You know, I read that article, and it's pretty weird. I love Dream, and he clearly played well in his early to mid-30s, but the conclusion of the article makes no sense. Kareem: incredibly productive, winning player logging lots of minutes into old age. Wilt: incredibly productive player still getting 20 rebounds on a good night and won a championship past 32. Russell: very consistent and productive past 32. Conclusion: all big men but Hakeem fall apart after 32! It's true! Look at the FACTS! Shaq is DOOMED! Reader:
Jordan and Karl Malone also both had some of their best years in their mid-30s. But Jordan did miss 2 years. Karl Malone I can't explain. I also disagree w/Almu. I don't see a lot of 'pounding' going on before you reach the NBA. On every other level you're playing 30 times a year, at the most. Not to mention the physicality in the NBA is just not even comparable to high school, let alone junior high. And who knows what Akeem was doing in Africa during those years? He was most likely an active kid, so he was probably doing his fair share of running and jumping. That's a pretty silly comment man, sorry. But I still like you. Even though you are one part of an ambiguously gay duo (Almu & Gundy).
What they failed to mention is that Hakeem had the best role players in the history of the NBA. Also they forgot Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Mario Elie, and Carl Herrera. Robert Horry -2 more rings Mario Elie -1 more ring Sam Cassell -all star Kenny Smith -played in the slam dunk and three pt shooting contest in the same all star weekend Otis Thorpe -all star (1992) Vernon Maxwell -Is one of only five players in NBA history to lead the league in three-pointers made in two different seasons, in 1990-91 (172) and in 1991-92 (162)
Hey dude I'm just responding to the ESPN belittling of Kenny/Vernon/Otis/Horry etc. You are WRONG. They make Hakeem better. Remember the Rockets before: SLEEPY FLOYD -fell asleep after a good career with Golden State DERRICK CHIEVOUS BUCK JOHNSON TIM MCCORMICK FRANK JOHNSON JOE BARRY CARROLL JIM PETERSEN WORLD B. FREE LESTER CONNER.... I guess Hakeem made Kenny etc look good and made the pre-KennyMaxwell players look bad.
I would agree with timan. Those role players made Hakeem Olajuwon a winner. Not the other way around. If you look at Thorpe, Smith, Maxwell, and Horry peaks seasons they were all excellent players on their respective teams. Olajuwon needed them.
Still, Dream won in 94 with no all-star at his side. The only person to do that the last decade has been Duncan 2 years ago.
Don't forget that he was taking alot of shots too to get some those stats. Too bad Yao will probably never will be averaging over 20 shot a game average. I still can't understand why people still trying to compare Yao to Hakeem when Yao never getting the chance to take well amount of shots.
I hate this NBA writers, they are all hypocrites. Look at the Pistons with Isiah. People would kiss up to their role players, Dumars, Lambeer, Vinny Johnson, John Salley... Also look at the Bulls, BJ Armstrong, Paxon, Kukoc, Bill Wennington... Dude, the Rockets role players wound STOMP them. You take the Hakeemless 93 team vs the Isiahless Pistons or the MJ less Bulls and Team Ramadan would win!
HeyDude, The Rockets had all stars. The all star game is a popularity contest. Look at how people vote Grant Hill in each year and he hasn't played since Duke!
Don't forget that there are more talented and athletic players now then 5 to 10 years ago. The game is more technical and the defense is more refine.
I watched each and every game in 94. And I loved that team. However, nobody, I mean nobody was close to being a all-star that year, besides Dream. The only person you could make a case for would have been Maxwell, maybe....
daNasty, you are right look at Maria Sharpova, Linsay Lohan and Beyonce. I never remembered girls that talented when I was in high school!
i don't know what the isiahless pistons would've done, but we saw the MJ-less bulls, they were called the 93-94 bulls, and they won 54 games. on the one hand, saying past rockets is good, on the other other, doesn't that make hakeem look less great? i mean damn, earl cureton got playing time in game 7 against the knicks. EARL CURETON!!!
I doubt the 93-94 team could, but the 94-95 could, easily. Cassel was better, Horry was better, and we had Drexler. Now the 94-5 team was <b> it </b>
francis 4 prez, The pre KennySmith Rockets did do something great. Look at SugarLand, Texas. That WHOLE TOWN was built by the bricks laid by the earlier Rockets team.
