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[NBA.com] Olajuwon makes Bryants' dreams come true

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by durvasa, Nov 6, 2009.

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  1. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/fran_blinebury/11/05/kobe.olajuwon/index.html

    [rquoter]
    ...

    Then on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center, Olajuwon sat in the front row at midcourt to watch Bryant often dazzle with the post lessons learned, pouring in 41 points as the Lakers beat the Rockets, 103-102.

    "It was an honor, an absolute honor," Bryant said. "I just tried to make him proud."

    They had spent two hours as professor and pupil, master and apprentice, running through drills, working on spin dribbles and breaking down individual moves with the precision of NASA engineers. It was a virtual fantasy camp for a one-time Dream and a player who's own imagination is still without limits.

    "If you go to the cream of the crop, the best of the best, they're all very detail oriented," Bryant said. "They know exactly what works and how it works. Maybe it's the middle of the pack guys who play off instincts. Hakeem, Michael, those guys, they know what they're doing."

    "I'm a student of the game, so I've been watching Hakeem for a long time and I pick things up pretty quickly. He was very specific, very patient, showing me things over and over, answering a million questions."

    "When you see videos of Hakeem's career it looks easy. But you miss the subtleties and the intricacies of the moves. That's why it was imperative for me to be able to talk to him, work with him. It's the details and the execution that make all the difference."

    Olajuwon also worked in September with 22-year-old Hasheem Thabeet, the No. 2 overall pick of the Memphis Grizzlies. In addition to Okafor and a session with Yao Ming, most of Olajuwon's tutoring has been with young big men who are quickly tied up into pretzel knots as they try to duplicate his moves that still look as smooth as water going downstream.

    ...
    [/rquoter]
     
    #1 durvasa, Nov 6, 2009
  2. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    Also:

    http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball...Sports_Local_S_lakers_feature_06.47697c1.html

    [rquoter]
    ...

    Obligations to USA Basketball kept Bryant occupied the past few summers, but he had the free time this September to not only work with Olajuwon but also practice what he learned on his own a couple hours a day afterward.

    "Kobe always comes back with a goal," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He doesn't go through summer playing golf or going fishing. He's got something in his mind he's going to work on with his game during the offseason."

    What impressed Olajuwon most about Bryant was the fluidity with which the Lakers star duplicated his moves. Whereas some young big men twisted themselves into human pretzels trying to imitate Olajuwon, Bryant's agility and athleticism allowed him to have success within hours.

    Bryant showcased some of what he learned in front of Olajuwon on Wednesday night, shaking off the effects of a lingering cold to score 41 points on 15-for-30 shooting in an overtime victory against the Rockets. Olajuwon was especially pleased to see Bryant take a perimeter defensive ace such as Battier into the post and comfortably turn and score around him with either shoulder, one of the skills they worked on together.

    As the Lakers showered and dressed after the game, Olajuwon ducked into their locker room for a brief powwow with his star pupil. He emerged beaming, absolutely thrilled that a player of Bryant's stature would embrace his advice.

    "He wanted to work on his post moves, and he wanted me to work with him," Olajuwon said. "That's a great compliment because I know I added value to his game. Now to see him using it, that's a great thing for me."

    Olajuwon paused and then added one last parting thought.

    "I just hate that it was against the Rockets," he said, smiling.
    [/rquoter]
     
    #2 durvasa, Nov 6, 2009
  3. RedRedemption

    RedRedemption Member

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    I wouldn't go as far to say that Olajuwon was a traitor... but... this makes me sad. :(
     
    #3 RedRedemption, Nov 6, 2009
  4. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    He derives satisfaction from teaching today's stars. I don't blame him.
     
    #4 durvasa, Nov 6, 2009
  5. RV6

    RV6 Member

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    Kobe kind of scares me now :(
     
    #5 RV6, Nov 6, 2009
  6. TesseracT

    TesseracT Member

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    You can't hate on Hakeem for this. Plus he even said..

    "I just hate that it was against the Rockets," he said, smiling.
     
    #6 TesseracT, Nov 6, 2009
  7. Nice Rollin

    Nice Rollin Member

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    He didnt before?

    and hate hakeem? this actually makes me like kobe a little more. he couldve went to kareem, which im sure he already has...
     
    #7 Nice Rollin, Nov 6, 2009
  8. ElPigto

    ElPigto Member
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    I could never hate on Hakeem. As far as I am concerned, his last season was with the Rockets and he never helped Kobe train.

    :)
     
    #8 ElPigto, Nov 6, 2009
  9. Blake

    Blake Member

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    Anyone criticizing Hakeem should be instantly turned into a pillar of salt
     
    #9 Blake, Nov 6, 2009
  10. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

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    If packers fans can hate farve when the packers told him to get out, then anything is possible.
     
    #10 Air Langhi, Nov 6, 2009
  11. RV6

    RV6 Member

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    Not like now, before you knew Kobe would play well most of the time, but he'd still have game where he shoot too many difficult shots to try and carry the team or even if he shot in moderation you'd be able to get him to take difficult shots, but a perfected fadeaway is no joke, if he's got it down like he seems, he's going to be better than ever, which is what scary. I think most woud have though this was his peak already.

    He's already had two 41 point games in 5 games and 30 + in 4 of the 5. And i'm guessing his post up will onlyget better with time, at least this year. I know he's been a prolific scorer before, but he had to go through a lot of hits and knockdowns and wear and tear before, now he doesn't.
     
    #11 RV6, Nov 6, 2009
  12. Thefabman

    Thefabman Member

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    watching kobe wed. made me miss olajuwon :\ kobe will be unstoppable now, as if he already wasnt
     
    #12 Thefabman, Nov 6, 2009
  13. cujo

    cujo Member

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    As much as I hate Kobe ( because he plays for Lakers and Phil jackson), he is an awesome player. He still considers himself a student of the game learning from a great like Hakeem. Like Jordan, he is finding ways to adapt his game to counteract his diminishing physical abilities.
     
    #13 cujo, Nov 6, 2009
  14. dero72

    dero72 Member

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    Dont be sad.
    Be upset that this wasn't done years ago by McGrady or Francis on OUR team in years past.
    This is what separates the legends from the good players: they're never satisfied. Championship ring? Not satisfied. MVP's? Not satisfied. Kobe JUST WON a ring...and is working out to be better...as if there was some one or two things like stopped him last year.

    A LAKER paying (Im assuming) Dream for what amounts to one-on-one lessons. One team won it all last year...and the best guy on THAT team felt like he could learn more and be better.

    I hate the Lakers...and I hate Kobe when he's in that purple and gold. But I ain't mad at him.

    He's something else...
     
    #14 dero72, Nov 6, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  15. rocketsmetalspd

    rocketsmetalspd Member

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    Dream will always be the best. His moves are legendary and no one can come close to them.
     
    #15 rocketsmetalspd, Nov 6, 2009
  16. RV6

    RV6 Member

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    i can't see Dream taking payment for it, mainly because it would cause others to also pursue him as a paid coach/trainer basically, and i dont think he wants that kind of attention. Maybe he'd took a donation to his charity or soemthing like that if Bryant insisted.
     
    #16 RV6, Nov 6, 2009
  17. rockets934life

    rockets934life Member

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    This just makes me prouder that we had the honor to see a true legend in his prime where a Rocket jersey...Kobe is a smart man and understood that Lebron was about to pass him if not already so he wanted to get that edge back, what better way then develope a post game lolol freaking incredible.
     
    #17 rockets934life, Nov 6, 2009
  18. dero72

    dero72 Member

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    Yep..you're probably right. Maybe a donation to his mosque or some other program/entity.

    But see, that's what really sets the greats apart. Kobe: I see that joker working. He's like...'Im coming into YOUR house...and YOUR most revered legend will be there...and SURE, part of him is there to support Les and the ROX....but PART of him is there to see me. To watch me work...because as amazing as I am (and you all KNOW this)...I am still (ahem) 'humble' enough to learn at the feet of a master. And I will do this in YOUR house. Part of YOUR hero's heart is with ME.'

    Genius. Thats high profile....the greats can pull off those kind of mind-screws REGULARLY in their careers.

    You gotta kinda admire the pure hustle of it all.
     
    #18 dero72, Nov 6, 2009
  19. ParaSolid

    ParaSolid Member

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    What I liked about Kobe's game against us (or hated depending on the perspective) was his patience on the offensive end. Sometimes when you're so much better than your peers, you try to do too much, and you end up making things difficult for yourself just because you know that you're capable of so many moves. But Kobe resisted that and went into the post again and again because he knew Battier could not stop him down there. Great patience and we all saw the result.
     
    #19 ParaSolid, Nov 6, 2009
  20. BigM

    BigM Member

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    After Kobe pulled a dreamshake in the second half and The Rockets' were bringing the ball up, you can see Dream sitting back down. I'm implying that move must have gotten him off his seat.
     
    #20 BigM, Nov 6, 2009
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