Not that it really matters what these analysts say, but the topic was out of the 3 low post players Horry has been with in Shaq, Olajuwon, or TD, Horry would choose Olajuwon. Michael Holley chose Olajuwon, and Woddy Paige chose Shaq. I forget who the host is, but he said Olajuwon in his prime was sweeping Shaq out of the playoffs. He was McHale meets Garnett, and was the most dominant center in his prime as anybody, and was the best player as anybody in the game in his prime. Brought a tear to my eye knowing that they didn't forget him, seeing as how he almost never gets any media recognition.
i saw that, and was going to start a thread about it. it was great. especially max's comments that he was as good or better than bird or magic, which seems like something you'd never hear anyone say given the pedestal those two are put on. i think horry's picked hakeem before, gotta love that. i guess if i had played with hakeem during those 4 years i wouldn't think anybody could ever be better than that.
Geez, I usually hate Max Keller-Yankee, but now I might just have to like him. Well, at least until he starts talking about the Yankees again. And why wouldn't Horry pick Hakeem. He never needed a Kobe to win like Shaq. And, the teams he beat in the finals were not a #8 seed and the above-average New Jersey Nets.
Hakeem in his prime over Shaq: debateable, but you wouldn't be crazy to pick Dream. Hakeem in his prime over Duncan: I don't know that we have seen Duncan's prime yet. His playoff performance last year was pretty dream-esque, but Hakeem did it longer than Duncan has so far. Incomplete. Hakeem in his prime, best player ever: rediculous. Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul Jabbar are both better. Magic and Bird I would probably take over Hakeem. Hakeem would come before the OVERRATED Michael Jordan. The biggest problem with Hakeem is that he seemed to play at his highest level for a shorter time period than some of the other greats.
the main problem for hakeem is he took off too much. he went from a hall of famer his first 8 years to insanely good for a 4 year period and that gets called his prime and it looks like he only did great for a while while he really dominated for his first 12 years and was as good as anyone ever in his 4 year super-prime. to me, it averages out to one of the very top players ever and someone who it takes a big argument to put someone over him, even the pedestal people like magic/bird/wilt/mj. hakeem with showtime lakers or 80's celtics talent around, man. or hell, if we traded sampson for jordan, my God, would those two have ever not won a title with their wills to win and talent?
I would take Hakeem over Shaq any day. If you gave The dream Clyde during the first 10 years, everyone would be like, Jordan WHO... Shaq would be nothing without a KOBE figure...
I would take Hakeem because he plays in the both ends. Shaq only plays one end and occasionaly in te other. Tim Duncan is basically the same player as Hakeem but is not as flashy or athletic as Hakeem is
