Here you are again, living and very much DYING by the metrics. Learn to watch basketball, it'll make your takes infinitely less idiotic/ridiculous.
I watched him play in his prime. Everything you say could be true, and it could also still be true that his block shot numbers in this era would go down and not up, because of the way defenses are stretched. Hakeem's lateral quickness for his position at the perimeter was incredible (we all know about championship-saving block against Starks), but the vast majority of his shot-blocking came from help defense in the paint where he didn't have to worry about the person he's guarding shooting three point shots. Not saying he wouldn't still be one of if not the best defense player in the league today. But is it reasonable to think his shot blocking numbers would jump up significantly? No, it's not.
Let me start this by saying I don't necessarily think Jokic is better than Hakeem, but anyone who just writes this off without a conversation is just delusional. Jokic defies everything we are use to seeing in the NBA. The eye test would tell you Hakeem is better. For sure if they played one on one Hakeem would wipe the floor with him, but that is why it is soo hard to rate someone like Jokic. He has the highest BBIQ of any center to ever play the game, and he for sure is the best passing big man of all time. So the way he can orchestrate and run an offense can't be really be measured. He might be the greatest 5 v 5 center of all time. Also his defense is vastly underrated. And he has 4 of the top 20 PER seasons in NBA history. Its not a fluke that Jamal Murray looks like garbage when he plays for Canada without Jokic. Sure if you had him just match up with any of the other top centers it doesn't look fair, but when you bring a team into the conversation its a totally different question. I like this question because I believe Hakeem and Jokic might be the 2 best centers to ever play and they do it soo differently. The only two centers in history of the league to lead their teams to a ring without another all star on the team. If these guys had the supporting cast of any of the other top Centers they would be in GOAT conversations and win 6 plus rings.
I agree that Jokic would not be able to stop Shaq. But I also don't think Shaq could stop Jokic at the other end. He would likely attack from outside to lure Shaq out and leave the rim unprotected for cutters. I think a lot of people think of these comparisons by imagining the two guys playing one on one. Jokic would not be very good one on one against those great centers in the past. But basketball is a 5 on 5 game. Jokic's greatness is how he can utilize everything on the team to beat you. He is one of the most diversified offensive players I've seen.
Shaq would have Jokic fouled out and completely flustered…Jokic is not beating any version of the championship Lakers led by prime Shaq, and Shaq would dominate that matchup
This is exactly the point. Guys like Jokic are more team player stars..but in player vs player convos we usually go with who dominates whom. In a potential 1 on 1 you take away Joker's one big strength that is passing to the next guy.
Why are you talking about the championship Lakers? Which team in history could beat them? Has Jokic ever had Shaq's supporting cast? Would Jokic win championships with Kobe and the same level of teammates? Anyway, by saying Shaq would have Jokic fouled out shows that you are still thinking about one on one. Why would Jokic's team let that happen without using some other defensive schemes?
Imagine shaq at the 3 pt line lol jokic assisting easy dimes inside or hitting jumpers or blowing past shaq if shaq guards him one on one.
Oh, so you came up with those opinions without being fooled by "advanced metrics" and somehow put that ridiculous take together out of thin air? I would've stuck with the metrics excuse if I was you...
Y'all act like Shaq fouled out Vlade Divac all game. I think Jokic has a better chance of guarding Shaq than Hakeem. Jokic is massive. Sure cuz Shaq had Kobe on the lakers. Give Jokic anyone even remotely close to Kobe and it'll be a battle. Jokic will just pull Shaq out of the paint and the team will just constantly back cut get layups. That's the greatness of a Jokic. Plus when the game is close they can just Havk a Shaq,
last I checked it takes 6 fouls to foul out. Doesn't seem like 5 would be enough. Why is that a funny statement, just cuz he does it different doesn't mean it doesn't work. He literally won with nothing. How many rings would he have with someone like Kobe?
Do u know what an average is? News flash, he fouled out of 3 of the games and had 5 fouls in 3 others so there goes that argument man, u gotta be trolling…if I have to explain why Jokic doing a better job defending Shaq than Hakeem is hilarious, then we can just end this here
