Yes, he did. Ewing didn't get as much recognition for his efforts on defense because of the manner in which the Knicks played defense. Rightly or wrongly, the Knicks defense was not seen as a product of great defensive players - but as a product of their borderline physicality - especially since the style in which they played was so visually unappealing.
Its strange. There's the big conspiracy theory of the league purposely getting the Knicks the #1 in '85. Then years later all the "New York is the biggest media market" stuff didnt mean much when it came to the Finals ratings and additional media bias votes towards Ewing. Or maybe it became like how Philadelphia fans are rough on their teams. Knicks getting Ewing gave NY fans a whooping boy to bash DOWN instead of boost up.
Quick hint: check the average possession time that the NYKs have and the average shots opponents took during that season. Guess where NYK's offense ranked in dragging out the time on offense and compare that to why they ended up giving fewer points than anyone else.... Also, it's ridiculous to point out that Olajuwon had inferior rebounders, inflating his number while you continually say that the Knicked have inferior players, making Ewing's statistics that much more compelling. I thought the media and the general consensus was that Olajuwon had much fewer players around him than the Knicks did around Ewing during that season. Either way, Ewing as a post defender was barely above average. There is a reason why Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley continued to guard opposition centers for most of the season. Ewing's stats come mostly on help defenses.
I don't understand your logic. That season Hakeem had more total rebounds per game, more blocks, more steals, shot a higher percentage from the field and from the line, got to the line more often, scored more points, had more assists, and fewer turnovers. What is your point? Hakeem was better defensively and offensively. You do not have a leg to stand on. You're ignoring the impact Olajuwon had on Houston's offence while being a better defender. Ewing did sweat more than the Dream. I'll give you that.
Knicks played defense by slowing the game down and being physical with the teams. The physical defense started at their guard spots. Both Derek Harper and Starks pushed people and constantly hand checked people. An often overlooked defender in the Knicks system was Charles Oakley. He used his strength to push people out of the block and was also the first one to get in the lane to pick up the charges. Mason was another defender they used to bully people. Ewing was their last line of defense with his blocked shots. The Knicks had excellent individual defender at every spot except perhaps the SF spot. Charles Smith was not very good but he was not shabby either. Riley would usually replace him with Mason off the bench anyways. Rockets played defense too but they were not interested in slowing the game down in its interest. They had a good balance of up-tempo game as well as defense. Rockets ran with the Suns and the Jazz. Rockets, as a team, were also not as physical as the Knicks. The two most physical defenders on the Rockets were Thorpe and Maxwell. Hakeem and Horry were more of positional defenders. Both had quick hands and excellent reaction time. Hakeem would use his quickness to cover the lanes. Kenny Smith was not a good defender at all. To summarize, Ewing had a better cast of individual defenders, and benefitted from Riley's slow down defensive game plan. However he was not as quick (legs or hands) as Hakeem. Ewing was also not as good as a man-to-man defender because he lacked the lateral quickness of Olajuwon. You could see examples of these in the 94 Finals. While Hakeem was pretty much the only guy defending Ewing the entire series and made life miserable for him, Riley went with multiple defenders on Hakeem. Hakeem's lateral movement advantage allowed him to stay with Ewing. Ewing however could not stay with Hakeem. Hakeem was facing him up and going by him. Riley had to counter with a quicker Anthony Mason. Also, I cannot see Ewing make the perimeter play that Hakeem made on Starks at the end of Game 6, which potentially saved a championship. Hakeem was simply quicker and more explosive. Honestly, I do not see a single area in which I would pick Ewing over Olajuwon on defense. That is not to say Ewing was bad. He was excellent. It's just a case of "Anything you can do, I can do better."
If you look at basketball-references' defensive rating. Hakeem led the league for 5 straight years(from 86-91) and didn't win a single DPOY. Those two that he did win, he finished 2nd. So really it isn't a stretch to say he deserved to win 7 and If you are a stickler 5(with the two he won going to Patrick).
Im pretty sure both were slow down teams. But either way it isnt just a result of slow pace. I said I had no idea how that effects their #'s, but wouldnt you be more impressed with a guy whos not only posting superior rebounding #'s but doing so on the team thats ranked #1 in the stat as well? And all Ive said about their teammates is that Ewing had better defenders and Dream had better shooters. Overall I dont see much of a difference between the 2 clubs, its why they went 7 games in the Finals. That would be a damning point if true, who guarded Shaq and who checked Hakeem in the Finals? Im downloading a few games as we speak.
YUP Its why hes the greatest defender of all-time and prolly deserved the award on numerous occasions, I mean Cooper? Wasnt he coming off the bench for a mediocre defensive team? He barely lost to Eaton and Rodman was a special defender as well so its hard to diminish those guys, especially if they are on some great defensive teams, but Ewing was on what was at the time the stingiest defense in league history yet received no recognition.
Offensively and overall there was no question, defensively and on the boards is another matter, atleast for those 2 seasons.
You're right about the defensive rebounding rate. Though Olajuwon was probably more aggressive in chasing players out away from the basket and going after blocked shots. I just think that Hakeem was the entire package on defense. Ewing didn't have the same ease of movement and agility (very few historically came close -- perhaps just Russell and Robinson).
Simply put. . . put the d*mn stat book down. turn on a TV and watch the games. Stat geek Hell! Rocket River
I guess he trying to say Ewing had more INTAGIBLES [i.e. harper, mason, starks and oakley . . .which IMO were inferior to Horry, Cassel, Kenny Smith, OT and Vernon] Rocket River
When Rudy T said "I say to those NON BELIEVERS, Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion" he didn't realize that he was now talking about people who are suppose to be Rockets fans.
Indeed. Anyone who actually watched them play the freakin' game knows that Hakeem was the superior player, both defensively and offensively.
Murphy? Moses? And a host of others before the championship run. Thats the men who built the Rockets. NOT just 2 years of championship.
It's unfortunate that this thread could not be discussed in a civil manner, because I think there is something to be said about looking at defensive ratings of old centers. And I'm glad someone brought up how Hakeem led in defensive rating from 86-91. But alas, trying to say anything non-positive about Hakeem on this board is bound to get pretty much all"you're an idiot" replies. So why bother?
