Not only that, but if the Rockets didn't win those 2 championships, the Jazz or the Suns or BOTH could have potentially NBA Champs. Stockton, Malone, Barkley would have rings....reasons #5712 and #5713 and #5714 that I love Dream. __________________ Aaron Brooks is gonna go off this year...
Great *****n post. I mean great find but I love to hear good comments by ESPN made about Hakeem. What's even better is that four rows can make all the hardcore Hakeem fans say something. "Unbeatable."
Can never forget that moved by the Dream on the Admiral. It was in the west finals of 1995. He was just unstoppable.
As to Hakeem the Dream Olajuwon, I am not worthy even to tie his shoe laces for him; he is over 40 some years old now; but he is still so quick. That kind of speed, that kind of rhythm, that kind of directional change....to tell you the truth, I don't think I can learn much from him, as I just do not have that kind of speed as the foundation. He has taught me alot of moves, but to me, they seemed just like eye-openers that broaden my horizon. - Yao Ming On Dream
Those were the Jerseys. We've gotta do something about this crap. First the Pajamas, now the Chinese take out Jersey? come on...Gimmie some throwback. The Cavs are killing us on awesome jersey count.
I was at this game and remember not even Spurs fans had an answer for Hakeem. They would just sit or stand there with their hands on top of their heads and yell "Can anybody f*****g stop him!?!?"
Perhaps looking back I would take MJ but Dream is one of the very few players ever I would not be worried to have picked above Jordan.
You guys need to see some Ralph Sampson. Dirk Nowitzki have a much better range that he have. Having said that, There is only 1 ball in the court, and the Dream OWNED it. And 1 more thing, they are multiple players eying the title "the next MJ", but there is no one that dare claim to be the next Dream. This in itself shows the dominance of the one they call Hakeem Olajuwon.
Dream is the number 1 center in my book, always. Only downside part of his career is that he can not play a little long time after his 30.
What always baffles me is how he is in the top ten all-time in steals (#8), the only center in the top 30. Probably been mentioned a million times before but one of my favorite things about him. http://www.nba.com/statistics/default_all_time_leaders/AllTimeLeadersSTLQuery.html?topic=4&stat=13
I think Hakeem gets more respect with time. He really wasn't appreciated during his time or even in the late 90's. Perhaps it's like that for a lot of guys, but certainly not Kareem or Jordan. What amazing me most about Hakeem is that he was really only 6'10". I mean, to dominate the way he did in so many aspects of the game...and the fact that he really didn't play basketball until what - the age of 14! Just tremendous on so many levels. And watching Hakeem mature from a young man to the global citizen he became was awesome.
During the height of his career, he kept insisting he could play the 1. Thankfully, the Rockets' coaches never let him start as a 1. (I could be wrong.) But he was like Magic in that he could do things not associated with his position. And I think he was the best ever in that regard. MJ could block, he could pass, he could defend, he could lead, he could score. And his physical skills were unique, as well as his work ethic. . But that also describes Hakeem. They both worked to improve their game and got better after each off-season.
Yes, that is right, but I expected that Dream can play the good NBA games up to around 40. If I am not wrong, both Ewing and Robinson play longer than Dream (age part), but I really do not know. I feel sad that Berkley took over the team from the Dream when I watched TV although I was not here, and not a rockets fan during that time.
Dream played in the NBA till he was 39 Ewing played till he was 40 Robinson played till he was 37 (though he was going to turn 38 later that same year) in their final nba seasons ewing average 6pts, 4 rebs .7 blocks robinson average 8.5 pts 7.9 rebounds 1.7 blocks dream average 7.1 pts 6 rebounds 1.5 blocks robinson had the better averages but was at least two years younger than both Dream and Ewing in his final season so they all played late in their 30s and dream actually probably played the best between the three of them at that age. (factor in declining productivity for Robinson from ages 37 -> 39)
