You are correct. Nobody has the right to tell anybody when they "should" retire. Olajuwon is welcome to play as long as he can fool somebody into giving him the money (two seasons after this one at last count). As far as "who makes predictions on these kinds of things," General Managers do. This adds more fuel to the supposition that the organization was correct in their assesment of this particular player's "worth."
I don't think that people are happy to see it happen. I just think that those who are blinded by Hakeem's status as "the best Rocket of all time" have failed to see things from the organization's standpoint. Can you imagine the heat the Rockets would have taken as a result of this happening with him in a Rockets uniform after paying him more money than he was worth just to stay in Houston? The probability of this happening was simply too great for the team to take a chance on. It turns out that they were right. I think that this thread is here to reassure everyone that Rudy and them know what they are doing, and not one to celebrate the ailment of the best Rocket of all time.
Yeah, those 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 18 million dollar contract, and six week thigh injuries are really showing us a thing or two.
A single meaningless All star game versus a three year stagnant contract (Glen Rice notwithstanding) is a bad comparison. As far as people making a prediction on something like this...well, it was not too far of a reach. Just look at the year to year stats gr8-1 posted. My point is, it's easy to say "I told you so" after pointing out the obvious.
Give me a break Freak. The guy is going on 40, and he has been injury prone going on <b>7</b> years what were supposed to think? Other then one year the guy has been injured, and even that one year he wasn't injured he got injured in the playoffs. When he was playing championship ball the guy was prone to injury. But if we use your logic, you practically predicted a few months ago that the Rockets would never win a championship. If we use your logic then you should be happy the Rockets are stinking it up because it means your prediction of them not winning a championship is correct. Are you happy they aren't going to win a championship any time soon? Do you see how ridiculous that is? It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see Dream was going to get injured. I predicted Shaq would get injured, you can see these things coming 500 miles away.
If the Raptors make it to the east finals or better this year will it have been a bad deal to sign Dream? Especially if he gives them an edge against Mutumbo?
That will be hard to say unless it happens and he's is actually a reason for their success. I have a hard time believing that he could stop Mutumbo at this point in his career. Olawakandi abused him just a couple of weeks ago. Yes, Hakeem is the greatest Rocket of all time and I am VERY grateful for him bringing this city a championship. I'm also not blinded by those banners and I know a washed up player when I see one. He's not the first player to play poorly his final years and he won't be the last. os
From the Toronto Star Toronto Raptors centre Hakeem Olajuwon will miss the next four-to-six weeks with strained right thigh, the NBA club announced Tuesday. Olajuwon suffered the injury in the second quarter of Toronto’s 106-97 home win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. He left the game after scoring eight points. “I was going to play through it,” Olajuwon said. “I just decided to tell the trainer that it was swelling. I was told how long it would take after the MRI, and I was surprised.” The Raptors said the injury will not require surgery. Olajuwon will begin an intensive rehabilitation program once the swelling subsides. Olajuwon has appeared in 36 games this season for Toronto, averaging 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.75 blocks. He missed nine contests from Dec. 19 to Jan. 6 with an infected toe.
Even though Dream had alot of good games towards the end of his career in Houston, alot of centers abused him in the last 3 or 4 years. Ike Austin, Divac, Seikaly, and I think even Derek Strong.
Someone help, I'm experiencing deja vu!!! Well, I wonder if Toronto wish they had Kelvin Cato! . Thank goodness we didn't sign Dream. What a waste!
Oh really. How about the rest of the article: Olajuwon has played 36 games this season, averaging 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.75 blocks. The 17-year veteran missed nine games from Dec. 19 to Jan. 6 with an infected toe. The Raptors went 6-3 in his absence. Keon Clark, who played well during Olajuwon's last stint on the injured list, will replace Olajuwon in the starting lineup. Clark is averaging 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.75 blocks. Clark has averaged 12.3 points in his last five games, including a season-high 20 in Sunday's victory over Orlando. Doesn't look like much of a loss for Toronto. And FWIW, Hakeem is logging 1.6 minutes more per game and ESPN has Clark's rebounds at 7.9 per.
Due to migraines, it has been a 50/50 proposition that our young franchise player might play. Rudy never knows if he will play. Is that funny? To gleefully run around saying "I told you so" is pretty lame. Willis had a good run and everyone said he's better than Hakeem. Now its Cato. Well, lets see if Cato can continue this play.
The Raptors got Hakeem for the playoffs, not to be a regular season cog. If he gives them 20 minutes or so in the playoffs in the centerless East that will be fine for them. Hakeem IMO would not have worked out for us because we need a main cog for the regular season and for future seasons. We did the right thing for us IMO. Whether Toronto did the right thing for them will be determined in April or May I guess, I hope Hakeem gets some meaningful minutes then and does well with them.
This just in from the Toronto Star: Olajuwon has "miraculous" comeback After first being diagnosed with a thigh injury that would keep him out for 4-6 weeks, Hakeem Olajuwon, Raptors center, had an incredible turn of events. "I was very disappointed that I was going to miss that many weeks, " Olajuwon said. "I went back to my house and realized that my thigh was not hurting as much. I then tested and realized that I could run without any problem." Olajuwon immediately returned to the Toronto doctors to let them know of this discovery. The doctors agreed and gave the big man a "clean bill of health". "All I can say is that it was a miracle, " the Toronto doctor said. Olajuwon will be expected back in the Raptors line-up immediately.
Anyone else think this is in the wrong Forum? Dream is old - but he is still the Dream with 2 rings...
Do you "wrong forum" posters do anything besides search to find subjects that might be a wee bit off topic? This thread belongs here...it relates to the Rockets in many, many ways. os
huh?? What does Francis' headaches have to do with Hakeem who has missed a substantial amount of games over the past 5-7 years for a variety of reason. That pattern was there for all to see and a prediction of him getting hurt or injured again this season was a given. No glee, just a fact. I'll say it again...I wish he would have retired a Rocket after last season, like he alluded to before the season. Cato is playing like I think we all hoped he would. My hope is that he'll continue even AFTER the trade deadline. os
