I LOVE watching the new Rockets, but I am a bit nostalgic for watching the Rockets of the glory of the years - when all of the team's chances of winning depended solely on one legend's spinning, faking, and bewildering every defender thrown at him with a variety of moves one would never expect a man of his size to pull off. Looking around the league, no big men who score in that manner jump out at me. Shaq scores on brute strength. Duncan and Mourning don't really resemble Hakeem too much offensively. So which center left in the league could most remind someone of Hakeem in the paint? I don't get to see Elden play much, but from what I've heard, he's got a ton of moves. I also remember how he almost carried Charlotte to the playoffs on his back two years ago with 20 point game after 20 point game. So when I watch the Elden tomorrow, will I see any similarities with my all-time favorite player? ------------------
ok, ok, this is a lame question/post. Perhaps I should have compared him to a taller Kenny Thomas than our Rockets legend. Still, what I hear of Campbell's footwork and variety of moves as a 7 foot, 270 pounder makes him one of the most intriguing players I haven't seen much of to me. I'm looking forward to watching him Thursday night. If this guy was given the ball consistently, could he produce like he did when he was practically single-handedly keeping Charlotte in the playoff hunt two years ago after being a back up in LA. With his quickness and size, shouldn't he be able to make the McIlvanes, Montrosses, Feicks, and Longleys look silly over there in the East? Would you give him the ball over DC? Anybody who knows much about him and wants to pass it along would be appreciated.... [This message has been edited by Oatdog (edited October 11, 2000).]
Campbell has a pretty nice shooting touch out to 18' - that certainly helps him with his scoring, but he scores inside pretty nicely as well. He's got a "turn to the hoop" hook and a halfway turnaround jumper as well as a step through type move. I guess he has the finesse moves more so than most any other center out there except Duncan - but Duncan's finesse looks funny because it's not smooth Campbell has never really DOMINATED as a C and that's probably because he's always been just a little bit soft. I'd say his career could've been better if he could've played as a PF who was the only option in the post (ie playing alongside Mutombo/Robinson/Cato). It should be interesting to see how he fares this year. I'd probably have to tip him to make the all-star team, simply because there's no real competition for the center position in the East. ------------------
For those who complain about Hakeem´s current lack of desire, awste no time with Campbell. He´s never had it. I watched a lot of Campbell last year, both in the regular season and in the playoffs series against Philly, at TBS/TNT and he has NO intensity at all. He is not a defensive center at all. Charlotte´s defensive force last season was Coleman, just look at his BLK per game. That being said, as his defensive game is kind of weak i don´t see how he could ever be compared to vintage Hakeem. I would never give him the ball over Coleman. Same could be said for Silas. At least that´s how it went in last season playoffs. Oh, and make no mistake. It´s not a coincidence that led Brad Miller to play such large minutes at the C spot. Either Campbell was being outplayed or in foul trouble most of the season. I agree that he should be a PF and not a C. He was at his best when he filled in for Shaq a couple of years ago. ------------------ By moonlight, we RIDE ten THOUSAND side by side...!
elden campbell reminds me of a marsupial. that said, elden has no inner motivation whatsoever. the only times he has succeeded in his bball career are when people have doubted him - OPENLY doubted him, at that. you see, it's OK for him to be charmin soft on defense and horry-esque on offense. just as long as no one notices or says anything. just keep those paychecks coming, baby. but as soon as someone calls him out, like when shaq went down in la la land, and everyone questioned whether campbell would turn soupy, he played like gazpacho soup, not cold vegetable. after he won that battle, it was back to being the cream puff, charmin gutted, fathead punk he always has been. oh yeah, i don't like elden campbell ------------------ Essentially the top two players to come out of college the last couple of years are Duncan, Carter, and Francis. - vince
Eldin Cambell is a very Very VERY poor homeless mans Olajuwon. As a Laker his nickname among so-cal collegians was "THE CHICK" a term never associated with the dream ------------------ "Isn't the purpose of the game to put the ball in the basket?"
Elden Campbell is a nice player. And with the league as thin as Kate Moss' waistline in the big man department, most teams would be improving their big man position if they swapped their starting center for Campbell. But make no mistake about it, the only similarities I see between Dream and him are; - they're both around 7 feet tall - they both possess a soft touch Or, you can look at it the flip side. . . Campbell and Dream are essentially equal, except: Hakeem has more heart, character, is more intimidating, several more moves in the paint, more athletic, basketball-intelligent, more explosiveness around the basket, much better passer, and on another stratosphere when it comes to Defense. He also has two more rings. Except for that, they've been pretty much the same player the last 15 years. Azim da Dream ------------------ We don't live for the destination. We live for the journey. http://www.clutchtown.com
I watch the guy play with the FAKER's but he resembled more of COLEMAN of Charlotte without defense. ------------------ Rudy T. will find and fulfill Rockets destiny.
Maybe his butt! ------------------ "Liberalism not only legitimizes envy, jealousy, ignorance, and the lack of moral standards, but it also makes these attributes virtues." --Drake Raft
