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Dream looks "very sharp" in Monday practice, expected to play tomorrow!!!

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by The Cat, Mar 26, 2001.

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  1. The Cat

    The Cat Member

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    http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0323/1160897.html

    Monday, March 26, 2001
    Olajuwon looks good in Monday practice

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Associated Press

    HOUSTON – Two weeks ago, Hakeem Olajuwon's season and career were in jeopardy because of a blood condition in his left leg.

    Tuesday night, he expects to be in the lineup for the Houston Rockets when they play the Utah Jazz.

    "He's an amazing player. He was very sharp in practice and I didn't see any rust," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said after the team's practice session Monday. "We expect him to play (Tuesday) night but we don't know how much."

    Olajuwon returned to full workouts with the team Monday for the first time since doctors announced on March 13 that the Rockets center would be sidelined three to six months while taking medication for a blood clot in a vein in his lower left leg.

    Further tests last week, including a second opinion by famed cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley, revealed the blood vessels in Olajuwon's left leg are now open, clearing his return.

    Doctors originally had Olajuwon taking a drug called coumadin, a blood thinner, that could result in more serious internal injury if he encountered hard contact while on the court.

    Olajuwon switched to daily injections of heparin, a low molecular weight blood thinner. He has stopped using heparin and is now taking aspirin daily. He also will wear elastic support stockings while playing and will undergo monitoring by doctors for the rest of the season.

    "It is great to get back, it is a good feeling how the rest of the guys made me feel so good about getting back," Olajuwon said.

    "I think I am ahead (with conditioning) because I didn't stop working out and I kept shooting the basketball."

    Olajuwon has missed nine games going into Tuesday's contest in Compaq Center against the Jazz. The Rockets have lost three straight games, putting their playoff hopes in serious doubt.

    "I thought today he looked the same. We are lacking some scoring points in the middle so we can really use him," guard Steve Francis said.

    Tomjanovich needed to hear something positive.

    "I learned about the first month in this job that you expect the unexpected and that usually it is the bad unexpected," Tomjanovich said. "When you get a positive unexpected, it's great."

    Olajuwon had conceded that his season was over last week before the new round of tests. He had scheduled a business trip to Acapulco but canceled it because of the good news.

    It was just another twist in the final year of Olajuwon's contract that pays him $16.5 million. Despite his medical condition, Olajuwon has not ruled out playing next season and the Rockets won't discount his return.

    "It's just a part of life, you do the best you can and don't worry about what's out of your control," Olajuwon said. "I just thank God that it wasn't anything major. Two weeks later, I am thanking God again that you can go play."

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    "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis

    President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club!

    Draftsource.net
    ClutchTown.com
     
    #1 The Cat, Mar 26, 2001
  2. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    He had better start! I don't want to see him coming off the bench.

    Utah is doomed. I guarantee a Rocket win tomorrow.
    Here comes our 10-2 run. Minnesota will win only 5 games more, and the playoffs will come down to the last game of the season. I can see it now. Hakeem will go crazy, and lead the team to the playoffs by scoring 44 points and grabbing 18 boards, to go along with 7 blocks. The T-wolves will fall 99-89.

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    Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
     
    #2 ZRB, Mar 26, 2001
  3. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    Hosiery by Hakeem! They're back!!! Woo hoo!



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    "We need a chicken butt." -- heypartner is moving swiftly to help make the CC.net BBS more efficient and run faster. RAM was the first step, apparently this is the second!
     
    #3 Dr of Dunk, Mar 26, 2001
  4. Ren D

    Ren D Member

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    Thanks Cat,Sounds pretty good!

    It looks like Dream is gong to make the Rockets staffs decisions this offseason even more complicated!

    I would really like to have Dream back personally,if he is going to sign somwhere for 4.5 I think we should resign him!

    Would you take Dream and Mo or just Webber?

    BTW,We can sign Webber and Dream cant we,it will just take a few minor adjustments with the roster?

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    If I had only 1 wish it would be that I had a big enough @ss the whole world could kiss-Eminem
     
    #4 Ren D, Mar 26, 2001
  5. The Cat

    The Cat Member

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    No, it would take an absolute miracle. That is, some team would have to actually be willing to take Kelvin Cato's contract off our hands. [​IMG]

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    "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis

    President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club!

    Draftsource.net
    ClutchTown.com
     
    #5 The Cat, Mar 26, 2001
  6. slcrocket

    slcrocket Member

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    ZRB--I really do love your optimism, but you've GOT to work on consistency, there. [​IMG]

    But I will echo your sentiment:

    <MARQUEE><font color=red><h1>THE JAZZ ARE DOOMED</h1></font></MARQUEE>


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    Jazzkiller

    [This message has been edited by slcrocket (edited March 26, 2001).]
     
    #6 slcrocket, Mar 26, 2001
  7. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    I can't be consistently optimistic. Sometimes I just have a feeling...

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    Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
     
    #7 ZRB, Mar 26, 2001
  8. dc rock

    dc rock Member

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    i smell a 12 game winning streak.

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    http://www.democrats.com

    mgh 1925-2001

    [This message has been edited by dc rock (edited March 26, 2001).]
     
    #8 dc rock, Mar 26, 2001
  9. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    Optimism and pessimism are okay, ZRB... but if you lower the wavelength on both ends you won't be as manic. [​IMG]

    mmm... even keel.

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    (===)
     
    #9 Achebe, Mar 26, 2001
  10. Scarface

    Scarface Supremely FocASSed
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    Wait you mean Hakeem borrowed that white guys leg again? Cool!

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    ``We need to FOCASS".... Akeem Olajuwon
     
    #10 Scarface, Mar 26, 2001
  11. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    You know, I love Hakeem and all, but why in the hell was he planning a business trip to Mexico when the Rockets are still competing (I guess that's what you call it) for a playoff spot? Does he not support the team when he's not playing?

    That being said...

    Woohoo!!!

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    www.swirve.com...The reason Al Gore invented the internet.
     
    #11 Rocketman95, Mar 26, 2001
  12. Deltar

    Deltar Member

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    It's great to hear Dream coming back for sure. We need as many of our good frontcourt players.. err... Dream.. to be out on the court as much as possible, especially with Malone on the court. It does not exactly relieve me to have Kelvin Cato out there with Malone. He might get injured again [​IMG]

    I hope Karl Malone will be able to keep his elbows to himself tonight. Everbody knows how penetrating his elbows can be.. anyway.. I hope Dream has a great game.

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    "The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die for a cause, while the mark of a mature man states he wants to live humbly for one."
     
    #12 Deltar, Mar 26, 2001
  13. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    Does 55 points and 34 rebounds sound good to you?

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    Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
     
    #13 ZRB, Mar 26, 2001
  14. SmeggySmeg

    SmeggySmeg Member

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    perhaps at the last game instead of handing out dream bobble dolls they should hand elastic support stockings as worn by the Dream

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    "Repression never did me any harm (I finally ceased to include "stop masturbating" as one of my guilt ridden New Year's resolutions, but that's a different topic)." Achebe - programmer by day, Mrs Palmers Husband by night
     
    #14 SmeggySmeg, Mar 26, 2001
  15. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    "He's an amazing player. He was very sharp in practice and I didn't see any rust," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said after the team's practice session Monday. "We expect him to play (Tuesday) night but we don't know how much."

    I knew it. It looks like Hakeem will come off the bench, and play 10 minutes in typical Hakeem-comeback fashion. Come on Rudy! Start Hakeem, and use him like you did before the blood problems. It should be like nothing happened.
    If the Rockets want to go on that 10-2 spurt, they have to start tomorrow!

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    Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
     
    #15 ZRB, Mar 26, 2001
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