with hakeem's playing days likely over, i think its about time for a thread where we can share our favorite memories of Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. mine is in his last game as a rocket. he was on the bench in the fourth. the fans started cheering "we want dream! we want dream!" we see dream sitting down, looking around the arena smiling. he looked touched yet embarrassed. i think that was vintage Hakeem. that was his true personality, not some marketing ploy by nike. rudy gave him a waive. he got up and jogged to the scorers table to check in. steve gives up a foul and Dream enters. the game pauses for a couple of minutes while the cheers roared. Hakeem always pointed to the guard that game him a good pass, after he scored a basket. he would also give that same point to someone that got him an assist. i cant tell you what it means. its somewhere along the lines of nice job or thank you. Dream takes his spot in the paint and gives one last point. this time to the fans. with that embarrassed grin, it was dreams way of saying thank you for the great time we shared.
maybe not my "favorite," but I never tire of looking at this dream moment: <img src="http://www.jodi.com/images/hakeembk.jpg">
A few plays stand-out to me: 1) I don't know how anyone could argue that this is not the single greatest 5-seconds of Hakeem's basketball career on the court. Rockets vs. Spurs. WC Finals. Hakeem runs through a series of fakes on the current season's MVP that are just unbelievable to watch. One of those plays tht you know you could just watch over and over again in slow motion on one of those "I Love This Game" commercials. Combined with the fact that there has rarely, if ever, been such a complete domination in series of the MVP of the league for that year, and this stands out as Hakeem's greatest play. 2) Numebr 2 for me is first round series against Portland. The play where Hakeem gets the ball stolen from him around halfcourt, amazingly races back and blocks Rod Stricklands (??) layup attempt. I like this play because not only was it real spectacular, I was also at the game, Hakeem was just starting to become SUPER-dominant, and it really changed the cousre of that game and series. 3) Against Orlando, game 1 of the finals, CLyde Drexler misses the layup, Hakeem gets the tip in at the buzzer to win the game. One of the strangest games in NBA Finals history ends with a Rockets win, cementing the momentum and helping the team sweep the Magic. 4) This would be higher up, but it doesn't get that much pub. Game 6 of the Finals against the Knicks, Hakeem's block of John Stark's last second shot. I was also at this game which made it that much more exiting (in fact, I think I spilled mustard on the lady next to me I was so excited - oh well). Not only did this particular play directly save the game/series, it indirectly turned a near all-star claiber player in John Starks into a scrub for the rest of his career. Few players can completely demoralize another like that.
One of my all time favorites was Game 4 vs Orlando. I was at the Summit to enjoy it and when Dream drained the 3 pointer to cap off the sweep, I thought the roof of the arena was going to come down.
On July 16, 1995, a member of this BBS had this to say about that game and the Hakeem vs. Robinson matchup (can't believe I accidentally came across this) : "Seeing David Robinson win that popularity contest called the MVP trophy and then seeing him get SMOKED by the most "valuable" player on the planet Hakeem Olajuwon was a true joy. Who would you rather have on an expansion franchise to build around - Hakeem the Dream or that little seaboy down in San Antonio? No contest - Hakeem is simply the most DOMINANT player in basketball. Fans all over the nation had been putting Hakeem and Robinson on the same mountain top, but did Hakeem ever show the world that he shares the top with no one! The 1995 Rockets video just came out and to watch Hakeem fake, spin and turn all over the supposed "MVP" just brings a smile to my face. It is time to expose the MVP voting as the fraud that it is. If it were based on true merit as it says (most "valuable"), then Hakeem would have just won his third in a row. I guess he'll just have to settle for those two rings (oh darn!) It is time San Antonio... time to realize that you guys are clinging to an Hakeem-wannabe that will never be as good as the true man himself. Hakeem is the best."
Mine too. I was so elated at that point in the game already, the Rockets were going to win their second championship sweeping the Magic and Hakeem drains a 3! That is not only my favorite Hakeem moment, but my favorite Rocket moment ever.
my favorite moment was the whole spurs wc chapionship series. seeing olajuwon pull those crazy moves (that are still imitated, but never duplicated) on robinson was one of the most amazing things i ever seen. also that game when olajuwon chased kevin johnson down the court on a fast break and swung his arm and blocked kj's dunk attempt , laying kj on his ass wondering what the hell happened.......i was sitting behind that backboard.
My favorite memory of Hakeem was in the '86 finals against a hard hitting Boston. He was in his sophomore year- a 2nd year player. He had fouled out with like 26 pts and 14 rebounds - 5 blocks- dominant game. The referees were calling the game in Boston's favor - McHale, Bill walton, and Robert Parrish were wearing themselves out hitting Hakeem, Sampson, etc. Hakeem was standing by the Rockets bench - exhausted. Every good play by the Rockets he was cheering them on - totally the unselfish player - team player he became. HE had a problem with his temper early in his career- he would swing a fist, but him standing at the bench cheering his team mates showed the good sport that he was. It was in this series that I saw him nod his head early in the game - surveying the floor-unafraid. I realized he was probably one of the youngest players in the game, and certainly one of the best. I was very proud he was on our team - I felt I was seeing one of the best players of all time....
The matchup with Robinson is my favorite extended Hakeem moment, but for single moment stauts, I'd have to say running down a streaking KJ and blocking him from behind....baby....
Here's a couple of moments that are sweet... However, I posted this in a thread 2 or so years ago: "Game 4 or 5 against the Knicks, a Rocket shoots and misses. Ewing, Oakley, and Mason seal the lane and gather for the carom. Suddenly, from around the free throw line, a hand appears. The Knicks look befuddled as their earthbound talents can not comprehend what is taking place. Olajuwon's torso comes into view. The hand is now on the ball and Hakeem is way above the rim and the leadfooted Knicks. SLAM! One offensive rebound, two points, three disprited opponents. I jumped up and pumped my fist in the air. I knew at that moment that no matter what the Knicks did, the Rockets were going to win the Championship because Hakeem was by far the best player on the court."
I'm with you 1002% JayZ750... whenever anyone tries to tell me that Robinson was better than Hakeem, I point that that series... that game... that play.
I've only really watched Dream for about 2 years so my best "moment" is not that great. But its MINE! I really liked Dreams game against Minnesota, I think, which was the season finale in like 2001. I think he went off for like 26 and I was really happy. Kept hearing "thats vintage Olajuwon" from Worrel. I also thank Dream may have REALLY faked someone out pretty badly in that game. But I'm not sure. Its that move where he's on the baseline, kind of puts the ball up like a layup (shows the ball) goes back and by then the defender is all tied up. I hope that explanation was good enough. If it wasn't against Min, I think he may have done it against Dallas. I can't remember, but it was a nice move.
1995 was filled with so many great moments. Definitely Game 5 of WCF against San Antonio. Right after Hakeem scored, you saw Robinson and Rodmon looking at eachother in scorn... Unbeatable. But I had to love it even more when everyone talking about how Shaq would handle Hakeem and once again, Hakeem wins the war with Shaq. Not just sweeping his team, but Hakeem schooled Shaq.
My favorite moment was actually meeting him face-to-face in 93, getting his autograph and him telling me "thank-you"....Lasted only 20 to 25 seconds, but it was my best memory of Dream. A true class guy...I've seen other athletes act surly to me or my co-workers (like Zo, Mario Elie, Rodman)...but I was so impressed with the way he acted to your very own "ROXRAN"...In my sports world, Dream will always have a special place.
JayZ, I stopped reading this thread after your post. When I read the lead I immediaetly thought of Startks, then Orlando. The headline in one of the papers the day after Orlando was "tip of a dream". Isn't that great?
1997 WC Semis vs. Seattle, game seven. Nothing spectacular, just an all-alone reverse dunk off of a breakaway to seal the victory, but oh were those two points sweet...
Hey AntiSonic, Trivia for you...Who's was called the "Rocket Killer?" A player, not a team. This should be easy for you.
