The more Hakeem speaks about this, the more I lose respect for him. Note one thing, Blinebury was definitely fishing. Hakeem finally says there was "disagreement" for a long time. He made up his mind early to get Fegan and start shopping, to cover his bases. Then he gives the Rockets one last chance. Fine, Dream. Something tells me it would have taking more than the Toronto offer and their Powerpoint Presentation to get you to stay. Hakeem says we had our last shot at him. And he was upset at the offer, yet makes it very clear as well that he knew what Rudy and Les wanted. What is this need to argue fault about July negotiations. Both sides knew the other, and disagreed. Both sides disagreed way long time ago, as Hakeem states. Hakeem found a great deal, and he loves it. I'm glad he does. He deserves it. <b>Hakeem is a Propagandist</b> What pisses me off is Hakeem having to pull out the "disloyal" word. That's crap. Hakeem is delusional and borderline lying when he says the organization tried to make him out as "disloyal." Someone show me the quotes. One part of that article he says they disagreed long ago about his role, and he knew Rudy and Les only wanted one more year, and the next he wants to sound surprised about the one yr offer. Wasn't it clear to him he didn't want a one yr offer, and they weren't going to make him a multiyear one. Further, he says he had a contingency plan with Fegan, and we didn't. Then he ends it with saying the organization went public with a "disloyalty" campaign. That's delusional or propaganda. Makes me question his viewpoint on everything. Don't insult me Hakeem. There was not disloyalty compaign. My respect for Hakeem went down a notch with that "disloyalty" statement.
If you don't see, in this response, a hurt player, hurt by the rockets and, if he reads this board, hurt by some of his supposed fans, then you all just want to hate on hakeem. And there is no help for you. Don't give me that B.S. "we're rockets fans, you are a hakeem fan" either. That won't fly.
"I think they have made poor decisions in the past, and they still continue to make them," The truth hurts sometimes. I know it looks bad for Hakeem to bad talk the Rockets organization while they're in the midst of one of the lowest points in it's history, but that comment is true. This organization has been making some dumb decisions a lot in the past few seasons. One of the great moves was to get Francis a couple of years ago, but other than that, a lot of the front office's decision making has been very questionable. (High salary contracts to undeserving players like Cato, Taylor, Norris, etc.)
I love Hakeem, but we all know that his postgame interviews always sucked. Now his interviews and his post game suck.
Clutch, Do you mind trying out the "Merging Thread" feature with this thread and the other Dream thread. I don't want to be chasing comments between two threads.
Well you got your wish, Vince got injured last night and will likely take a few games off, AD is injured, he's missed 5 games and is even questionable for at least 2 more.
The Dream is 100% correct. The team has made bad decisions and he is just one of them. The Rockets thought he would be in a wheel chair and they were doing him a favour. Please! He did not look like he is in a wheel chair last night when both Towers felt the old man's presence. The key for him and the Raptors is for him to be able to contribute in May and June, so do not let his production now be a bother for you. The Rockets could have done the same thing. Instead they are happy to pay Moochie and Rice. Moochie is pedestrian at best. In fact, the signing of Moochie after we saw what Brown and Jones could do was a serious error. In fact it borders on full scale ignorance. Another mistake was the late decision to go after Jackson. I can go on and on about it. The bottom line is that he left on his own terms and the team will struggle to fill the new arena and it did not have to be like that.
You Know what. All you guys can do is speculate!! No one really knows what went down.....everyone has an opinion. Hakeem feels the way he feels because he was intimate to the situation.....so do the Rockets Organization. No one here knows s&#t! just let it be!!
Hakeem Olajuwon is doing today what most people said he could not do. I say the people in the organization he mentioned were among them. As long as he keeps on playing that will speak more than anything he actually says. All of us should have no difficulty seeing how this could have been much better done. I am totally behind the Dream. Respect is the key, not $$$. In fact I would have been pissed when you see what they paid Moochie. It amazes me that you all are not taking this opportunity to criticize CD for paying Moochie that kind of money. Now that Francis is out, the man has demonstated his worth. If they send you to get a point guard, please pass Moochie straight!. That puts this whole thing in perspective. You nickle and dime the FRANCHISE TOP 50 PLAYERS and dish the $$$ to a pedestrian point guard. Not to mention Rice! Frankly, the Rockets are getting what they deserve.
BEHAD, I saw the game. I have League Pass and I saw the game. I have also seen other games. They are times when he dominates or reminds you that he is the dream. You definitely get the sense that they are being cautious and careful. If Dream was on that team last year, Raptors would have been in the finals. At this point all we can say is that they will be heard from in the playoffs and have as good a chance as anyone to reach the finals.
Bah. The deal he took with Toronto is going to kill them in the long-run. Three years? He's *probably* worth what they're paing him right now. But next year? Probably not. The year after? No way. As rimmy pointed out, he contributes less than he did last year on the Rockets. Some of you people are blind. It wasn't just that he disliked not having "enough participation," he couldn't handle not being The Man. The author's slant was also ludicrous. Kevin Willis doesn't have a 3 year contract. Glenn Rice was someone we picked up rather than lose Anderson for nothing. Incidentally, picking on a team that's been ruined by injuries is super lame.
kbm, you spoke too didn't you??? Dream is free to leave...no biggie. But the "Hakeem is Disloyal" propaganda campaign by Les and Rudy <b>never happened</b>. Hakeem is being the progagandist. So, the huge respect for him I have dropped a notch. If the hurt player is hurt by that comment, then know many other humans deal with more public hurt than that. Deal with it. Some fans think players or franchises bashing each other is childish. Barkley did it about money. Many fans think he was selfish for leaving 76'rs. Barkley's my hero, and I can accept how people don't respect him for that. I don't buy it, but I can acknowledge it. <b>Dream should publicly apologize to Les like he did Rudy on that December call in show</b> Acknowledge that Dream is being a propagandist with his favorite journalist. If you can't deal with that, rethink how hero's are human, too. They can make mistakes. Dream made a mistake with that comment, imo. He needs to apologize to Les for that claim that Les lied to the media and made Hakeem look disloyal...it never happened. Having your manhood disrespected with a lessor bball role for 2yrs and a one-yr contract offer is one thing, but they did not publicly disrespect your honor. You did just that to Les, Hakeem. Be a man and A.p.o.l.o.g.i.z.e.
I think the Rockets have 'Glen' Rice on the payroll. BTW, I'd rather lose Anderson for nothing. Nothing == Nothing, and my nothing is cheaper.
Wale has the best post in this thread. Be upset that he kicked a little dirt on the Rocks while they are down, but don't act like you were 'behind the scenes' during this process. Its been said time and again, '99% of what you "hear" is just talk and is fundamentally untrue', and '...the truth lies somewhere in the middle'. Good selection for a sig, Achebe. Face it, right now Dream has 'Scoreboard'.
