Hakeem would *definitely* average 25 to 27 ppg in today's NBA

I was told to start my own thread on the subject.

Again, in competition with other big men in the league, Hakeem would be a superior offensive player. There is no (center or pf) player in the league right now who can compare to Hakeem Olajuwon. Offensively, and very much not defensively. His shooting range is comparable to Amar'e, skill set is far beyond Gasol's (yet also being more athletic, powerful, and driven), while also being just athletically gifted as Kevin Garnett.

Even with fronting and zone defenses, Akeem would still manage to score 25 ppg.

Dream would toast every single center in the league right now, Okur, Gasol, Bynum, Dampier, or anyone else. If Mutombo and Mourning couldn't stop him, none of these other players would stand chance against him, unless they resort to their usual flopping and getting phantom calls from refs (which would probably happen, especially if he didn't play on any of these overrated darling teams).

Fronting would only work against with a team that had great defense, like the 1994 Knicks, even at that it didn't really work, since they really didn't slow him down.

 

I understand.


But, my reasoning for that is look at this way.


We take who the media regards at the best centers and big men, more new age big men, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, Andrew Bynum, Marcus Camby, Mehmet Okur, Ben Wallace, and Chris Kaman.

I left Shaq and Yao for a reason.

Most of the players I named above, from what I have seen over the last 5 years, basically can't guard Shaq one-on-one or even slow him down. Remember, this is over the hill Shaq, not mid 90s version or the Lakers version of him.

A good number of them can't even slow Yao Ming down , even Dwight Howard, he has only outplayed Yao, like one time in his career. Especially, if officiating is fair and not thrown off by phantom calls and flopping.

In a sense, Olajuwon is within these players' generation, he only retired in 02, I believe. We could reference Dream circa 96-99, at that point where he was definitely in decline, but still a very good center by today's standard. Those players, like Duncan, Bynum, and Camby couldn't remotely slow him down or dominating, if Mutombo and Mourning couldn't stop this guy.

Olajuwon would put up 40 ppg against Okur, Gasol, and Dampier.


I promise you, if Hakeem on any halfway decent team in the NBA, maybe team hovering around .500 to possibly the 5th seeded team in either conference. THat team would instantly jump to contender status. I think Hakeem was so good that he would make that team good enough to beat or the Lakers or Cavs in series.

 

I do understand that fronting would limit him, but remember Seattle had a top notch defense. I know in the 96-97, they held him 12.24 ppg (47.1 FG%) and they probably did as good as anyone for the job to slow down Hakeem. I don't think they could slow him down as people would like to believe. It was also them slowing down the other players, too.

Unlike Supersonics or Knicks, the teams that front Yao are usually very poor on defense (except the Spurs) and sporadically play good defense. Also, remember, Dream is more able to outmaneuver some of these players and even take better care of the ball when gets it.

Again, just imagine, if Hakeem, circa 91-94 landed on this years' Trailblazers, Bobcats, or even Nets teams. Or even this what, if he played PF next to Yao Ming. The Rockets would be unstoppable.

 

Well actually, this is from the Yao Ming thread about how he could average 20-10 for the rest of season.

Well, basically, it was said that Olajuwon couldn't average the same kind of the numbers in today's leagues, because of certain rules, like zone defenses being allowed (illegal defense, previously), 3 in the key rules, flopping, and refs officiating a less physical game than in the past.

Other posters, including myself basically, said Olajuwon would still be the same dominating center he was in 80s and 90s, but even better because of weaker competition.

 

He would in the playoffs.

 

I actually think so, too. I could see Yao, during the 80s or 90s putting up numbers which slightly better than Mourning's and Parrish's.

Around 21-22 ppg and 9 to 11 rebs.

I could even see some all-star calibur centers struggling against Yao for his size and skills alone. Remember, he is a much more physical presence in the paint than say Smits or even Daughterty.

I think very few centers, not named Shaquille O'Neal could outmuscle him.