So far this season Hakeem is averaging 8 ppg and 7.6 rpg in about 25mpg. Willis is averaging 10.6 ppg and 10.8 rpg in about 24 minutes. I think the Rockets are better off without Hakeem, and here is why. As long as Dream was here, Francis would never feel that the team was completely HIS, in addition they would always TRY to get Hakeem involved, because when Hakeem got the ball early he played a much higher energy game, if he felt he was not getting his touches he would mope on the court. Willis plays within the flow and understands the pick and roll a lot better then Hakeem. Also, frankly, Willis hustles a LOT more then Hakeem at this stage in their careers. So, even though it pains me to say this, I am glad that Hakeem is gone, it is time to move on to the next generation of team, Francis, Mobley, and Lang.....errr...Griffin. DaDakota
I think its pretty early and even. If you want to compare, compare those against Cato since he is the starting center. Its a good situation for both teams, but like I said before, without the help of and inside game, Francis and Mobley can only take this team so far. Take away Willis and we would probably be winless or close to it. Collier for all his fans was and is not the answer at all. He just doesn't have big man instincts as far as rebs and def. I like what Kevin means to the team and as the season, more importantly this upcoming road trip, he will really show his value to us.
Looks like you answered your own question DaDakota. I agree 100%. Willis is enregized physical which is alot more than Hakeem did in his last couple of years as a Rocket (never mind the fact that he had 9 blocks tonight). To me Hakeem looked lethargic and soft in his last 2 seasons. He didnt slam like he used to, rebound with authority, not to mention not fitting into our evolving game plans. It makes me wonder what we could have gotten via trade for Hakeem after the 99 season when he was averaging about 19-10-2 a game. hmmmmmmmm Ive always enjoyed Willis as a Rocket. To me he was the ideal Rocket teamate: A hustler who didnt make excuses, and performed his job to near perfection.
I always felt it would be a huge error to give in to Hakeem's contract demands for a deal similar to what he signed with Toronto. When the Kevin Willis deal went down, I was happy and expected a solid contribution but nothing near averaging a double double and the excellent fit into the offense he has been. Its obvious to me that Willis is a much better fit than Hakeem would have been. During this stint with the Rockets, Kevin Willis has actually been a much better fit than the last time around. The first time around, Willis was forced to create his own offense and had to score w/o a whole lot of assistance. This time around, 90% of his scores come in the flow of the offense either in transition or dishes from a penetrating guard. I didnt think Willis could cut and move w/o the ball the way he has in the first five games, but this has been a major fit with the guards. At the end of the season, there may be talk of a Willis extension b/c its obvious he has more game in the tank, but I dont think there will be anything near the outrageous 3 yrs 17 mil Hakeem got.
At this stage, Willis is moving better with the team than Dream could have. By movement I mean going up and down the floor and spacing out better in plays....for this fact alone (despite the numbers advantage for Willis) I'd say we are better off with Willis.
Never thought I'd live to see the day when the Rockets and their fans are better off with Kevin Willis than Olajuwon. This is a sad day. Retire already, Dream- don't be a Ewing.
I love Dream, but he hasn't had the fire in his belly that enabled him to almost single-handedly take us to 2 championships. Its almost like once he'd done that, he was done, resting on his laurels. Perhaps it had to do with getting married. But, I was shocked last year when he decided he wanted to showcase himself to get a trade, and then he started playing great. He hadn't shown that in years, but all he had to do was turn on a switch. I wish he'd have been able to do that while staying here, but he never did. This wasn't the Rockets fault. Willis fits in better because of his attitude, and the resulting performance. He can be part of a team. Dream just put everyone on his back and took us to the championship, and he physically can't do that anymore, and I don't know if he understands that. He was a warrior, and I admired him for that. Willis never had that ability, so doesn't demand everything to go THROUGH him. That's why we're better off now with Willis.
Ramadan is coming up so Willis will put more distance between him and the Dreams stats. Looks like another season with the Dream on IR.
This isn't a knock on Hakeem, but I always thought that Hakeem had questionable fundamentals. He was never really very good at playing "conventional" basketball. Really, he was only good at defense and his own "invented" offense. Now that the center position we need is a more conventional style, Willis is doing a better job.
Hakeem in his heyday was either quicker than the guy he faced, more cordinated then the guys he faced, or stronger than the guy he faced, usually all three. Once those things start to fade, they fade rapidly, and there isn't a whole lot left to rely on if your gamne is predicated on it. Willis, while neither unathletic nor uncoordinated, had a game more based on strength, attitude and positioning. He can do many of the things he always has done and its easier for him to stick within the framework of what the team needs of him. So yes, the Rockets are better with Willis this year than they would be with Hakeem IMO.
Seems to me that with both, and their ages, the fact that Willis keeps himself in shape year round and Hakeem quits for the off season to play himself into shape is a major factor in how they can play over the course of the year.
