"If I'm going to fight you, I'd rather just beat you," he said. "If I can't beat you, I'll be a man and say I can't beat you. I'm not going to cry about it. . . . I'm the first guy to say that somebody is better than me. I was the first guy to say Hakeem Olajuwon beat me in the [1995] NBA finals. He killed me. He dominated me. I didn't go, 'Oh, he's traveling. They had experience. Wah-wah-wah.' I'm a man. Hakeem Olajuwon dusted my butt. These guys now are crying, 'Three seconds!' It's just funny to me."
-Shaquille O'Neal
BEST QUOTE THERE! MY GOD most fans can learn from this here, players too! YOU LOSE YOU LOST! Just get over it and move on.
Shaquille dropped a little note to Hakeem after the finals ended, challenging him to some one-on-one. Sports Illustrated's Andy Gray unearthed the note and it's pretty much the best thing ever.
This, along with Kaazam and Shaq-Fu are what first comes to mind when I think of Shaq's carrer and legacy
He didnt say Duncan ass-raped him in 2003
ing hypocrit
Two bosses
Probably never see again anyone with the footwork of Hakeem, the fundamentals of Duncan, or Shaq's pure dominance.
And who was the team that he said they cheat to win.
After the cheating __ck Fakers were ref gifted the Kings playoff series.
Hypocrit indeed.
Hakeem The Dream
And when Shaq couldn't beat the Spurs back in his Orlando days, he would lie about not getting an autograph from David Robinson.
Shaq understands that Hakeem was the best center ever to play the game. He said it himself. Shaq comes in second. Never seen a big man so dominate.
Hakeem was too brief. He lit bright & bold and then blew out like a candle in the wind.
He was too pitiful at the end. Ewing was the same way. Now Duncan insists on making an ass of himself in a like manner.
Of course hakeem was more skilled than either Shaq or duncan ... but they also won more than he did. But keep in mind hakeem's best team-mates were a young pre-injury Sampson and an aging clyde.
Duncan had: David, manu and Tony
Shaq: Penny, Kobe, Wade, Nash, Lebron and the big 3 ...
Like someone said if you like power, force with deceptive quickness Shaq is all of that...and those that think Howard is stronger becuase his muscles are ripped and Shaq's wasnt never saw the man destroy backboards and opposing big men.
What set duncan apart was his bankshot, fundamental foot-work and patience. duncan despite not being extremely athletic knew when to go quick and when to take his time on the block EXTREMELY smart post player.
Hakeem. I think the best defensive player I have ever seen. This guy did the chasedown block way before Lebron or tayshaun ...youtube the one he did on rod strickland. his quickness, anticpation, his footwork. He had in his bag of tricks:
James Worthy's best line spin ...
A jump hook ...
the dream shake ...
up and unders ..
the mchale drop-step ...
a jordanesque fade-away ...
He could pick PG's like KG, swat shots like Mutombo chase down plays like Lebron ...rebound like rodman the guy was amazing. hard for me to say any big man was better if we discount rings ...but I can't. The rings place him a notch below.
3 team tournament between Shaq, Duncan, and Dream's all-time teammates, who wins?
Duncan had Robinson doing his dirty work.
Duncan has better career than both Shaq and Hakeem.
Better than Shaq, while Shaq was dominant for as many seasons as Duncan, and a little better low post scorer, Shaq was never a great defensive player.
And better than Hakeem because Hakeem initially was unpolished offensively, it took him 10 seasons to develop his (fantastic) offensive game. Duncan had much longer period of dominance which allowed him win more than Hakeem.
If we compare their primes only, Hakeem in 1995, Shaq in 2000 and Duncan in 2003, it's difficult to say who was the best.
Strong basketball history knowledge. Hakeem always had a very strong offensive game, amazing footwork and a soft touch will do that. Hakeem was a superstar that had literally 0 talent around him post 86, and won with role players in 94, and an old drexler in 95. Hakeem was dominant from 85-95, while duncan was dominant from 99-07. Duncan won more championships because he had talent and good role players surrounding him his entire career.
I don't think I've ever heard such a re ed statement.
Hakeem had 12 seasons of at least 20 and 10, missing the 13th by less than a rebound, compared to Duncan's 9 such seasons. And Hakeem shot over 50% from the field his first 13 seasons.
The notion that Hakeem had a few excellent seasons and barely anything else is a re ed myth, especially from spurfans.
Bynum in a few years.
You're a re
Should've saved that one for April fool's
this
Hakeem had 12 seasons of at least 20 and 10, missing the 13th by less than a rebound, compared to duncan's 9 such seasons. And hakeem shot over 50% from the field his first 13 seasons.
The notion that hakeem had a few excellent seasons and barely anything else is a re ed myth, especially from spurfans.
He looked great when he made that long fadeaway jumper, but he missed them often. He made 1.28 points out of every field goal attempt. And that was in time when defensive schemes were less elaborate. Contemporary bigs like Robinson (1.46), Malone (1.41), Barkley (1.52) and even Ewing (1.29) were more efficient.
Duncan is 1.32 and Shaq 1.47, however defense was more elaborate in their playtime.
In '95 Hakeem had Drexler still in his prime also various clutch players like Horry, Cassell and Elie.
In '94 Hakeem was without Drexler but it's not so big deal for Duncan though, he also made something similar in '03 and against much better compe ion.
Last edited by dunkman; 06-02-2011 at 06:09 PM.
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