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Dwight Howard Will Work Out with Hakeem Olajuwon This Summer

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by rockergordon, Jun 3, 2010.

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  1. rockergordon

    rockergordon Member

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    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-dwighthowardwillwork


    Even though Dwight Howard(notes) is the best center in the league, his offensive game is still a work in progress. While he’s developing more moves, Howard is still at his best when he makes quick decisions in the post. He’s not quite as comfortable when making more deliberate moves in the classic post style. Kevin McHale, he is not.

    But he’s still working on it. That’s why, this summer, Howard has plans to work with legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon. From Josh Robbins in The Orlando Sentinel (via Magic Basketball):

    Some help might come from former Houston Rockets all-star Hakeem Olajuwon, who spoke with [Dwight] Howard during the Eastern Conference finals. Olajuwon has made himself available to NBA players in recent years; he even spent some time last summer working with Kobe Bryant(notes) to help Bryant to develop his low-post game.
    “In the next couple of weeks, we will see each other,” Howard said of Olajuwon. “I just can’t wait to go up there. He’s a great guy. He had a lot of great things to say. I’m just looking forward to having the chance to work with him.”

    Hakeem is actually one of the better players Howard could turn to for advice. As a youngster, Olajuwon relied more on athleticism than skill, in a manner relatively similar to Dwight. Howard is still only 24, but Olajuwon can still help him transition from athletic dynamo to a more refined player.
    Patrick Ewing has helped Howard’s offensive game considerably, but it too often seems as if Ewing is trying to turn Dwight into a veteran big man rather than a dynamic athletic talent who also happens to have a couple excellent post moves. Olajuwon could understand Howard better. The main question is whether or not he can have much of an impact in only a few sessions.
     
    #1 rockergordon, Jun 3, 2010
  2. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Contributing Member

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    crap.
     
    #2 Bandwagoner, Jun 3, 2010
  3. Luckyazn

    Luckyazn Contributing Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #3 Luckyazn, Jun 3, 2010
  4. tofu--

    tofu-- Member

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    Why does Hakeem go around teaching every other big man but the ones for the Houston Rockets.

    I mean, he met with Yao for like what, one day? Come on.
     
    #4 tofu--, Jun 3, 2010
  5. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
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    Dwight Howard=Alonzo Mourning...
     
    #5 RudyTBag, Jun 3, 2010
  6. DieHard Rocket

    DieHard Rocket Contributing Member

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    Dream owns Ewing again. Ewing coaches him for 8 months a year, and Dwight is turning to Dream for help. :p
     
    #6 DieHard Rocket, Jun 3, 2010
  7. OGKashMoney

    OGKashMoney Member

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    I think we need to send Jordan Hill to train with The Dream if Hill is in our future plan. All Dream asks for is a phone call. Come on J-Hill!
     
    #7 OGKashMoney, Jun 3, 2010
  8. ubigred

    ubigred Contributing Member

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    Cant make chicken salad out of chicken **** :grin:
     
    #8 ubigred, Jun 3, 2010
  9. tested911

    tested911 Member

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    Seriously what can Dream teach Yao? Dreams moves require a lot more speed than Yao can handle and spin around's that Yao doesn't due because he can't. Yao is to big for those types of moves. Hakeem said it himself "His moves were really meant for a Small forward (ala Kobe) When was the last time you saw a center under 7" that can do half of Hakeem's god given talent..
     
    #9 tested911, Jun 3, 2010
  10. jeffvangundy

    jeffvangundy Member

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    The league is screwed
     
    #10 jeffvangundy, Jun 3, 2010
  11. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    That's funny. Go post that in the Knicks forum and link us to it. Pretty please?
     
    #11 Ziggy, Jun 3, 2010
  12. Depressio

    Depressio Contributing Member

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    Howard's never going to have a Dream Shake but he could develop a ton of the athletic interior moves that Hakeem used to dominate players like Ewing and Robinson.

    And that would make him all the more frightening.
     
    #12 Depressio, Jun 3, 2010
  13. geeimsobored

    geeimsobored Contributing Member

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    He should teach Chuck Hayes the dream shake.
     
    #13 geeimsobored, Jun 3, 2010
  14. chenjy9

    chenjy9 Numbers Don't Lie
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    Has Kobe ever plays SF? I thought he was always SG. Also, you mean over 7 feet not under 7 inches right? Hakeem was far under 7' btw, they just listed him at 7.
     
    #14 chenjy9, Jun 3, 2010
  15. plates300

    plates300 Member

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    Dwight's offensive game will never be as solid as Olajuwon's. However, if there's one thing Dwight can learn, it's the footwork. If he can get good footwork down, he can improve his offensive game so much more.
     
    #15 plates300, Jun 3, 2010
  16. RedRedemption

    RedRedemption Contributing Member

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    Yao does not have the footwork to pull off any of these moves. I mean he stumbles doing a stationary spin pivot, how in the world can he pull of a dreamshake, let alone one at half-speed?
     
    #16 RedRedemption, Jun 3, 2010
  17. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Yao seems to have a pretty refined post game already. Hakeem needs to teach him how to block shots though.

    Actually, I think it would be good for Yao to meet Bill Walton, one of the best passing big men in the history of mankind.
     
    #17 Mr. Clutch, Jun 3, 2010
  18. Rockets111

    Rockets111 Contributing Member

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    You can't teach defensive timing and just knowing where and how to approach a shot. You either have it or you don't.
     
    #18 Rockets111, Jun 3, 2010
  19. zoids

    zoids Member

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    I guess both of you never watched Yao's rookie season. Yao was the first guy who mastered the dream shake since Olajuwon retired. He got that move down right from the start of his NBA career. It's JVG who forced him to become a "back to basket turn around jump hooker/shooter".

    Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8STO24L_NY&#t=2m25s
     
    #19 zoids, Jun 3, 2010
  20. tofu--

    tofu-- Member

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    It's not about that, it's more about really hardcore delivering the "domination" mindset into Yao. He seemed to be beginning to do that when they had the day together, that's why I wanted to see more of it.

    Obviously Yao has a very polished offensive skillset that no center in the league currently has IMO.
     
    #20 tofu--, Jun 3, 2010
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