he does play like hakeem did when he first entered the league. took hakeem years to learn the post moves. i dont think bynum has the quickness to replicate the moves hakeem had or block the weak side so quickly.
this guys is a joke...compared to Hakeem, the greatest center before Shaq and after Wilt is a shameful comparison. the Lakers got yet another Kwamie Brown, instead of picking up valuable PG. I don't expect the Lakers to go far at all this year, cuz once Kobe's out injured or tired, well, that's that for them
It is funny how people only remember the polished Hakeem not the 20 year old UH Sophomore/Junior who had very little offensive skills at all. Bynum at 20 is comparible to Dream at the same age, that doesn't mean he will reach Hakeem status....but he is off to a good start. DD
One distinction I'd make is that Bynum relies more on his size and length, while Hakeem was more athletic.
Hakeem would never do this: <object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yY7xAF4XKS4&rel=1&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yY7xAF4XKS4&rel=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object>
Hakeem at 20 was an athletic freak and excellent defensively. Bynum isn't very athletic, has stamina issues (at 20), and is a worse defender than Kwame Brown (the Lakers best defending big man). I like what Bynum has shown this season as well but Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc he is not. The thing that seperated those centers from the rest from day 1 was their insane athleticism for their size, and the only one I see close to that today is Howard.
The only reason Hakeem was so unpolished is he started playing so late. Hakeem did in 6 years what Bynum probably took 20 years to do. So even if they're at a similar stage of development right now(I disagree), I doubt Bynum will keep pace.
If Dwight Howard reminds of Hakeem, then Bynum kinda plays like Howard, then Bynum kinda kinda looks like Hakeem. Bynum has nice body control when he catches lob passes for dunks. It shows he has some coordination, and can possibly develop some scoring moves. So did Tyson Chandler, though...
Sorry but your comparison is way off base. Sure Dream wasn't polish at 20, but he was a lot quicker and moved a lot better. Other than the two not being polished, the comparison ends there. While Bynum isnt as slow as Yao, he surely isnt a lot quicker.
Some of you guys need to get real. As someone correctly pointed , Hakeem's post moves weren't exactly as good as it was when he was in his prime. He was an athlete, a great one at that. Bynum's post game is rapidly improving. His footwork is great. Just watch his last two games where he has bamboozled defenses with his great footwork. He can use both hands too with great efficiency. He has a great touch around the rim and has a his form is excellent (interms of his jumpshot, his form is great and he has hit jumpers in games before). He has EXCELLENT hands. He gobbles up everything around the rim, coupled with the fact that he is one of the longest players in the league. And the scary thing is that he has only touched the surface of his game. Kareem said that he isn't showing all of his post move and counters in games. He is only showing glimpses of his post game recently. Once he gets more move in his unstoppable arsenal, it's over. Oh and he is a great passer out of the post. Great vision for a young big.
I would admit he is having a good year under the teaching of Kareem but to compare him to Hakeem....this I cannot accept as nothing more then blasphemy.
He is 20 years old, and playing very well on both offense and defense....clearly raw on offense. Same as Dream at about the same age. Dream was quicker, but Bynum is bigger.... Let's see how Bynum develops. JVG was gushing over him on TV the other night. DD
DD, you make some semi-logical observations, but even with Hakeem at 20 (and in college), what the others have said is more accurate. Hakeem was way way way more athletic than Bynum at the same age. He was just a better player. He was definitely raw, but it didn't matter.
He was more athletic for sure, but the point is that at the age of 20 they both impacted the games in the same manner...occasional post ups, lots of blocked shots and good rebounding. DD
The "raw" 20 year old Hakeem had picked up a basketball recently. He had never played organized basketball as they do in United States until he came to UH. If Andrew Bynum picked up basketball as late as Hakeem, no one would have heard of Bynum. Conversely, if Hakeem had started playing basketball as early as Bynum did, his game would have bee much more refined. Even the "raw" Hakeem would have been too much to handle for today's Bynum. Hakeem was too much of a competitor and a bully inside. In Bynum's case, his own coach is accusing him for playing for a contract.
If that's your only criteria, lots of players are charter members of this 'Hakeemish' club. Your ability to judge talent is sometimes quite amazing.
