Hakeem is maybe the third best center ever. After Wilt and Kareem, he has to compete with Shaq, Moses, and Russell for the #3 spot.
Love your work. Hakeem was a one man wrecking crew in the 80's. Kemp may own the alley-oops but Hakeem's put back dunks were just vicious.
Having a beautiful finesse game and being physically dominant are not mutually exclusive, fans just tend to think of them that way. I don't think that people in this thread necessarily missed out on anything just because they laud Dream's incredible footwork. It just means they found that aspect of Dream's game more impressive than his physicality, and I am one of them. "You must always give the Dream his change!"
Umm... no. I'd take the '94-'95 Rockets any day. I think the matchups would be in our favor. Although it was a different team, I also think that the '93-'94 team would give them a good run... rebounding would be a pretty big advantage for the Rockets with Dream+OT vs. Shaq+random 3rd rate PF. And Vernon would give Kobe trouble like he did against MJ.
HAKEEM WAS UNDERATED PLAYER ALRIGHT. BUT FOR ME HAKEEM IS ALWAYS BEEN THE COMPLETE ALL AROUND PLAYER WITH SUCH FINESSE AND GRACEFUL MOVED AGAINST ALL THESE BIG MEN LIKE SHAQ, EWING, ROBINSON AND MUTOMBO. DREAM WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST OVERALL CENTER OF ALL TIME!
i dont know if this has been posted before, but you have to keep reminding yourself as you watch this that he was a true center. shaq was a larger physical specimen, but i would take dream in a heartbeat against shaq. and yes, this will cause a massive hakeem man-crush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1sS_wiIfL4&feature=PlayList&p=7DA5D14D5BACBD1D&index=37
when comparing the two centers stats you have to realize that shaq will probably play 2-4 more years and that will drop his rebounding about 1.5 and his scoring about 4 points also. he is declining and has a good team around him to defer to and will be saving himself for the playoffs.
Shaq may have been a greater offensive force, but Dream was a better offensive player. If you know what i mean. The greater career statement could be debated as well. Shaq obviously has more rings and is closing in on his fourth, All-NBA first team appearances galore, ditto for all star appearances, and his MVP award. Hakeems acheivements, like his play is much more diverse than Shaqs. He also has the rings, All-NBA first team appearances and all star appearances. And the MVP award. Yet he also has 5 All-Defensive first team appearances and is a two time defensive player of the year, in a day where there was actual competition for the award. And you simply cannot ignore the level of competition each center faced throughout their career. Hakeem is just a better player, his is more talented on both sides of the floor, and his work ethic and will to win were higher.
I'd take Hakeem over anybody anyday...I'd take him over Shaq, Wilt, Abdul-Jabbar, Mikan, Russell, anybody!
Check out Quadruple-doubles, his 5 X 5 games, and almost a quintuple-double..this dude was gross. www.nbahoopsonline.com I would have paid anything to see a heatly T-Mac & Olajuwon play. If Hakeem had a Robin like kobe was to shaq, like stockon with malone, man houston would have been in the WCF or better every year. He would have met jordan plently of time.
So you saying if you were a coach and you had a hakeem or oneal in their prime you would take shaq? Well i couldnt because in the 4th quarter the hack-a-shack would have lost so many games while hakeem still playing The defensive he brought was Olajuwon had more moves
david robinson? <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hW4uXlRGAF0"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hW4uXlRGAF0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
I like this AKEEM guy too. How you like me now? <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zMrcBdXU9Nw"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zMrcBdXU9Nw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Olajuwon, no doubt, was a superior defensive player. Like I said, I just think Shaq was too dominant an offensive force to take Hakeem ahead of him. Olajuwon had more moves and was more polished. He had a more versatile offensive repertoire, obviously. But Shaq, in his prime, was just ridiculous. In 79 games he played in 2000, the Lakers went 66-13. He averaged 29.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.0 bpg, a 57.8 TS%, and only 2.8 turnovers a game. He had 9 20-20 games, including a 62 point, 23 rebound game. It's close, but I give Shaq the edge.
Stats only tell so much, also Shaq played in a time where the teams were weaker and the talent at the center position was also weak, who was the second best center in the league at the time? Vlade? Old Robinson? And who did Shaq have to go through to get those titles, as compared to as who Olajuwon had to go thru. And one of the biggest flaws in Shaqs game is you cant depend on him in the 4th, you could depend on Olajuwon, and that is what I like about Yao too. Shaq also had another superstar in Kobe, something Olajuwon did not have the luxury of. (Drexler was not at the superstar level in the second title run, he was past his prime, a good player but not a superstar by anymeans). Shaq is a very good player, but I dont see him as being better than Olajuwon. Also Horry, who played with all three, Shaq, Duncan, and Olajuwon, has said the Hakeem was the best out of the three.
Dude that was awesome, but the awesomest part was easily the two mullet kids dancing around the 2:10 mark.
ok, im the official indiana jones here, look at this ancient thing i found http://www.thepin-up.com/akeem.mp3
