why rudy plays Pig miller in the final 2 minutes, i love pig but hakeem is da man, he could have pulled the game away, instead, he went with steve, (i really love him too) but i really preffer go with an expierenced guy who ha done this many times before, than stevie what do y'all think?
Its not Rudy pulling Hakeem out of the game, its Hakeem pulling himself out. Couldnt you see how winded the guy was? He couldnt even make it downcourt. BTW, Pig Miller wasnt in the game in the final 2 minutes.
Didn't you see Hakeem suckin' on that oxygen tank every time he came off the floor? He doesn't have nearly the stamina he used to, and he probably really only has about 20 minutes of playing time per game in him - at best. Those minutes oughtta be (in my mind)played starting and finishing (1st & 4th quarters). He can still be productive, but let's be realistic...
treeman, Are you saying Hakeem can't work himself back into shape for the rest of the season? ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
I don't know, DREAMer, what if he is? Do you think he can work himself back into shape? That, my friend, is the question.
Denver isn't the greatest place to show how much you've come back from an injury in terms of endurance... But, to answer your question, "Yes, I believe Hakeem can work himself into very good physical condition." I also believe that within the next couple of weeks Olajuwon will be capable of playing 30 min a game. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Dreamer: "can't" is a bad word... I'd say that he's not what he used to be, but his play (particularly his defense) is still valuable to the Rox. But lets face it, we're probably through seeing him play for 48 minutes, score 35 points, and block and rebound another team into quiet oblivion... Hakeem as we have known him is probably gone. But lets not look down on this new Hakeem we have; his defense can still be especially valued. He doesn't have the stamina of the old Hakeem, but if one plays him at the right times...
I never thought it would come to this, but our new offense practically demands it: Hakeem is now a role-player. A good night for him (which he hasn't had yet) would now have him scoring 10-15 pts, grabbing 8-12 rebs, stealing 1-2, blocking 1-3, and dishing a couple assists. That would be a very respectable night for anyone... and still, it's just a shadow of the former Hakeem. But we all play the hand we're dealt. That's as good as Hakeem will be this season (and I TRULY hope he proves me wrong), and we oughtta (Rudy oughtta) make the most of it and be careful to play him in the decisive minutes in the game (the start and finish).
I agree with DREAMer That Denver is not a great place to show your indurance. Hakeem as always throughout his career even during his prime as always been out of breath in Denver. ------------------ ~John~ The Bull Is Back!!
One of the Denver announcers was saying last night that he talked to Hakeem before the game, and Hakeem said he tried to lift weights for a couple of minutes sometime before tipoff. Hakeem had to stop because he was sucking air after just a few reps.
Hakeem's really going to be down during Ramadan (Arab holy time). Doesn't that start up again pretty soon?
But DREAMer, man seriously, I don't think it would be a good idea to play Hakeem 30 mpg, even if he is capable of it. I think we should take the same approach that Utah takes with John Stockton. Start Hakeem, and take him out midway through the 1st quarter. Then, rest him until things seem to get out of hand. In other words, in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, only play him when you need him and his shotblocking presence. Then, enter him back into the lineup about midway through the 4th quarter. This will give us a fresher Olajuwon. About 15 minutes of 95%, productive basketball is more useful to us rather than 25-30 minutes of 45% [which he comes down to.] Realistically, he just can't keep up at this age. We have him for a whole 'nother year, so why wear him down? It's not like we are in the middle of a championship run and we need him to play an important role. Just take it easy with the Dream so that he'll be fresh for next year.
thacabbage, When the 2000 - 2001 season starts, he will be 9 months older than he is today. How can he be fresher than he is today? He has played only about 1/4 of this season. Father Time has won. If he can't even play 1/2 a game on a regular basis, then he has slipped to role player status. Karl Malone has taken Father Time to overtime, but Karl will eventually lose that game also. Mango
Mango: True, he won't be fresher next year than he is this year, but let me ask you this. Which Hakeem do you think would be fresher, next year's Hakeem after playing 30 minutes a game this year, or next year's Hakeem after playing only 15 minutes a game this year? It's not a comparison of this year to next year, its next year and next year.
thacabbage: I may be wrong but this seems to be your perspective: He has about 1000 miles left in him, so don't use them up this season. ----------------------------------------------------------------- My viewpoint is that he won't ever get the motor going fast enough to use up the 1000 miles that you think he has left. That he has entered a definitely lower level plateau and will function the same way as you see him now for the next season and a half. Nothing wrong with disagreeing on this matter. Mango
Ramadan was over before Hakeem even got back. The problem is conditioning - and maybe even the desire to get that done. Hakeem is, IMO, the greatest big man to play the game, but I just don't see the fire in him anymore. We lost the fire that drives this team on the floor in Philadelphia.
