Lakers win again!!! Shaq is still not better than Hakeem though

First off, Robinson was hurt this year. Second, Shaq's team is 8-5 in the playoffs against the Spurs in their last 3 meetings, that's with the Robinson injury. Third, Robinson and Duncan don't usually double Shaq, so he really doesn't have to deal with both of them. Fourth, Hakeem had to deal with the MVP Robinson, as well as Rodman, one of the best frontcourt defenders to ever play.

As I mentioned earlier, Hakeem had to dominate every night for his team to have a chance. Shaq doesn't have that problem.

Not in '96 you wouldn't, because those 3 Rockets were all either playing hurt, or just playing bad. The Rockets could not BUY a 3-pointer in that series, with the exception of Game 2. Also, I'm not a Bryant fan, but he IS first team All-NBA, while Drexler didn't make an All-NBA team by '96.

 

everyone in this thread just needs to go watch double clutch!

 

Hey, I didn't watch any of the 4 games and I'm wondering if this is "realistic" It's from an article about the "final series",

<b>Help Wanted: Need Large Men Who Can Foul</b>
Perhaps New Jersey's big men could've used some assistance guarding Shaq. While O'Neal dominated the paint, hauling down 49 rebounds and committing just seven fouls in 166 minutes, the Nets big man trio of MacCulloch, Collins and Williams played a combined 195 minutes, corralling 39 rebounds while committing 47 fouls.

7 fouls is pretty odd sounding. Were they just not aggresive enough (Todd, Aaron, and Jason)?

 

When Shaq becomes the all time shot blocking leader ill consider him the best centre ever.

right now he is just a fat oaf that has a scoring range of 10 feet

 

Yeah, and lets see his fat ass get in the top ten in steals too.

 

Let's see Hakeem threepeat.

 

Let's see Shaq win a title with Maxwell instead of Kobe.

Who the hell scores for that team in the 4th Q given that Shaq sucks in the clutch (3.0 ppg, 19% FG)?

 

Give me Hakeem in his prime, on the Lakers squad today, facing these modern ass raggedy group of NBA centers. There is no telling how many titles he would win. Hell, just let Hakeem and Shaq trade squads for their careers and I'll be satisfied.

Forget Hakeems dominance in numbers. Besides points, Dream is better than Shaq in every department (and it's not like anyone could freaking hold Dream). Just disregard that he is the ALL-TIME leader in blocks and top 10 in steals (as a damn center).

Forget Dream's more refined offensive game. Shaq supporters say a "real
big man" has no need shooting jumpers or facing up. Some coaches might agree with that. However, name me one coach who dosen't want their big men to lead the league in rebounds or blocked shots, especially if their "big man" is the biggest in the league. Shaq has done neither, but Hakeem has.

Forget that Hakeem played with crap for the majority of his career. Besides Shaq's rookie year, when has he not been surrounded by talent? Yet he is only up 3 titles to 2?

Forget that Hakeem was at his best when you could argue that the competition at his position was at it's best. Robinson and Mutombo...both in his division. Baby Shaq and baby Mourning. Ewing and Smits. Shaq has who.....Vlade Divac?? Olawakandi??

Forget that the teams Dream faced during his title runs were better than the teams the Fakers are beating now. LA has trouble with Bibby and Webber....think they can handle KJ and Barkley or Stockton & Malone (who did dust them on the reg). What about Pat and his tough Knicks squad, who took the Bulls Game 7's. What about the old Orlando squad, that actually beat the Bulls? What about SA with Robinson and Rodman? Notice every player I mentioned is going to the Hall.

Forget that Hakeem DUSTED Shaq in the Finals. For those who want to use close stats to say Shaq wasn't dusted, I suggest you go watch some 95 Finals tapes and get a grip. When the game is a blowout it's easy to pick up some meaningless stats. For those who want to use the excuse that Shaq was too young for Dream, then explain how Dream blitzed through Kareem in his second year and held his own against the Celtics (Parish, McHale, Walton & Bird) in the 86 Finals? Shaq admits that Hakeem dominated him. When has Dream admitted that ANYONE dominated him individually in a playoff series (when has it ever happened)?

Shaq lovers, forget everything that I just mentioned. Just answer one question for me. If Shaq is so much better, then why have his teams (which have ALWAYS been more talented) been swept more times than Hakeems in the playoffs. Dream was swept twice, once by Magic's Lakers and once by the Sonics when half the starting five was hurt. Shaq has been swept at least 5 times, probably more.

 

The Lakers were always the favorites to win in their title runs. The Rockets never managed to get a shred of respect outside of Houston. I'll always remember Riley saying that he spent some sleepless nights during that summer wondering how his team ever lost the Finals.

His name is Hakeem, Riles...

 

bump...Now everyone read icehouse's post again. Its a thing of beauty.

 

ICEHOUSE I agree with everything you say.....and I practically have been saying the similiar things on this board, and other boards. Thank you for summing it all up in such a beautiful fashion.

Hakeem is the man. PERIOD.

 

Who's Hakkeem?

I know who shaq is. He played with the 4 peat Lakers this year.

GO LAKERS!!!!!

 

Give Hakeem the best player in the NBA to play the two guard, and I think he has a chance of doing it.