% of the people who post here and can tell you from personal experience that aging bodies bounce back much more slowly from physical problems.
Some physical problems will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Mango

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