I know this isn't about current Rocket stuff but I needed to know. I was on another message board today and they were talking about Ming..They were saying Ming is no Shaq but more comparable to Olajuwon. Hello? Is it just that I am biased I thought Olajuwon was considered to be equal if not higher in status than Shaq? I needed to ask my boys at Clutchcity..what are your opinions on this? Am I disillusioned? I know it's just a message board but maybe I think I need some positive speak!
It will be close by the time Shaq is done. Dream is more talented or was more talented than shaq no question. Shaq is more dominant however b/c of his size. I say i would rather have dream. Most rocket fans will agree. Laker fans will take their guy and we will take our guy thats just being a fan. You can make a good arguement for either one. its a toss up
I think they were referring to style of play. If so, they have a valid point. Personally, I think Olajuwon was a better overall player than Shaq but he did not use his brawn to excel. He was a very crafty player that was extremely skillful. Yao carries some similar traits as Olajuwon.
I gotta think the Shaq right now vs. Olajuwon of 93-95..Olajuwon wins..I don't even care about the size difference! To say "Ming is no Shaq" and then say "Ming is more like Olajuwon" is an insult to me..thinking Olajuwon is less than Shaq?
There is no way the Shaq of right now could be better than Hakeem in his prime. Hakeem was a dominant offensive force and even more so on defense. Hakeem would take Shaq to school and Shaq would have a much more difficult time trying to score on Hakeem than he has on all these scrubs he goes up against these days. I mean seriously, there really isn't one good center now days other than Shaq. Back in 94, there was Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Shaq and Zo. Just a bit more competition wouldnt you say. Shaq is so dominant now because of this fact.
You guys have got to be kidding, Shaq has already won as many Finals as Hakeem has been in. I love Olajuwon, my favorite athlete any sport all time, but by the time its said and done, Shaq will be in the Chamberlain, Jabbar, class. I'm sorry but Olajuwon is probably in the next tier. As far as your point about the competition, the players you mentioned never really gave us problems, and you are right Hakeem did beat those guys, but the Rockets will always have one asterik next to their titles, Jordan was retired. Unfortunately, Shaq has no asterik next to his.
Good lord, How many titles did Chamberlain win?? Shaq has more titles but he also has Kobe Bryant, who might be the real reason for the titles with his clutch play. The chamipionship thing really doesnt really hold up. Hakeem won his titles and pretty much led a much less talented team. Definitely no Kobe Bryant. He had Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell and Otis Thorpe on the first team. Not exactly Kobe, Fisher, Fox, Horry, etc. Hakeem was by far a better rebounder than Shaq. No question a much much better defender. And it is arguable that they are pretty much even on offense.
Jordan was there for one of the championships..unfortunately his team didn't make it past Orlando of which ..the Rockets swept the Magic and Shaq!
I agree, How can there be an asterisk next to the Rockets titles. You could maybe put one next to the Spurs titles, but hell, they still won it didnt they.
This is my other argument, I've seen other centers give Olajuwon a hard time. I've never seen Shaq have a hard time scoring on someone. If Shaq is posting up Olajuwon and got within two feet of the basket, its an automatic dunk, the same can't be said about Olajuwon posting up Shaq. Now, the argument about who's the better all around player definitly goes to Olajuwon, Olajuwon had the skills of a small forward, but mano a mano, its Shaq all the way.
Shaq had all the power back in the day. At least 95% of it. He didnt exactly throw Hakeem around back in 95 did he?
Jordan came back the second half of that season. Look, I think the Rockets had a great shot to beat those Bulls teams, the Bulls never faced a great center, unless you count Ewing. But the fact is the Bulls gave the Rockets 6 chances to make it to the Finals, and the Rockets never got there, that falls on the Rockets, but a little blames goes to MJ's premature retirement. I'm not saying the Rockets championships aren't legit, its just they never got to prove it against the greatest team of their era.
Shaq is a much better player now, and he has also added about 40 pounds of muscle since then. If you want to be fair, you compare that Shaq, who I think was only 21, to a 21 year old Olajuwon.
I'll take Hakeem anyday. Shaq has no competition now. Hakeem has to face players that commands the double team like Moses Malone, Kareem, Ewing, and Robinson , and he was still dominate. Who does Shaq face now? Vlade, Bradley, Candi man, Kurt Thomas, Wallace, Brad Miller, ........ well.. you see my point.
