Is Hakeem Overrated?

[baseline bum]

He had as series aginst the Sonics in his prime that was one of the best two-way (offense/defense) series I have ever seen. He scored at will, rebounded like crazy and blocked shots.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705140SEA.html

I used to have a copy of this game too, but lost it.

[Killakobe81]

In 1987 in a game 7 on the road in Seattle ... one of the loudest arenas at the time. Against a a very good (not great) Sonics team. Hakeem put up:

49 points
25 rebounds
6 blocks
2 steals
2 assists

Only knock on Hakeem is he did kinda had a rep as a a black hole and self-absorbed, especially on the weker squads he wa son. If you watch his NBA films sports doc, many of the labels on Kobe in the post Shaq, pre second PJax applied to Hakeem. But just like Kobe he was a straight baller. Every move was exquisite footwork.

Side note: I remember an interview when he was in his prime where he admitted he broke off his engagement with his then fiance ...because she was too short, and he wanted his sons to be pro ball players!! Dont know if that was an excuse, but he married someone else later. And his daughter (at least) did play major college ball.

[Killakobe81]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705140SEA.html

I used to have a copy of this game too, but lost it.

Was just peeking at BR for the splits myself. Just look at that game 7 ...

[Killakobe81]

And I may be wrong, because Im not a huge stat guy but arent his assist numbers a little low?

Duncan, Kareem and even Shaq just felt like they would get more than 2-3 assists but again Im not a stat guy.

His steal numbers are also ridiculous too ...

[JMarkJohns]

And I may be wrong, because Im not a huige stat guy but arent his assist numbers a little low?

Duncan, Kareem and even Shaq just felt like they would get more than 2-3 assists but again Im not a stat guy.

His steal numbers are also ridiculous too ...

I think we all remember how his inside-out led to so many open threes, but there was probably a lot of around-the-horn passing to further rotate collapsed defenses, so it would make sense most of his passes weren't actual assists, but still great passes nonetheless.

I was a bit taken aback as well, figuring his prime would be at least 4 and his peak probably around 5. His passing was far better, on-point, and deadly than his assist numbers indicate. He had great recognition from the block and the elbow.

[Killakobe81]

I also feel Worthy and HAkeem had two best quick baseline spin moves on the low block. Worthy was so quick with his. But Hakeem's was even better. Becaus if you watch the clip Bum posted, Hakeem's center of gravity was so low he would quick spin like Worthy then explode for a dunk or layup. But if the second big recovered he gave that show where he faked the ball one way and shot a smooth floater the other. Filthy stuff.

[baseline bum]

First 4 minutes of 2OT of that ridiculous 49/25 game 6

[Sean Cagney]

OVERRATED? NO............. NO. I watched him in his prime, he was sick.

[Killakobe81]

But I dont think he is top 5 all-time, either. Top 5 out of guys I SAW play. But I would say he is probably top 10 all-time.

1. MJ
2. Kareem
3. Magic

4. Shaq, Hakeem, Duncan, Bird and Kobe all have legit claims for my 4 spot.

Not counting guys I never saw.

[JMarkJohns]

I can't imagine 1-7, but 8-10 seems pretty reasonable. I can't foresee my list not having him top-10, and I might even be able to justify 6-7 spots, but not off the top of my head.

All I know is he's my starting center if I'm starting a team. For the skill, height, strength of others, few had his quickness, and, I'd argue, none had his combination of athleticism, skill and timing.

[baseline bum]

These are my top 4:

1. Jordan
2. Magic
3. Bird
4. Abdul-Jabbar

5-7 I'd have Shaq, Olajuwon, and Duncan, though I'm not sure how I'd rank those 3.

[baseline bum]

These are my top 4:

1. Jordan
2. Magic
3. Bird
4. Abdul-Jabbar

5-7 I'd have Shaq, Olajuwon, and Duncan, though I'm not sure how I'd rank those 3.

[fevertrees]

I guarantee Hakeem hates music like that so why disrespect him and put that crap music in a tribute video to him?

[baseline bum]

Seriously, if you ever see game 2 of the 95 WCF on NBATV or ESPN Classic, it's can't miss stuff and probably the greatest game of Olajuwon's career (and maybe the most bitter loss in Spurs history ).

[Stalin]

olaguown comletely s over today's centers, tbh

ties
prima donna dwight

[baseline bum]

Mourning or Ewing completely over today's centers. Olajuwon all over centers back when they were good tbh.

[Venti Quattro]

When Hakeem had the dream shake on, you knew your team was going to be ed in the ass.

[baseline bum]

I think we all remember how his inside-out led to so many open threes, but there was probably a lot of around-the-horn passing to further rotate collapsed defenses, so it would make sense most of his passes weren't actual assists, but still great passes nonetheless.

Yeah, the Rockets were great moving the ball around the three point line to find the open man (especially the 94 team). The only other team I have seen that moved the ball around the 3 point line nearly as well to get open looks off doubles in the post was the 99 Spurs. Just lots of simple chest passes until they found the man who couldn't be rotated to.

[Koolaid_Man]

But I dont think he is top 5 all-time, either. Top 5 out of guys I SAW play. But I would say he is probably top 10 all-time.

1. MJ
2. Kareem
3. Magic

4. Shaq, Hakeem, Duncan, Bird and Kobe all have legit claims for my 4 spot.

Not counting guys I never saw.

hey man....Spur fan will still like you..no need to get carried and put Timmy at #4...not even in a hypothetical toss-up...it's pretty ridiculous...the only reason any knows of Duncan's name is because Hakeem retired...had Duncan faced a prime Hakeem we wouldn't know who Duncan was... don't get carried away...

and for the record..MJ's is on record as saying that his all-time team is:

Magic
Bird
Hakeem
MJ
Kobe (he felt compelled to add Pippen since Pippen kisses his ass all day)

[Koolaid_Man]

So let's keep this in context...the top 5 basketball players ever assembled in the history of the world in a hypo would be the following team..no if's, and's, or but's about it:

Magic - SF
MJ - SG
Kareem - C
Hakeem - PF
Kobe - PG

Unstoppable line-up..No Spur player could ever make that team or the second team which would be:

Bird - SF
Wilt - C
Shaq - PF
Reggie Miller - SG
Isiah Thomas - PG

If there was a third team Duncan could possible crack it...if you teamed him up with :


Malone - PF
Duncan - C
Garnett - SF
Lebron - SG
Wade - PG

[TDMVPDPOY]

his certainly overrated

he had 2 good seasons where he dominated, but everyone thinks his been playin like that all his career....that lies the problem right there....

[JMarkJohns]

his certainly overrated

he had 2 good seasons where he dominated, but everyone thinks his been playin like that all his career....that lies the problem right there....

He dominated his whole career, save the last five years. Those "two" (actually four) years he just dominated at an entirely different level. He'd finally put it all together, adding efficiency to effectiveness.

[apalisoc_9]

Does anyone have a copy of his peak games? Or maybe even a link...I've watched Magic, Bird and MJ..Unfortuanltey none of those were against hakeem

[baseline bum]

Youtube used to have a lot of the 1994 and 1995 playoff games, but the NBA has since cracked down on them.

[Indazone]

First of all - Blasphemy!!

That being said, Hakeem was the better all around athlete with moves of a point guard in a Center's body. He could score all over the court and was a defensive shotblocker bar non.

Kareem's skyhook was unstoppable but there is no way he was the complete player that Hakeem was. Their stats were similar over a career and both were extremely successful at what they did.

http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/whos-bet...areem-1764994/