Hakeem clearly implies he'll play elsewhere next year

I say, let Hakeem do what he wants. Certainly we cannot stop him, but only trade him if he DEMANDS a trade. Hakeem Olajuwon should only leave the city of Houston if he himself decrees it.

I cannot put into words how saddened I am that Dream chose to behave the way he has recently with these recent comments. No player of his caliber should be forced to stay in an unpleasant situation, but is Houston truly all that unpleasant, Hakeem? It is filled with fans who would fight and bleed for you if you asked for it. You are perhaps the greatest, best known, and most respected representative Houston has ever had, and now you speak as if you want nothing to do with us...

I say fine, if this is the case, then go, and go in peace, with an entire city lamenting the loss. But please do not let a diminished role, on a team which is past contention for quite some time, jade you to the glories that is playing on the Houston Rockets.

Think it over long and hard, Dream. For I fear you have not, or you wouldn't, in your calm wisdom, have made such rash remarks abou thow you are being treated by the coaching staff and city that loves you so.

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She hates testicles, thus limiting the men she can admire to Democratic
candidates for president.
-- John Greenway, "The American Tradition", on feminist
Elizabeth Gould Davis

 

My response:

<a href="http://www.clutchcity.net/feature.cfm?FeatureID=98">Just a Bad Dream</a>

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

I don't think Dream wants to move he wants the team to grow up. they are overly entrenched and infatuated with the back court and not realizing they have the front court that could probably do some damage as well.... if the rockets are going to land a free agent like webber we're going to have to throw some respect to the front court and hand them the ball as well because webber is not going to stand and play a couple minutes and get about 9 points. he's going to want the ball to add those 20+ pts. get anderson and dream involved throw away lazy ass mo fit in webber....we're gonna win it all

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"Wahooo"-homer
I'm not only a fan but I'm also the bartender

 

good article jeff.

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Remember.... You are not really drunk until you must hold on to the grass to keep from falling off the earth.

 

How's this for a theory?

The Rockets can't trade Dream for fear that it would cause a major public relations uproar, so they talk to Dream behind closed doors & all parties agree that he should start saying negative things (ala Pipsqueak) to force them to have to make a trade. Dream knows in his heart that his time in the league is running out & he has business interests in the city, so he agrees to go along with it (it might even have been his idea) knowing that we could get some nice young talent and/or draft picks for him. Rudy likes Garnett & Minnesota has a problem with no salary cap room which we could solve if they were willing to discuss the trade. We lose the upcoming cap space, Taylor, & possibly Shandon (unless he'll play one more year for the exception, so that we have his bird rights), but we have a great young nucleus of talent. Assuming Les doesn't mind paying the luxury tax. We would have a team that would consist of:

C: Cato/Collier
PF: KT/LOS/Bull
SF: Garnett/Walt/Langhi
SG: Anderson/Mobley
PG: Francis/Moochie

Not bad! The comments from Dream are so out of character for him, that I think this theory makes since or I'm DREAMCASTING.

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The Rockets have shown Hakeem all the respect in the world. I'm hard pressed to find another franchise that would demonstrate the kind of loyalty that the Rockets organization has to Dream. So why not return the respect? The city loves him, the fans love him. We want nothing more than to see him finish his career here.

Force-feeding the ball to Dream serves no - *no* - purpose for this team. How can it be about respect? Rocket fans love him, as does the organization.

But Hakeem can't carry a team anymore. I just don't understand why he wouldn't want to help the team at this point, instead of trying to make demands. After all he's done, one of the best ways to top off a fabulous relationship with the Rockets is to help them return to glory that much more quickly after he's gone.

Hakeem is one of the greatest. Why taint his legacy this way?

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Proud Member of whatever Clutch City club is currently the most popular and/or controversial.

 

Did you notice how he was grinning while he was making his comments about more touches? I think there might really be something going on behind the scenes. Why don't we get the GSW fans input here. We could trade Dream to Golden State for Jamison, Hughes, & Fortson.

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My sentiments exactly, Tycoon. While I agree that Dream should have kept his comments within the organization, he does make a good point and one that I have felt repeatedly when the Rockets are desperate for a field goal. There is no one on the floor with a go-to shot. Shots by the perimeter players take a lot of time and effort and teams are now taking the ball out of the guards hands by double teaming. Mobley and Steve are very slow at adjusting to the doubles and the decisions they make are counterproductive often. Sometimes instead of the iso's the ball should go into the post to Dream. I do not believe that Dream wants to shoot the ball 20-25 times like he used to. He should get 8 to 12 shots just to keep the defense honest and respect the post presence. Right now every team in the league knows that the Rockets guards are going to try and penetrate and dish outside for the 3 which by the way is not a high percentage shot. I don't care who is shooting it. I honestly believe Dream wants the team to be a bit more diverse in the offense which will give other teams a lot to think about. One other thing. Most of the better teams in the west do not have centers that Dream couldn't be very effective against. Just to name a few, Minn, Phoenix, Sacremento, Portland, Dallas. Damn all that's left is San Antonio and the Lakers. I'll even take my chances with Dream against that wimp David Robinson. He owes practically all of his current success to Duncan. Anyone ever wonder why he didn't win a championship when he was the focal point of the team. How about a lack of ( Well I won't say what I'm thinking). Sorry for the ranting. I get carried away sometimes.


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Good Post....

It was only a matter of time...
First Shandon and now Hakeem; so who's next?? You can not effectively have 5 guys on the court who do not play as a team and have harmony.. That make 2 down and several more to go.
If rudy does not start to make some changes there will be mutiny on the Compaq.. Hakeem has played with an individual like Cuttino before his name was Michael Young at UH. The guy never saw shot he couldn't make. And believe it or not Cuttino is the same way.

Yo Hakeem I wish you the best and Thanks for the memories..

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I think it is about damn time Hakeem said something because the Rockets are seriously disrespecting him. He diidn't play a single second in the 4th q of the Blazer game. Matt Bullard over Dream???

I really don't know what the Rockets are thinking. I also don't understand this Hakeem not being loyal crap. Just because the man wants to play his best and do what is best for the team. The Rockets aren't even using him so why the hell should they care??

Hakeem just wants to have fun and help his team, he is doing niether for Houston because they won't let him so it is time to move on. I think anybody with his amount of skill and in his position would have done something a long time ago. Hakeem has been so kind as to hold out on this for so long. I have been waiting for this since last year. I knew Hakeem couldn't be happy in his position.

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Hakeem quietly goes about his business and plays hard every night. -----> He's not a leader.

Hakeem comes out and give his opinion on how to make the team better. -----> He's not supposed to "discuss team topics to the media".

I guess he should be both vocal and silent.....

----------------------------

In 1992, the Houston Rocket organization went to the media first and gave everyone the idea that Olajuwon we faking his injury. Maybe Dream doesn't want them to have the opportunity for a suprise attack like that again. Maybe he learned how to address things that are going on in the locker room from how the team handled them back then.

I was there. I remember it vividly. It was the only time I truly wished Hakeem would go and play for a team that would not disrespect him, and give him the opportunity to win that the Rockets hadn't up to that point.

----------------------------

To say that the Rockets have always been loyal and supportive of Hakeem is ludicrous, unless you think "always" means the last 4 years or so.

Hakeem for the majority of his career played well below his market value. Sure he complained, who wouldn't. Sure the Rockets gave him raises, but never to what the MJs, or Magics, or Birds, or Juwan Howards, or Kevin Garnetts, were getting. So, first off the Rockets until recently did not sufficiently reimburse Hakeem for his production on the court relative to what other players of often less talent and production were receiving.

Secondly, how long did it take for the Rockets to finally get the talent around the Big Man to allow him the ability to carry the team and us the fans to two championships? Well, let me tell you Charlie Thomas sure as hell didn't do it. They were just not commited to bringing in the personnel needed to contend for a ring.

The contract he's in now is finally the payment he's receiving for all those years of amazing service, the gold watch if you will. So, don't you dare try to use it against him.

"Waaaa, I can't get a raise, because Joe retired yesterday and the company had to go and give him a retirement gift after 45 years of working here at the plant."

----------------------------

If Hakeem plays for another team next year, I will be sick to my stomach for as long as he wears another uniform. I will still (always) be an Olajuwon fan. He is the reason I started watching the Rockets. I, as a fledgling basketball fan, used to root for the Celtics back in the early early 80s.

So, I am an Olajuwon fan first, and a Houston Rocket fan second. When Dream does finally retire (as a Rocket or not), then and only then will I be a Rocket fan first.

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"I have a DREAM.........his name's Hakeem."
DREAMer's Rocket Page

 

I think Since75 and Tycoon hit the point that I was about to address. I don't think Dream WANTS to go anywhere else. It's just that he's pissed that the Rocks are losing, than winning, than losing, than winning, in other words, their not consistent. He's also pissed that when he's doing good in a game, he gets pulled before he needs to be pulled. Than other times, when he misses his first few shots, he gets sat down and isn't allowed to take anymore. Come on, everyone can mistakes. I think that's why he's pissed because Cat can go out and miss 20 straight in a row and people'll say "Oh, he's just havin an off night" or "He's just warming up" than when Dream goes out and misses 3 straight "the old guy needs to retire" or "he can't hit anything." I think THAT's EXACTLY why he's ticked.He's also pissed because old farts like Ewing can make headline in trades and command big time talent in exchange for their services while everyone has forgotten about the NBA's All Time Blocked Shots leader. Hejust said this stuff so that the Rockets can remember who got them the rings and start cutting Olajuwon some slack and let him get how much playing time the David Robinsons and Patrick Ewings of the league are getting. There is no way that he can actually leave the team because their is just too much love on the team, especially since the Rodney Rogers incident. Also, have you seen how Cuttino just jumps into Olajuwons arms after a victory or a good shot or something? Same thing as when Magic came into the league and Kareem was the veteran center. If Olajuwon is traded, I will not like the Rocks anymore. I also don't think that people that get traded here will want to get traded here if we trade Olajuwon because that's not being loyal and some free agents might come to Houston just to be tutored by the great one.

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Francis out top, 9 seconds on the clock, he gives a no look pass to Cuttino Mobley, 4 seconds left, Mobley passes to an open Langhi in the corner with 1 second left! Langhi at the buzzer.......YES!!! How Sweet It Is!!

 

Dead on Jeff.

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Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon


atheistalliance.org

 

i'm dissappointed in hakeem for making these remarks public -- good never comes of this.

however, if I were he, and i was sitting on the bench at the end of the portland game -- watching matt bullard and kenny thomas get all of the pt down the stretch -- i'd be pissed also..........

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If he demands a trade, the teams that will want him will be looking to win the championship. I don't know the capology, but logically I think you'd be looking at these teams...

1) Pacers
2) Miami
3) Bucks
4) Toronto
5) Denver
6) Pheonix
7) Lakers
8) Utah

If he wants to play then I think he should be traded. Ask him where he wants to go and then send him there. Let's do the right thing and make both sides happy.



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humble, but hungry.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again....
without a bona fide big man to rake in 20+ points a game and 10+ rebounds a game, our offense is not going to be as good as it can be. Therefore, we will not make an impact in this league until we resolve this situation. I thought Cato could be this guy but clearly he isn't...or at least...isn't yet. Our guards and forwards are not good enough to carry our team alone. Not to mention a true big man intimidates inside on defense.... Dream has not had this defensive presence as much as in the past...which is understandable. Our opponents drive whenever the hell they want uncontested most times...especially with Dream out. Not to mention they get any open shot they want. Our defense leaves alot to be desired...even moreso without a bona fide big man in the middle.

Dream may not be the man to fill these shoes now. His desire is there but I think the guy is overconfident of his current abilities... not that there is anything wrong with that. I would rather he be more confident than not confident enough. I just don't see him putting up the numbers he needs to say this kind of statement. His shooting % has, at times, been horrible. Yet, as unproductive as he may be, he wants the ball more. DOES NOT COMPUTE!!!!! Maybe if he gets more touches, his shooting percentage will increase. His once patented baseline jumper that use to get nothing but net now gets rim and it's up to the basketball Gods to dictate whether it goes in or out .

On the other hand, I see Dream's frustration....all these damn ISO plays for the guards...their pure crap in my opinion. Sure, they may work some of the time but with our layup fg %...I think I would rather feed the ball to Dream inside. I don't think Dream is getting enough post-ups in our new offense. That doesn't mean you have to run the offense completely through him. But, I would rather feed Dream the ball more than run some of these crap plays I see the other times. The difference is instead of giving Dream the ball with the other Rockets standing around....we give the guard the ball for an ISO with the other Rockets standing around and clearing out. Ummm....I would rather do with a Dream ISO than a Mobes ISO. No question.

I am grateful to Dream for all he has done for Houston but, if he feels he doesn't belong in Houston any more, I am not going to stand in his way. You've got to want to play on our team or it doesn't work. I also think Rudy does not know how to run an offense that does not go through the low post. He was so caught up in doing everything through the low-post that it has warped his little mind. I think our offense suffers too much from the take what you can get syndrome and not enough structured plays.
I think a fresh perspective from a new coach could add to our offensive capabilities but we know that Rudy is going nowhere so why even go there?

All in all...I like our team. Dream may not like his role so increase his touches and PT, Rudy. See if he still has it. Just don't turn it back into Dream's offense. I think Dream is as arrogant as ever...does he forget that his breathing problems started his whole diminished role...not to mention all his injuries? If he is feeling better, then keep him in. I, for one, have been frustrated to see Dream on the bench in crunch time situations this season. If anyone belongs in the game during crunch time, IT IS DREAM. HASN'T HE EARNED THAT RIGHT?

Surf

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DREAMer: You are right about Olajuwon not really getting the respect he deserved or the money. In fact, Charlie Thomas and Steve Patterson take the credit for building the basic structure of the team and, for all intents and purposes, they did.

However, it wasn't until Thomas sold the team to Les Alexander and Patterson was replaced that the Rockets truly began to blossom. Some of it was due to Olajuwon beginning to trust his teammates. Some of it was personnel decisions. In fact, in Rudy's first full season, they added Robert Horry. The next year, when Alexander took over, Sam Cassell and Mario Elie came on board.

Since Rudy took over the team, Olajuwon has been given everything he asked for from money to players. Olajuwon got his dream wish when he was reunited with Clyde Drexler. Olajuwon wanted a better rebounder and another low post threat and they got Charles Barkley.

That "fake" injury business came after a number of years of losing and a team that was on the verge of being sold because it was struggling financially. Not since the mid 80's (the twin tower era) had Olajuwon had a supporting cast that could get him or the team a ring.

Even when he did, by 1992, he was still unhappy. It took Rudy T to convince Olajuwon to stay in Houston and to trust his teammates. Only when Dream began giving up the ball did the team start to thrive.

I agree that it took nearly 10 years for the organization to give him respect, but he's gotten everything he wanted since then. At some point, the team MUST think about its future. They can't just continue to hold on to past glories and neither can Dream.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

Ok, I think we've had enough Hakeem bashing. You might sugar-coat it, but nevertheless, it's bashing.


I'm just as unhappy as anyone on this board about Hakeem wanting to leave, but I truly beleive it's better for both sides if he were traded, especially to a title contender. If not that, then we can sign and trade him? To the knicks maybe? They're looking for cap space next year to sign Webber aren't they?

There are a lot of options, but it's nobody's fault.

I still think that if Hakeem had 20 shots a game, he'd easily make 11 of them, and that's 22 points not including free throws. So far, the best option for us would be to trade him for a SF and a C, and I'm sure Portland wouldn't mind sending us some really nice players for Hakeem, like Bonzi Wells maybe? Dale Davis? The experience he can offer is extremely valuable to them, and they'd have frees up cap space for next year to sign him to a smaller contract and they can add yet another player through free agency.

From NbaTALK:
"Wish List: Help up front and help at the three. What about Juwan Howard for Hakeem? The Wizards get their cap room next year and Howard (who still has a boatload of talent) gets a fresh start."


I'd do this trade, easy. The only problem is, they have no hope of winning anything, they also have Jahidi White getting minutes.

How about Gugliotta and Rodney Rogers and a 1st round draft pick next year?


A lot of possibilities. Hakeem can still play, but not the Rockets game. Anderson and Mo will get a few more touches, and he'd be happier contending again.


Clearly, Hakeem making it public was a bad decision, but he's right, he deserves more, but it's not the Rockets' fault.

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Is he looking to produce more so he can justify a larger contract than he could with 10 points 6 boards in 24 minutes?

Is he looking for a low-post offense because that's what he's comfortable with?

Is he looking for the team to slow it down because the fast pace is forcing him to the bench after 8 minutes, where a post-up offense would slow the pace down and he could play 10, or maybe finish the quarter?

I've got a feeling that it's all three, and he's looking for more production to justify a larger contract and the best way for him to do that is to slow the pace down so he can get in 30 minutes, and run an offense that he's comfortable with so he can put up more numbers.

That's just too bad.

What happened to "I told the coach he can use me however he wants this year"? Obviously, he lied.

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"We end up with Francis/Mobley isolations very often. More often, I'd say, then other teams." -- jamcracker

 

Reading the article, I don't think Dream was b****ing about getting more shots. I think he wants to be on the floor in crunch time. When he is on the floor in key situations, the Rockets play smart. He made big plays to beat Charlotte, and he made big plays to beat Denver. I think the guy knows that he can give more than what he is giving if he gets minutes in important situations.
I also think he notices the same things people notice on this board. He sees Mobley jack up bad shots on isolation plays and wonders why he doesn't get shots when Mobley is having a bad night.
I don't want to see Dream taking 25 shots a night, but I do want him to take 10-12. He is still a good player. Hes not great anymore, but when he is having a good night I think he need to get more shots. I think that is the reasoning for these comments. He wants to contribute and on days when he feels good, he doesn't get plays run for him.
That said, when Pippen b****ed about the style of offense we ran, everybody said "Shut up and make a play" so if Dream wants a new role on this team "Shut up and Play".



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- Beck

Dream...bring back the goggles