i dont think hakeem's turnovers indicated that he wasnt a good passer. i didnt see all his games then, but i thought(from what i saw) most of his turnovers happened when he was making a move to the basket and doubled team/harrassed while dribbling. and like tacoma park legend, i also think shaq passes from a stand still position. its like he tries to make a move, thinks better of it, looks around for teammates. and his teammates know this and they position themselves beautifully to get his passes. shaq dribbles too but only when there's a break and he's going full speed and opposing centers take cover rather than reach for ball. i remember hakeem jumping to fake and in mid air bends his upper body down and wraps a pass around the defender's waist. and also when he's facing the basket and makes a move, 2nd defender comes over and hakeem fumbles the ball the other way trying to protect it. the ball rolls slowly between his shoes, a bit too late to pick up and either that 2nd defender or someone else picks it up from his behind. i think i'm off topic. ------------------
Hakeem averaged 3.6 assists per game in 93-94, and 3.5 assists per game in 94-95. In 99-00, Shaq averaged 3.8 assists per game, and in 00-01, 3.7 assists per game. Hakeem has a career average of 2.5, compared to 2.8 for Shaq, but these numbers are fairly comparable if you consider Hakeem has not had as much playing time the past three years, being on the down side of his career. ------------------
imo, assists should not be awarded for 3 pointers from DIT. That would move Dream down more than Shaq, unless you really believe DaD that all the Laker's are doing is DIT. Plus, nearly ALL plays went through Dream. Kobe and Shaq share Triangle set entries. Dream could not run Shaq's passing game role, because Dream needs to dreamshake and fadeaway, while Shaq can stand there and look at his teammates, or slowly back it in. Better passing does not mean I have a tighter spin than you or something, or bend over backwards to wrap around a triple team to find Kenny on the arc; it can simply mean your passes find easier buckets. Dream rarely ever could find someone right under the bucket, partly because of Rudy Ball, partly because Dream shook too much to see anyone. That is no dis on Dream or Rudy Ball as we were more successful clearing out for Dream. Shaq's game can play with a clogged lane (which happens with the triangle). Dream's can't. That difference gives the Laker's easier buckets from Shaq's passing. Assist numbers show nothing. And arguing that Shaq has easier passes to make cause he can stand there and wait for slashers, makes my point. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited June 15, 2001).]
HP, Are you watching these games at all? The offense is running through Shaq, the Rockets DIT offense was a version of the triangle, remember Horry cutting down the lane? My point, which seems to be lost, is that the reason the DIT quit working was the players, not the system. It is working fine for LA. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
Phil Jackson is not a coach - he's a cheerleader and team psychologist. He will beg, borrow, and steal when his only coaching method isn't paying off. You have to admit, though. Shaq has benefitted greatly from Hakeem's tutoring. He's not the oaf he was in 95. It would be silly not to run the old Houston offense when you have so many good three-point shooters and such a dominant big man. TRG ------------------ <A HREF="http://www.TheRocketGuy.com " TARGET=_blank>http://www.TheRocketGuy.com </A> "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon
DaDakota, You know how you always tell me that system knowledge means ****. You don't need to know it to know what is going on. Well, when you start naming systems, you become open for system talk. The Rockets with Rudy have never run the Triangle. I have no idea where that logic comes from. The Triangle gets its name from having sets that begin from any of 3 different entry points. Key, Post, Wing. It relies heavily on backpicks (nowadays), driving defenders into screens (as opposed to the pnr's), UCLA cuts, and entry passers moving after the pass. It has a flex component to run another entry on the weak side. The Post is most definitely an Entry point for a Triangle Set. Just because the Bulls didn't have a post player and didn't use that set much, does not mean all Post plays are DIT. In short, the Triangle was a system of movement invented before the days of screens being allowed within 3'. It often overloads the strong side, which is about as opposite as you can get from Rudy Ball. Now, explain to me how you remember Kenny Smith do anything other than passing to Dream and waiting for a pass back. DaDakota, when you see a player at the arc weakside get a backpick from Kobe when Shaq has the ball, that is a from a Triangle Set, trying to get Kobe an easy jumper if the D follows the cutter. When you see Kobe slide into the key strongside WITH Shaq on the strongside, that is a Triangle Set, trying to allow Shaq to seal his man to the outside as Kobe dribbles to a different passing angle for him, and Kobe's man cannot leave him to double the seal...Kobe usually gets his 18' jumper on this play, with Shaq getting good rebounding position. When you see a Laker standing next to Shaq in the low post before "breaking", that is a Triangle Set.
PHil is ripping Rudy in the ESPN vote of best coach since Red... Rudy is pulling in 4% of vote. Phi is getting like 60%...Give T some votes! ------------------ humble, but hungry.
