TheFreak, We can split hairs all day long on the numbers of 20+/10+ (PTS/RBS -- Duncan vs Akeem). They don't tell the whole story. Akeem won and lost for very different reasons. Same with Duncan. But just using Akeem/Hakeem's stats and saying, "He was unstoppable offensively" doesn't tell the whole story about a particular player. Duncan's career is yet to be over. He'll be starting his eighth season next year. He's got about 4-5 good years left. And there's a good chance that Duncan could end up with a 3rd title and maybe 4th before his career is over. The Spurs team was not dismantled like the Lakers. The Kings and Suns are starting to show signs of moving into another direction. The Wolves are their only immediate threat; save the Rockets. Anyways...on to your second point... Akeem did have an upswing in his PPG during the 88 - 90 timeframe (24PPG/12.5RPG). Compared to his customary 22PPG/11.5RPG from the year(s) past. But there was a reason for that upswing; it was that he was carrying more of the load since the 86 team was dismantled by drugs and injuries. Now, this is only taking about his shot selection; role. Not his intelligence or skill level. That came later. He really was just playing the same way as the 84-86 as he did in 88-90. The difference was that he was just taking more of the offensive shots; up the FPA above 1600. This is what I remember most about the 88-90 timeframe. It was the Akeem show; dump it in to Akeem, shot. Over and over again...regardless if there was an open man (this had a lot to do with Akeem not trusting his teammates and Akeem's own inabilities). Move on to 90-92 timeframe and Akeem's FGA drop (fake injury, unhappy, disgruntled, seem disinterested; which led to his possible trade), so does his PPG/RPG. We dropped from 52 to 42 wins the 92 season. And we even had Maxwell, Smith and Thorpe in that timeframe. Still his play diminished as well. Fast forward to 92-96 and the *new* Hakeem starts to pass and add to his offensive moves (his offensive skills level increases; it wasn't just about brute force anymore; he could do the little things). His FGA goes backup to his 88-90 rate. But his PPG grows to 26-27PPG. His RPG drop a bit to 10-11RPG. But it didn't matter. He was rejuvenated, played as a team, increased his APG to above 3.5 (first time in his career). He started playing smart! Like never before. His stats were always impressive. But this time, he did the little things that catapulted his *team,* to new heights, not just himself. He lead his team to a Finals appearance in 1986 by force and incredible athletic ability alone (+ Sampson and friends). But what he was doing in 93-96 was different. It was more about playing the complete game. Not just a "offensive weapon." This is the way I always wanted the Akeem to play. This is the way Bird, Kareem and Magic played the moment they entered he NBA. They did the little things first; they had their fundamentals down; the concept of "team." Akeem learned that later. Way later. Duncan on the other hand had his fundamentals down from his rookie season. He knows the importance of "team." his first year (knew how to supplement scoring w/passing). He's been a consistent 22.5/12RPG. His best season being 2001-02: 25.5. While it's true that Duncan isn't the shot blocker that Akeem/Hakeem was: 3.0 BPG vs 2.5 BPG. He's no slouch. What Duncan has been great at his passing ability; consistently above 3.2 APG. His best year was 2002-03 when he averaged 3.9 (that closing in on Vlade Divac range!). In the end, it's about how you convert ones skill and talent into wins, not how many stats you accumulate or how dominant you are one-on-one. This is why I rather have a 20/10 guy that can pass and knows how to make his teammates better (his rookie season; knows the fundamentals of the game). Than a player that can have 27/12, that can't pass and only knows how to get his own shot. On a side note, but related, this is why the Olympic team has started to suffer in the last few years; we had a generation of "me-me" player that are average at playing the team game. They are soooooo used to being the "main-man" and nothing else. Yes, we are missing our best (Shaq/Kobe/KG/TMac) and we are very young. But still. You can just see it in their play. Duncan is one of the few that brings back a little bit of that old school mentally (Okafor too). http://www.clutchfans.net/playerinfo.cfm?PlayerID=131 P.S. This is why I'm soooo happy about getting Yao. He seems follow in the path that Duncan has. Strong on fundamentals from the get go. Yao just need to progress in his physical training and everything will fall into place. Tmac? Well, he need to learn defense better (like Artest has) and shoot a little better; sacrifice a little more for the team. Like Jordan, he learned to trust his teammates more. TMac's stats don't even have to drop *that* much; he just needs to be be more aware of his teammates. It should be fun watching them grow for the next 10 years!
I hate "what if" too. Duncan's team has always been a contender. They happened to be in the shadow of one of the greatest duos ever in Shaq/Kobe. What if Robinson was not a shell of his former self in those years? What if Duncan was not injured in 2001? What if no ".4"? What if Jordan never retired? blah, blah, blah. I like Hakeem and Duncan better than Akeem(ture superstars should trust and make teammates better). Add role players to them and you got a contender, while with Akeem alone you were guarantteed first-round exit.
Hakeem's defense was much better to Duncan's. Hakeem was a one man wrecking crew for opposing offense. Duncan does not bring that kind of intensity defensively. IMO, Hakeem's will to win and his competiveness was better than Duncan's. Duncan just doesnt bring the fear into opponent as Hakeem does. Duncan was very unimpressive this year against the Lakers. He was neutralized by a 40 year old Malone. Hakeem used to eat the entire Jazz team alive, including Malone when he used to guard him in crunch time. Duncan is better than Hakeem in terms of fundamentals on the offensive end though. But Hakeem had more moves and was much harder to stop (in the 90s when he developed a complete game).
I never suggested Akeem did it alone. Just like Duncan didn't do it alone. The point I'm making is that Olajuwon was a good enough player to get the Finals in his second year, so the whole suggestion that he didn't know how to win is invalid. So if Yao can play like Akeem did in Akeem's early years would be a plus. I can't believe anyone would suggest that Duncan is a better player than Akeem is in any way. Its kind of hard to carry Sleepy Floyd and Buck Johnson through the playoffs. I understand why it seemed like Akeem was trying to do it alone.
It's even harder for Duncan to carry Spurs to be a contender EVERY year. Frankly I take Duncan over Akeem everyday.
Duncan has had way better role players supporting him ever since he has joined the NBA. If Hakeem would be in Duncan's situation, Spurs would have won more titles than just two. Hakeem would not have folded in playoffs against Lakers this year like Duncan did. They would also have been a better defensive team than they are and that is a scary thought.
