why the Lakers this year remind me of the 1996-97 rockets

On the Penny and Shaq vs. Payton and Kemp deal, I think it is a simple as Seattle was an incredibly deep team while Orlando was basically Penny and Shaq. Hersey Hawkins and Detlef Shrempf are two fantastic complementary players to have. Detlef was a top 8 SF in the league at that time. Hawkins was probably a top 12 SG at the time. Outside of the big two for each team, Seattle had a vastly superior supporting cast.

Orlando did get swept. You also got to remember, Chicago was leading the series 3-0 against Seattle. It took a clutch 4th quarter from Seattle to pull away from Chicago in game 4 to prevent the sweep. But still, the series was never in doubt.

Kemp was a better player in 1996 than 1997. But still I think Gary Payton stepping up his game in 1997 pretty much balances out Kemp slight decline in play. But when you include that Kemp played better in the 1997 post season than 1996 post season, I think it shows that the Rockets beat a formidable 1997 Seattle team (that was just as good as the 96 squad), that they wouldn't have beaten without Barkley.

On Hakeem, we are going to have to agree to disagree. I think he still went to the jumphook quite often that season and for seasons to follow. But his jump hook wasn't of the quality as it was during the 1993-1995 era. His jumphook was only effective against most opponents as oppose to all opponents when he was in his prime. He did score 26.9 ppg in 1996 including a 52 point game against Denver where I remember distinctly him going to the jump hook often. But against the bigger centers (Ostertag, Earvan Johnson, Mutumbo) and elite centers (Shaq, Mourning), the hook just wasn't as effective, because he just didn't have the explosiveness on it like he did in 1993. The year he went buckwild against Seattle going to that power, running hook toward to middle all day long. In 1996, his athleticism was dropping precipitously, whether due to injury, age, etc.

I do hate it when people said Seattle had his number. Hakeem ate up Seattle in all the playoff series during the late 80's, early 90's. It was only when his skills started declining when their harassing D gave him trouble.

But I do agree, his jump hook played a big part in making him the best player on the planet as oppose to his Dream Shake, which most people seem to think was hi "Go-To" move. And of course, it wasn't.