Hakeem Jitters

To me the issue with Olajuwon isn't money. It's health and role. If he's healthy AND he understands that this isn't the Kick It Into Hakeem And Everyone Space Out In Case He Doesn't Feel Like Shooting It ROckets of yore, I have no problem with giving him almost what he's asking for. But, well, I'm not sure about either of those ifs.

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I agree that Hakeem's health is an issue, but even considering that, I still think that he is the best center we have any realistic chance of getting on the team.

Especially given our needs he is the best for the team. I think our biggest weakness is interior D. I have seen the Rockets blow leads and lose games because when Hakeem wasn't around, or out of the game, the opposing team would just drive to the basket time and time again.

Now that we have a second shot blocker w/Griffen our interior defense can really improve.

If Hakeem was only healthy 55 games next year, I would much rather have excellent interior defense for 55 games, than to get someone who will be healthy but not help our biggest weakness for the full 82 games.

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I want Dream back because I also believe he is our best choice at center-

I also believe Hakeem overestimates his true value at this stage of his career w/ injuries etc.

I think it is most important what 50-60 games he is going to play next year, if he leads us towards the playoffs and then cannot finish- badddd

If he plays intermittantly and then is 100% at play off time- perfect

I have a feeling that Hakeem is looking to move on because of hes fierce pride and Rudy also has enough pride to go with Cato/Collier over having to give in the least to Dream's self overevaluation.

I want the rockets to sign Hakeem for between 6-8 mil for one year only and hope he helps us make the playoffs and then he retires into the sunset or moves on giving us another year to obtain a center



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I don't know if Hakeem overrates his abilities or not. But I do think that his defense is underappreciated, if not underrated.

I think Dream's defense is the most valuable part of the game to the Rockets. It really changes the way the whole team plays when his back there.

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Franchisedream- Couldn't agree more
The old man is still a mean shot blocker in the paint when healthy

When he gets a little pop in his jump he still has the timing to defend the middle

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Please I am begging some of y'all to stopp the Dream bashing. The guy is a legend and still a VERY good player. At 6-7 mill he would still be one of the best players in the league at that price. he is a veteran leader. His is just as good as ever, and in case y'all haven't noticed, points scored shouldn't be a problem next year.

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Houston Rockets...Unbeatable
Akeem Olajuwon

 

I think your reasoning is a little flawed. I smoke cigars, and between my cigar smoking circle, we have a saying.

Smoke your best ones now, 'cause who knows what's in store for later.

In Rockets terms, sign Dream, and play him every day you can play him from the first game of the season. What if you sit him every other game, and then he pulls an ACL in the 20th game? He could have played 10 more games, but you sat him those 10 games in anticipation of the playoffs.

I think Dream's got 1, maybe 2 good seasons left in him. The good thing about big guys is they have a longer shelf life in the NBA than guards, 'cause their shots are traditionally closer, so they can maintain a higher shooting percentage. As long as their bodies can take the beating, it shouldn't be a problem.

You guys need to remember all the praise not only Dream but the Rockets received when Dream was being used to almost his full potential. The fans LOVED watching all those games in the "playoff run," and the Rockets loved playing those games. Everyone was clicking, Francis & Dream were smiling & laughing ... and we were winning. I say we build on that. Go down in the block to Dream, see if they double on him. He has enough experience to know what to do if they double him, and he has the skills to make them pay if they don't. Of course, Dream's not the only star on the team, so that shouldn't be our only play like back in the day, but hey if it ain't broke ...


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Founding Father of the
Refs Suck Club

 

Let me put it this way, the old Hakeem is just as good as the young one, he just couldn't do it night in and night out anymore. He may not jump as high, but his mind is as sharp if not sharper.

Even Shaq has to ache for a day after every game; Dream probably has to endure muscle pain for a week after a 100% effort game. If we pay him what he wants, with respect, he will be willing to endure those pain and show more heart. Then he will be no worse than David Robinson.

If we reduce him to Cato's buddy on the team, I can tell you he is going to be worse than Ewing.

For a young man, it is animal instinct. For an old guy, it is heart and effort. He is not going to work his ass out if he doesn't get enough respect, money wise or emotion wise. I say if he is healthy, he deserves/needs 8 million or more.

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Barkley signed for 9 million and played an amazing 19 games in his final season. He averaged 14 points and 10 boards. Paying Hakeem 7 million for 55 games and 15-11 stats seems only fair.

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Protrolls.com!

"I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea...

 

Actually Dream played in 58 games and average 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. In 1999-2000 he played in 48 games and averaged 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. And you want to throw huge money at him instead of a young center? Loyalty can only go so far before it hurts a franchise. If Houston has to show loyalty and throw huge money at him, shouldn't Dream show loyalty and take LESS money! And if people say it isn't good business for Dream to take less money, then why isn't it good business for Houston to try to build for the future?

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"Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura


[This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited June 29, 2001).]

 

I think the new zone defenses will mean alot less wear and tear on Hakeem over the course of the season. We need to remember that when Hakeem was finally involved in the rockets whole game plan the latter part of the season, this team looked like an unbeatable machine.

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Dream showed he can still dominate on both sides of the court,albeit sometimes in limited minutes.He just changes games so much with his stellar defense,ability to post up and score at will,rebounding and that sweet jumpshot.His fundamentals seem to have only improved with age.You can look at Jabbar,who while he had the skyhook,still was able to play for a long time and not just because of that.Dream has the Dreamshake....The key is whether he can stay healthy and I have a theory about that.I honestly feel Dream became a bit lazy,and this combined with the injuries made him look really bad at times.Dream depends so much on that great athletic ability to execute his amazing moves which require his unique footwork and reps.Also,those guys were not getting him the ball when and where he needed it in the post.I see the relationship between Rudy and him being fine.Dream's had a lot going on in his life with his young wife and all.People IMO are going to be very surprised at what this icon has left in the tank.With the drafting of Griffin and no bigman,I don't think he's going anywhere.
Yes,Dream overflows with pride,but he DOES love that money....Remeber we're entering a time of posturing and negotiations,but when the dust settles,I'd bet he would be back.

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Everybody has a little bit of Watergate in em - Billy Graham

 

Toast- My thinking wasn't trying to rest Dream, what I meant was he IS probably going to miss some games. It would be good if he misses time during the season and be healthy at Playoff time if that's how it works VS
Play up until the final third get sick and leave us hanging ...

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I don't think he was lazy. I think he had a mental hump to get over after that knee surgery. I think he babied it too much, 'cause of the surgery, and that screwed up everything he's ever done on a basketball court. During the playoff push, I think he kinda put that passed him and just started playing, which is when he found his game again. He's still got it, and I hope he's still gonna display it with a Rocket's jersey on.

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Founding Father of the
Refs Suck Club

 

I find this interesting, especially how it intersects with a Webber discussion i was in earlier. How does Hakeem demanding the DiD offense affect team chemistry? And does anyone believe that he will truly accept a supporting role? Will he stop concentrating on scoring and use all his energy where the Rockets really NEED him, rebounding and blocked shots? I love Hakeem. I always said I would endure years of losing with him as an old man because he singlehandedly put the city of Houston, Choke City, on his back and brought us our first world title (not including the 2 AFL titles and the 70s Aeros). However, I don't see him making ANY adjustment in attitude for his declining game. He is no longer a power in the lane (on offense) and no longer high percentage with the Dream Shake to the baseline. If he stepped out and popped more 15-18 footers (like he did in Game 1 against the Lakers two years ago), he could save energy for D and still score more than he has the past two years. Christ, he was a matchup nightmare for Shaq that game, and I haven't seen that gameplan since. Instead he still demands the ball in the post, r****ding the development of everyone else's game. If he gets another great offer, I say let The Man ride off into the sunset.

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I've got a bad feeling about Hakeem's situation:

1. I think Rudy and Hakeem may have more problems than we know about.- There was the Hakeem/Rudy rift during the season about 'you have to use the center in the NBA'
stuff that upset Dream.

2. I don't think either one has gotten over it, it just doesn't seem like Rudy has given any run to keeping Dream here for his entire career. We all think Dream has one more year but I think Rudy has been rather silent on the subject.

3. I think Hakeem right now is all about pride. He is still a good center, he still deserve the ball, he still deserves the money, and he will prove Rudy wrong.

4. The love affair and loyalty for the greatest Rocket of all time has dwindle to a can we afford Dream/ should he go somewhere for the money drama. Anyone who has followed this team and Dream's career would think a fitting finish here at Houston could be worked out

DOES ANYONE SUSPECT THE SAME OR HAVE MORE INFO?

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I agree that a lot of what is going on right now is about Hakeem's pride. I think it's that more than greed that makes him want money, the ball etc. I also think that he might feel like the team wants get rid of him in order let the new guys develop away from his shadow. Even if that isn't the case, I believe Hakeem may believe it's so. With that in mind he doesn't feel that he would be disloyal by signing elsewhere. The team could grow, and he could use what's left of his talent to the full extent.

As far as the rift thing, I think Rudy and Hakeem have a lot of respect for each other. I believe(maybe naively)that it was a misunderstanding. I think Rudy misunderstood what role Hakeem saw for himself on a rebuilding squad. I think Hakeem's comments and that whole playing in Miami thing, is the media blowing something out of porportion.

I think proof of how much respect these guys have is the fact that Hakeem would call the radio station to talk to Rudy. I don't think someone who didn't have respect or hated the other guy would do that.

Maybe some of Hakeem's comments inadvertantly hurt Rudy. I think from his side he sees Hakeem, and how he has stuck by him, and maybe now, Rudy feels betrayed. But I know they had a talk about his role on the team about midway through the season. There might be more talks that they need to have, but I don't think it's huge or not possible to solve.

It sucks that any further talks have to come at the same time as free agent negotiations are going on with the Dream.

Even still I think the best center available to the Rockets is the dream, and I hope the Rockets resign him.

Yes eventually they will need someone else, so hopefully future drafts will work that out.

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