So you're saying Bynum is better than David Robinson? David Robinson in series: 23.8 points 11.3 rebounds 2.7 assists 1.5 steals Hakeem Olajuwon in series: 35.3 points 12.5 rebounds 5.0 assists 4.1 blocks 1.3 steals
Maybe, but Hakeem did all those things you mentioned only better and in a time where Centers were like PGs today. Meaning all the good Pgs you have today, thats how Centers were in the 90s. Ewing, Robinson, Deke, Shaq, and Alonzo The Center position was just like todays PG position, there were not many days off. Nowadays Dwight dominates the position and Bynum is a top 5 Center to some? Dwight wouldn't be better than any of those guys I mentioned. He'd be a above average guy...kinda like how Brooks is now, because he also has to play against Rose, Rondo, Dwill, CP3, Nash etc. Makes him look like any ordinary guy but he's playing at a time where the position is so strong. I think Hakeem would destroy both Bynum and Pau, Kobe would do the same on his end. In the end it'd be Kobe vs Hakeem and i'm not even going to touch that.
Yeah of course Hakeem would destroy Bynum. That's not even a question. I'm not sure if Hakeem would guard both Bynum and Gasol... though.
Why, sure, let's post this poll on a ROCKETS' fans website... maybe it won't be lopsided... So who's going to post it on the Fakers' forum?
I selected the 2nd season, thus cassell comes of the bench. I agree with the poster that mentioned Kobe would be reduced to a jump shooter as opposed to more penetration. However, Kobe has a knack for finding Gasol in the paint once he draws enough attention. Although Hakeem is quick enough to recover. For those who selected the Lakers, why so? If the 94 team is selected, Max has an excellent chance at minimizing Kobe.
Dream >>>>>>>>>> Gasol/Bynum AND Odom Who cares about Seattle? They couldn't even beat Denver, an 8th seed. Saying, IF we could have gotten to play the Rockets, we would have beat them... is like saying 'If I ever get in the ring with Mike Tyson, I'll kick his ass' Talk is cheap.
Young man, please! Dream was a very smart basketball player. He would figure out Gasol's moves easily and make Pau do moves that he's not as comfortable doing. Dream was also quick enough to counter any finesse moves Pau might try... after all, Dream invented some of them. And really, to even suggest that Pau could shoot over Dream is sheer idiocy. The other point here is that Bynum would get in foul trouble very quickly trying to guard Dream... Jackson doesn't even like to put him on Yao. That would leave Pau playing the bulk of the minutes against Dream and Dream would either get some fouls on him or Pau would have to give too much ground to someone like Dream. Olajuwon destroyed perhaps the greatest front line in the history of the game when he took the Celtics to the woodshed. Parrish, McHale, Bird, Walton... they had no answer for Dream and here we have some Laker fanboy spouting off that Bynum and Gasol would get the better of the match up? Ridiculousness. Know your history people.
94 team in 5 games 95 team in 6-7 games. I'm going to be honest, I do not think the Lakers are as good as people make them out to be. An inexperience and undersized Thunder team almost pushed them to Game 7, while last year's Nugget were handful for them. While, they needed 7 games to beat a Rockets' team without Yao Ming (for 4), no Mutombo or McGrady at all. Some people out there on this board and in the media would actually believe they be able to beat a championship team that is just as well rounded and have dominant bigs on their team. Even with an ailing Yao Ming on the floor, the Lakers had no answers for him, even with a stress fracture, the guy managed 19 points and 14 rebounds, while keeping the other two in check. I'm just going echo what has been said in the past, their front line does not deal well with players who either physical or as equal as good, if not better than they are overall. The Rockets would be a nightmare matchup for the Lakers. The one edge that the Lakers now have over most of these weak, undersized Western teams, like the Jazz and Suns. Would disappear in seconds. Even if they played a team, like the 95 Magic, 98 Heat, 97 Hawks, or any version of the Knicks. They would have alot of trouble against those teams. I've answered in this in the past, regardless of rules 90s or 00s. Who is going to guard Olajuwon? Bynum is not quick enough, or sound defensively to even slow down Yao or even old Shaq. Olajuwon is going to have him eating out of his hands. He'll either be in foul trouble or on the bench (after Phil loses confidence in his play) by mid first quarter. Now that leaves Gasol and Odom to deal with Olajuwon. All I can say is Olajuwon quickly reaches 30 by half time. Gasol is long and tall, but he is not Mark Eaton tall and he doesn't Shaq's strength or David Robinson athleticism. Is Odum's even in the game on half defensive plays? Olajuwon is going to be causing even more problems on defense against the Lakers. Gasol is not going to have alot of easy opportunities, they'll come when Olajuwon on the bench. It's going to be a sequel of the 1995 WCFs. Olajuwon has just seen way better competition than Bynum and Gasol. He may even have 60 point game against them. Phil does not have tricks up his sleeves to stop Olajuwon, outside of letting him have his points strategy. The Rockets also have Thorpe and Horry or Horry and Drexler. Thorpe is smaller than Gasol and Odom, but he is not a push over he'd come at them for the 36 minutes he is in the game. Horry and Odom are pretty similar, but Horry is a better outside shooter. Their front-line is going to be so occupied by Olajuwon. Artest or Ariza would be matchup on Drexler, Horry, or even Maxwell on certain plays. That still favors Houston. Maxwell could take Kobe, if the refs let them play. The guy gave MJ (in his prime fits), being on the Spurs, Rockets, and even the 76ers. But technically speaking, Maxwell got dismissed. Kobe might have one or two 35 to 40 point games, but Maxwell will make him take 23 to 30+ shots in lot of those games. Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell against Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar favors Houston. The 90s rules would actually the Lakers, more in certain areas than people think, not that it would matter much. If teams, like the Celtics, last year's Rockets, or even the modern Cavs give them trouble with the type of defense they play. Cannot see them really being too much more effective against a team with a defense that is just as good, if not better with possibly a HOF center standing in the paint.
There was this player named Jordan that basically owned the NBA and all players today are evaluated by his play. During the 94 season there were only 2 players that gave Jordan pure HELL on defense... 1) Joe Dumars 2) Mad Max.... So if MM could hold his own with the Greatest, i'm pretty sure he could do the same with his under study.
It's not just Celtics, Olajuwon has laid waste or gotten the best of alot teams featuring: Shaquille O'Neal/Horace Grant Cartwright/ Grant/ Pippen Ewing/Oakley/Mason Had some good games against Robinson/Duncan (remember this old Olajuwon) Alonzo Mourning Dikembe Mutombo (look at the number's put up against this man, and tell if you think stands a chance against this guy) David Robinson/Dennis Rodman Though, I do think Gasol could get some easy opportunities, when Dream is not guarding him.
#ell, I still wonder the Lakers could beat the last three versions of the Rockets (at full strength). This year or last year's team Yao Ming - c Luis Scola - pf Trevor Ariza - sf Kevin Martin - sg Aaron Brooks - pg Kyle Lowry Chase Budinger Jared Jefferies Chuck Hayes Shane Battier David Andersen Jermaine Taylor Yao Ming - c Luis Scola - pf Shane Battier - sf Ron Artest or Tracy McGrady - sg Aaron Brooks - pg Kyle Lowry Carl Landry Dikembe Mutombo Chuck Hayes Brent Barry Von Wafer James White
