Hakeem vs. Shaq

[st0rmb11]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

Players have no incentive to develop any offensive game in high school since their size alone is such an advantage and then in their one year of college they're generally playing for an inferior coach who lets them do whatever they want.

This.

[The15thunter]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

It boggles my mind that the 2 most unstoppable moves in the history of the game, the Skyhook and Dream Shake haven't been used by anyone other than Jabbar and Olajuwon. If someone could master both of them with a righty/lefty Skyhook then it's over they'd be unstoppable.

i can kinda answer that. swooping sky hooks are incredibly tough shots to make, let alone master. most people's "hook shots" are more like floaters, just out of a post position. kareem is one of maybe 3 guys to ever truly perform a swooping hook shot, which is why you'll probably never see it again. in fact, i've seen more guards (steve nash, kobe bryant) use a genuine sky hook than big men.

as for the dream shake...well, there's a reason it's named that. there's very few players with the agility, footwork, coordination and believability to get it done. it's not just the moves, it's the fact that you have to be good enough at scoring from those positions that the defender has to respect every aspect of the move. if you drive, then spin, he has to fear your turnaround. if you then come back, he has to fear your fadeaway. it's just so multi-layered, it's actually kind of ridiculous. also, the reason you don't see that in big men since then is kinda simple. how often are you going to find a 7 footer with swingman quickness and agility, 18-20 foot range, an above average handle, patience and the space to pull off that move?

that's why there's only one dream.

edit: this let's you know how special dude was, even in the early years. no one has ever said a bad word about houston for picking hakeem over jordan. the best basketball player of all time, and no one can fault him not being picked over hakeem.

[capp34]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

Im taking Hakeem over Shaq everytime because he can score in more ways than Shaq, better defender, and you could go to him in the last minutes of the game without worrying about free throws. So I say he would have won 1 more title than Shaq no way Lakers lose to pistons with him at center.

[Rocky]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

I love Hakeem...but they didn't change the rules to slow him down. Gotta go with Shaq.

[st0rmb11]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

I love Hakeem...but they didn't change the rules to slow him down. Gotta go with Shaq.

I honestly don't remember that. What rule was that?

[Rocky]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/04/12/rule_changes_ap/

The rule changes weren't completely because of Shaq but they were pretty significant in altering his game.

[KG]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

It boggles my mind that the 2 most unstoppable moves in the history of the game, the Skyhook and Dream Shake haven't been used by anyone other than Jabbar and Olajuwon. If someone could master both of them with a righty/lefty Skyhook then it's over they'd be unstoppable.

Like someone else said, that move is incredibly difficult to master. Not only that but when Kareem was in college I believe dunking was outlawed in the game so he was forced to develop it.

Im taking Hakeem over Shaq everytime because he can score in more ways than Shaq, better defender, and you could go to him in the last minutes of the game without worrying about free throws. So I say he would have won 1 more title than Shaq no way Lakers lose to pistons with him at center.

Hakeem's feel for the game was easily the best of any modern center but Shaq was such a physical force that it would be hard for me not to take him. Like ehh said, Hakeem schooled DR & Ewing but so did Shaq. Shaq was 30,11, and 2 blocks a game that year at 22 yrs old.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

I think it's not even a valid comparison.

When you hear people talking about the all time greats, and comparing younger players to them...It doesn't even matter who was better. Shaq and Hakeem are both legends, but in their own way I consider none better than the other. It's not a fun way at looking at things, but I believe if there is not a way to prove anything...Nobody could ultimately salvage a reasonable and sensible conclusion on who is/was "better"

[st0rmb11]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...le_changes_ap/

The rule changes weren't completely because of Shaq but they were pretty significant in altering his game.

I don't see how the defensive 3 seconds had any impact on Shaq's offense.
and as Phil Jackson said in the article, it "should have helped his defense."

and none of Shaq's numbers dropped significantly because of the rule changes.

you want to talk about a center with rule changes; Wilt Chamberlain got the damn lane widened. lol

[TRASHMAN2K]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

I love Hakeem...but they didn't change the rules to slow him down. Gotta go with Shaq.

You are so right they broke the rules when he got the ball on the block.......illegle defense almost every time but never called.

[madjax]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

Not to take anything away from Shaq he is still one of the best, but he got away with lots of offensive fouls. If the refs called the rules like they were supposed to be it would have been a different story. The refs are calling offensive fouls on Shaq now that would have been and 1`s when he was with the lakers and the heat.

Hakeem is the better player in my opinion, he could score in a lot of different ways and he was also very reliable on defense unlike Shaq

[LionsFanNJ]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

The only thing holding me back from saying Shaw would win some titles on Houston is that supporting cast around Hakeem, though the team was built around Hakeem in the post so throwing Shaq in there, especially if we're talking LA's 3 peat years and his utter dominance on the league, may not change much. A guy in Chicago named Jordan also may have something to say about that happening too.


Kobe and Hakeem? 8 titles. In a row. with undefeated seasons.


Ok maybe not the last part but i'm serious about the rest.

[Po Pimp]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

People love to say Hakeem abused Shaq...like Shaq didn't average 29 ppg in the finals that year. Also, Shaq was like 22 at the time...still very early in his career when Hakeem was in his prime, and Shaq held his own.

If we're taking both in their prime, as much as I like Hakeem, I gotta choose Shaq...he was just too big and dominant. Hakeem was arguably the most skilled big man ever, but Shaq was Shaq. Did yall know Shaq has the NBA record for most blocks in a game with 15? Young Shaq was a beast!

[Taur3asi3]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

Elmore Smith has the blocks in a game record with 17.

[raidersbball20]

Re: Hakeem vs. Shaq

I think Hakeem was a better athlete and had better competition, also he was better defensively so I'd say he was better in his prime than shaq