How would a prime Olajuwon fare against a prime Duncan?

[baseline bum]

did it not help?

Yeah, it helped in that game. Otherwise, Kerr was horrible as the backup PG in 99 and had to be replaced by Terry Porter, and then he was a non-factor as a third-string PG in 03. He's easily the most overrated player in franchise history.

[baseline bum]

But if we want to talk about one game, Kenny Smith just mops the floor with Kerr.

[Shastafarian]

Again the biggest myth in sports..."Hakeem was only great for two seasons". Hakeem #s knock Duncan's in the dirt. At 33 Hakeem was averaging 27 ppg, 11 rpg, and 3bpg (BTW a statistical year that Duncan has never had at ANY age)...the same age Duncan played at last year when everybody said he was starting to show his age.

Oh no you didn't

Oh

You really went "per" when comparing two all time great vet players Oh . Like Duncan has great depth behing him that's costing him minutes. we're not talking about a proven player vs a backup here dumbass.

You think Duncan wants his minutes limited? Ever wonder why Hakeem fell off a ing cliff (played 47-50-44 games at 35, 36, and 37 yrs)? He played so many minutes that his body got destroyed. I went to per 36 to compare their numbers dip . One more thing Duncan will have to live with I guess.

[Tmac&Luther]

Rocket fan is so full of when he talks about Duncan playing in a weaker era. After Kareem's retirement, most of the talent was in the Eastern Conference, and Houston never played Chicago anyways.

Umm, pull up Olajuwon's record against Jordan's bulls and them procede to shut the up...it's a losing argument if you want to save time

Also Barkley, Malone, and Robinson were better big men in one conference than Duncan has ever faced...and that's leaving out Shaq and Ewing in the East.

[Shastafarian]

Pop's system. Where great scorers go to die. Says alot that Duncan could put his 23-25 a game with other players never really going wild and still have the success he's had. Sadly, Duncan's going to be one of those players bitten by revisionist history. I could see the arguments 20 years from now. "How is he a top player of all time when he's never averaged over 25 points a game!"

Give Duncan the triangle and he averages 25+ for his career.

Doesn't really matter. I was using those numbers to show that this stuff about Hakeem never playing with good players is horse .

[Shastafarian]

Umm, pull up Olajuwon's record against Jordan's bulls and them procede to shut the up...it's a losing argument if you want to save time

Also Barkly, Malone, and Robinson were better big men in one conference than Duncan has ever faced...and that's leaving out Shaq and Ewing in the East.

Hakeem guarded Malone and Barkley?

[djohn2oo8]

Rocket fan is so full of when he talks about Duncan playing in a weaker era. After Kareem's retirement, most of the talent was in the Eastern Conference, and Houston never played Chicago anyways.

Jordan said himself that Houston would have been the toughest matchup for them

[Many PackYao]

Olajuwon>Duncan in skillset/one on one
Better career due to better supporting casts Duncan>Olajuwon

Parker/Ginobili/>Smith/Maxwell/ Drexler (Rocket years only) or any former rocket guard during Olajuwon era in that case.

Olajuwon never had a backup center or PF the caliber of David Robinson.

[Shastafarian]

I'm goin to sleep. I'll leave rocketfan with this

4 > 2 gots

[Booharv]

I agree with Hakeem and others who say that he really peaked before the 1992-93 season and became a more unselfish player. His assist numbers back this up, but this is from Bill Simmons' book and includes quotes from Lakers' after the 1986 WCF. Keep in mind Kareem was like 38 and not in his prime but note the glowing terms used here by several HOFers:

"Houston won Games 2, 3 and 4 by 10, 8, and 10, with Hakeem scoring 75 in Games 3 and 4. Pat Riley later lamented, “We tried everything. We put four bodies on him. We helped from different angles. He’s just a great player.”"
Here's a long section from that book from after the 1986 season:

"Magic decided, “In terms of raw athletic ability, Akeem is the best I’ve ever seen.” Mitch Kupchak summed it up best: “I can compare him to, maybe, Alvin Robertson in terms of being able to do everything. That tells you something, since Robertson is a guard. I’ve never seen anyone that strong, that quick, that relentless and who also happens to be seven feet tall.”
Thank you, Mitch! You just did my job for me. Hakeem finished his coming-out party by averaging a 25–12–3 (blocks) in the ’86 Finals and holding his own against the greatest slew of big men in NBA history. During a must-win Game 5 where tag-team partner Ralph Sampson was ejected for starting a brawl, an inspired Hakeem exploded for 32 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Put it this way: If I did my “Who has the highest trade value?” column that summer, Hakeem would have finished first even after Jordan’s 63-point game in Boston."

Simmons makes one of his greatest "what ifs" in NBA history what if the 1986 Rockets hadn't fallen apart due to drug use and Sampson's injuries. He argues they were the Lakers kryptonite and the Sampson turnaround shot made the series seem like a Cinderella story when they really beat the Lakers brains out.

I love Duncan but I would not like see him go up against a prime Hakeem. The 1995 WCF traumatized me for years. Maybe he'd prove me wrong but I don't think anyone stops Hakeem.

[Shastafarian]

Olajuwon never had a backup center or PF the caliber of David Robinson.

I know I said I'm going to sleep but this made me laugh

[midnightpulp]

I agree with Hakeem and others who say that he really peaked before the 1992-93 season and became a more unselfish player. His assist numbers back this up, but this is from Bill Simmons' book and includes quotes from Lakers' after the 1986 WCF. Keep in mind Kareem was like 38 and not in his prime but note the glowing terms used here by several HOFers:

"Houston won Games 2, 3 and 4 by 10, 8, and 10, with Hakeem scoring 75 in Games 3 and 4. Pat Riley later lamented, “We tried everything. We put four bodies on him. We helped from different angles. He’s just a great player.”"
Here's a long section from that book from after the 1986 season:

"Magic decided, “In terms of raw athletic ability, Akeem is the best I’ve ever seen.” Mitch Kupchak summed it up best: “I can compare him to, maybe, Alvin Robertson in terms of being able to do everything. That tells you something, since Robertson is a guard. I’ve never seen anyone that strong, that quick, that relentless and who also happens to be seven feet tall.”
Thank you, Mitch! You just did my job for me. Hakeem finished his coming-out party by averaging a 25–12–3 (blocks) in the ’86 Finals and holding his own against the greatest slew of big men in NBA history. During a must-win Game 5 where tag-team partner Ralph Sampson was ejected for starting a brawl, an inspired Hakeem exploded for 32 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Put it this way: If I did my “Who has the highest trade value?” column that summer, Hakeem would have finished first even after Jordan’s 63-point game in Boston."

Simmons makes one of his greatest "what ifs" in NBA history what if the 1986 Rockets hadn't fallen apart due to drug use and Sampson's injuries. He argues they were the Lakers kryptonite and the Sampson turnaround shot made the series seem like a Cinderella story when they really beat the Lakers brains out.

I love Duncan but I would not like see him go up against a prime Hakeem. The 1995 WCF traumatized me for years. Maybe he'd prove me wrong but I don't think anyone stops Hakeem.

Great post.

[djohn2oo8]

I'm goin to sleep. I'll leave rocketfan with this

4 > 2 gots

But of course, when you have a better supporting cast, you usually win more games

[baseline bum]

Umm, pull up Olajuwon's record against Jordan's bulls and them procede to shut the up...it's a losing argument if you want to save time

Also Barkly, Malone, and Robinson were better big men in one conference than Duncan has ever faced...and that's leaving out Shaq and Ewing in the East.

Get the out of here, ignorant Rocket fan. No way any of those are tougher outs than the 3-peat Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. I could give a about regular season records. David Robinson used to own the Bulls in the regular season, but it'd be pretty ing stupid to act like that'd extrapolate to les against them.

[Tmac&Luther]

You think Duncan wants his minutes limited? Ever wonder why Hakeem fell off a ing cliff (played 47-50-44 games at 35, 36, and 37 yrs)? He played so many minutes that his body got destroyed. I went to per 36 to compare their numbers dip . One more thing Duncan will have to live with I guess.

How the did Olajuwon "fall off a cliff"

The guy at the age of 36 put up 19pp, 9.6rpb, and 2.5bpg....which is better than what Duncan did at 33 (now give me the "per" )

I hate to tell you this, but once big men fall they tend to fall fast. Give a alltime great props for lasting as long as he did, which is MUCH longer than Duncan will ever last.

[Booharv]

As for my Hakeem love, I've read a couple of non Spurs related NBA books and am a fan of the NBA in general. Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam is probably my favorite sports book and its about the Blazers from 30 years ago of all things.

[djohn2oo8]

Get the out of here, ignorant Rocket fan. No way any of those are tougher outs than the 3-peat Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. I could give a about regular season records. David Robinson used to own the Bulls in the regular season, but it'd be pretty ing stupid to act like that'd extrapolate to les against them.

No home court in 94-95, down 3-1 a couple of times, get the out of here

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Lasting long is why I consider Kareem far and away the best big of all time because of how long he maintained a high level of play.

[Many PackYao]

I know I said I'm going to sleep but this made me laugh

Well did Robinson not play second fiddle to Duncan?

[Ignignokt]

How the did Olajuwon "fall off a cliff"

The guy at the age of 36 put up 19pp, 9.6rpb, and 2.5bpg....which is better than what Duncan did at 33 (now give me the "per" )

I hate to tell you this, but once big men fall they tend to fall fast. Give a alltime great props for lasting as long as he did, which is MUCH longer than Duncan will ever last.

Rofl!

Duncan was dominant for a longer amount of time, was in more playoff games and took more responsibility earlier on in his carreer.

[baseline bum]

No home court in 94-95, down 3-1 a couple of times, get the out of here

And no les for those players until Robinson's in 1999.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

No home court in 94-95, down 3-1 a couple of times, get the out of here

Don't ignore the fact Barkley and Majerle started getting drunk every night once they took a 3-1 lead. Houston needed plenty of help from Phoenix to win that series.

[Tmac&Luther]

Get the out of here, ignorant Rocket fan. No way any of those are tougher outs than the 3-peat Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. I could give a about regular season records. David Robinson used to own the Bulls in the regular season, but it'd be pretty ing stupid to act like that'd extrapolate to les against them.

Oh I'm sorry.....I thought you were just talking about the talent at the big men positions. You're talking about ovrl talent. I'll be back tomorrow to own your ass on this. if you're going to allow me to pull talent from every position you really lose.

[baseline bum]

Oh I'm sorry.....I thought you were just talking about the talent at the big men positions. You're talking about ovrl talent. I'll be back tomorrow to own your ass on this. if you're going to allow me to pull talent from every position you really lose.

Shaq in the MVP-level years slaughters every bigman you can name from the 90s.

[djohn2oo8]

And no les for those players until Robinson's in 1999.

lockout?