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"Well the NBA is in great hands but if I had to pick the single greatest player on the planet, I take Kobe Bryant without hesitation." - Michael Jordan, 2006 -
Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Howard is better than Divac was. That is obvious. They are on different "tiers".
I said the gap between those two probably wasnt as big as what people think, but I probably made a mistake because the gap is pretty large between those two imo. What i MEANT to say is that Divac was a pretty underrated all around team player imo and might have given Howard some problems.Last edited by ZB9; 06-10-2009, 05:52 AM.Comment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
no doubt man, and it's probably because of one series against Hakeem...but Robinson isnt the only great player to have problems with Hakeem.
Howard hasnt had to go up against a center the caliber of either Hakeem or Robinson in the playoffsLast edited by ZB9; 06-10-2009, 05:43 AM.Comment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
i would have liked to see yao play back then. i think he would fare better than dhoward. yao may not be as strong as some of those guys but his strength is still capable. yao plays shaq pretty well and he only has problems with smaller quicker guys. and main problem he has is fronting defense which im sure they dont do back then =DComment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Yao would be fine, because he is skilled, and has a shooting touch. I wonder how he'd hold up health wise though.
He isnt exactly the pillar of durability as it is, and the paint wasnt a place for the faint of heart in the early and mid 90's.Comment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Agree totally.
Here's a run-down of those centers vs 09 Howard:
Atlanta: Andrew Lang
Lang length would bother Howard. But in the end, Howard would use brute strength to get his way.
Boston: Eric Montross
Slow and nonathletic. Howard would beat him in on raw ability.
Charlotte: Alonzo Mourning
For anyone who thinks Howard would own Mourning in his prime doesn't know much about 90's basketball...or maybe just doesn't know basketball period.
Chicago: Will Perdue
Actually, Longley was the starter by the end of that season. See Eric Montross if you want to know what I think he'll do against Perdue.
Cleveland: Hot Rod Williams
Cagey veteran who would give Howard problems. Wouldn't dominate Howard but would have an advantage because of his savy.
Dallas: Lorenzo Williams
The only thing he possibly keep up with Howard in is rebounding. Anything else is Howard's to own.
Denver: Dikembe Mutombo
As someone mentioned in an earlier post, a 40 year old Mutombo did a decent job against Howard. I would believe that he would be able to contain Howard in his prime.
Detroit: Mark West
West to me was never that good in his prime. He was no better at 34. Advantage: Howard
Golden State: Cliff Rozier/Rony Seikaly
Neither was that skilled nor were either physically capable to keep up with Howard.
Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon
For anyone who thinks Howard could complete with Olajuwon...PLEASE STOP IT NOW! You put him in a 7-game series against Olajuwon and he would literally end Howard's career due to embarrassment.
Indiana: Rik Smits
Smits would give him problems due to the fact that he's 7'4" and he has some range on his jumpshiot.
LA Clippers: Loy Vaught (didn't start a true C)
Don't let the stats fool you. He may have had some good numbers but just remember Vaught played for the Clippers. He might have the same numbers against Howard but his team would have lost by 20.
LA Lakers: Vlade Divac
Nobody gives Divac credit but he would have Howard in foul trouble with all the flopping he did. Divac was a master at it.
Miami: Kevin Willis
Probably one of the few guys Howard wouldn't have muscled. Willis was as strong, maybe stronger, than Howard.
Milwaukee: Vin Baker (didn't start a true C)
Here is where Howard would face a a guy who is probably comparable to him. Except Howard was stronger and Baker had a better jumpshot.
Minnesota: Sean Rooks
Wouldn't have too hard of a time against Rooks.
New Jersey: PJ Brown
Brown would frustrate Howard defensively because Brown is a 'position' defender where Brown is real good at denying certain spots on the floor for Howard to get to.
New York: Patrick Ewing
Ewing is bigger and more skilled than Howard.
Orlando: Shaq O'Neal
Although far from his prime, Shaq would just use his brute strength to push over Howard. And Howard wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Philadelphia: Shawn Bradley
Bradley with his size would give Howard fits. However, Bradley wouldn't get anything on offense either.
Phoenix: AC Green
Green is another crafty veteran Howard would have problems with.
Portland: Chris Dudley
Dudley was a horrible one-on-one defender but a good help defender. But with Howard's limited range, he would still make Dudley effective with his help defense.
Sacramento: Olden Polynice
Polynice was the typical 'average' center back then. Not good enough to be an all-star center and not bad enough to be in Will Perdue's class. However, Howard should be able to handle Polynice because there was nothing special Polynice did.
San Antonio: David Robinson
As much as people hate Robinson, he was longer, faster, quicker and more skilled than Howard. Howard would have needed a career game to keep up with Robinson.
Seattle: Sam Perkins
Another savvy veteran who would have given Howard problems. Plus, he was a lefty who could shoot threes. Even more trouble for Howard.
Utah: James Donaldson
Donaldson at that time should have retired years ago. If he was to face Howard one-on-one Howard would have made him retire after the game.
Washington: Gheorge Muresan
Another taller guy who would give Howard fits. But Howard would have one advantage and that's in the transition game.I have more respect for a man who let's me know where he stands, even if he's wrong. Than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil. - Malcolm XComment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Longley didn't start a single regular season game in '94-'95, Perdue started all 78 games he played.
"You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Today's Howard plopped into 1995 would probably have went to college, and had far better back to the basket skills given the better competition at the position he'd get to see and talk to night in and night out, and far greater peer pressure he'd feel as a post player trying to make a name for himself.
Also, it was alot easier to score in the post when defenses could sag so far off, and provide help as quickly...Howard would be alot more effective without defenses collapsing on him the nanosecond he receives the ball. It only takes an instant to power dribble and/or gather for a shot. Being able to fully spread a defense in an inside out attack gave those centers that extra moment to work with. It gets swept under the rug, but there is a reason true back to the basket centers are almost totally extinct. Thanks Shaq!
These comparisons are never fair.Hank's Custom Collectibles 3D printer/painter extraordinaireComment
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I have more respect for a man who let's me know where he stands, even if he's wrong. Than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil. - Malcolm XComment
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Not sure what Howard could do against all others, but I'm pretty sure Olajuwon would get Howard to foul-out every game. Howard would get 1 block and 6 fouls thanks to Olajuwon's AMAZING fakes.My Specs:
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Re: If Dwight Howard circa '09 was plopped into 1995...
Why does everyone think Howard would develop better in college?
He pretty much only has to worry about the NBA. A college coach wouldn't give a damn about teaching him any post moves. College coaches only care about winning the NCAAComment
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