In this week's <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/04/13/taylor_mailbag/">mailbag</a>, Phil Taylor answers a question regarding Karl Malone's place among the all-time greats. Taylor then lists his all-time top 10, and leaves Hakeem off the list. I was completely shocked and so I wrote this letter to his mailbag, hoping it will be answered next week: I agree with most of your list of the top 10 players ever, but I was shocked that you left Hakeem Olajuwon off of the list. How can you ignore 26000 points, 13000 rebounds, 3000 assists, 2000 steals, 3700 blocks (all-time leader), 2 championships, 2 finals MVPs, 1 regular season MVP, 2 Defensive Player of the Year Awards, 12 All-NBA (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) team selections, 13 seasons averaging 20+ points, 12 seasons averaging 10+ rebounds, and countless clutch plays in leading the Houston Rockets for many years? Please answer this question in your next mailbag because I (like many other basketball fans, no doubt) am astounded that these credentials don't place Olajuwon near the top of your list of the greatest NBA players. I am making a call to all Rockets fans to <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/email/nbamailbag/">give Phil Taylor a piece of your mind</a> about his obvious oversight. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Steve_Francis_rules (edited April 15, 2001).]
U know something and your thread reminds me of this WHY DO FOLX SAY HOUSTONIANS ARE FAIRWEATHER FANS but D*MN NEAR EVERY SPORT SITES COMPLAINS ABOUT US COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF RESPECT ALL THE TIME I mean they make an unflattering remark about a Rocket or slight the Rockets . . . The Fans are All over them . . . E-mailing them to death . . . that is fairweather? We may not have the money to make every game but I'd be curious as to the Ratings over Rockets games in this city. Rocket River ------------------
ALSO U notice further down he talks about Webber and says NY and Houston have to fall through before Webber would consider indiana? So many folx have us #2 on the list Rocket River ------------------
RocketRiver said: As far as the FSN ratings go, the Rockets TV ratings have been awful of late. Games over the past few weeks have averaged in the low-middle 1's. For comparison sake, everyone is yelling about the XFL on NBC at ratings between 1.7 and 2.0 ------------------
Good post SF Rules. All those stats are awesome when they are all put together. Dream has to be in the top 10. ------------------
It is hard to knock out people like Oscar Robertson, but Dream is definitely better than Malone because of his clutch play. If you look at the playoffs stats compared to regular season ones, Hakeem, MJ and Miller are the only true clutch players in the last decade. Malone is a great background man for MJ posters. ------------------
phil taylor probably was a former employee of Sports Ilustrated. Sometime, i feel sorry for Hakeem for playing in a small market like Houston. Anyways, the Dream will get his do in due tume. ------------------
Utah isn't small market? I'd say Malone generally gets less respect than he deserves as well. I really doubt that there is any disrespect meant to Hakeem here. Malone is still playing very well, and Hakeem has obviously declined. At present, that's going to make people lean towards Malone. When both are retired, that won't be a factor. For me, the question is that of longevity versus brilliance. Malone was better longer - he's 2nd all time in scoring. Pretty frickin' impressive. But he never won a championship... and you can't really claim it's from lack of talent on his team. With Stockton and Hornacek, he's had teams with more support than the 94 Rockets. I'd pick Hakeem. But it's not an obvious choice. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
The only thing Malone has done in his career is master the art of manipulating the refs. 13,000 of his points are from his free throws, earned by flopping and elbowing every thing in sight. Granted, he has a great fade away jumper. That's about it. Fadeaways and free throws. There's brilliance for you. Hakeem should be on that list above several of those players. In the top 5 at least. Larry Bird? Please. He was just a pure shooter with hustle. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan. Protrolls.com!
Phil Taylor is the biggest moron in all of the media. He has no credibility and is a biased jordan fan. He could suck a fat d. ------------------
Biased Jordan fan? Who isn't, at least a little, either way? If you're fair at all, you recognize that Jordan was the best player ever. Hakeem had two years in which he *may* have been better than anyone else... ever. But over the length of their careers, Jordan is first. Just because someone celebrates MJ doesn't make him biased. Heck, MJ won even me over, and I have Rocket's blinders. ZRB: I don't think you've watched Malone play much, then. He's the best shooting PF who can also post up that's ever played the game. Lots of PF's can do one or the other, but Malone could do both very well. He's also an excellent passer, and good (but not great) on the defensive end. I *hate* Utah... but why diminish the Rocket's accomplishments in beating them twice en route to the championship by undervaluing them? If you dislike Malone... and I do... at least be fair. He WAS a horrible cheat... he's a redneck... he's a Republican (ha ha)... and he plays for the Jazz. That's enough for me. But he was a terrific player. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
Believe me, I have watched a LOT of Malone over the years. He has/had a good post up game, and a brilliant fadeaway. Other than that, his game has been all about cheating. Dirty play, cheating, and flops for all. He is scum. That kind of game means he should be bumped off the list. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan. Protrolls.com!
