I'm calling out Kori Ellis for withholding the results of a long outstanding battle blog.
If you fail to release the results, one or more of the following will happen:
- I'll kick your husband's ass at one-on-one when I finally get to SA to check out a home game. (hopefully this season) The loss will be so thorough that he'll be completely ashamed to the point that he'll willingly relinquish his manhood.
- I'll bring Genesee Cream Ale to the postgame party
- I'll reveal to Popovich that you used to be a Jazz fan and that the only reason you're in the locker room is to spy for Jerry Sloan.
It's up to you.
I asked my husband to post it several times, but he didn't listen.
I'll make sure he does it tonight and gives you the win/loss.
And the winner is, by the narrowest margin in Battle Blog history, Guru of Nothing.
Battle Blog: David Robinson: Hakeem Olajuwon's
Brodels: Both were great centers, but Olajuwon was better than Robinson. A consideration of playoff success, offensive skills, longevity, and defensive ability demonstrates that Hakeem was superior.
While Hakeem led his team to back-to-back les and was Finals MVP twice, Robinson will be remembered for his playoff failures. Robinson played with limited talent, but Olajuwon won without a dominant second scorer in 1994 and with an aging, talent-thin team in 1995.
Hakeem averaged more points, rebounds, steals, and blocks during the regular season, but he cemented his legacy in the playoffs. While Hakeem increased his scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks, and steals in the playoffs, Robinson's numbers in each of those areas except for rebounding fell. Hakeem dominated because he possessed something Robinson never had: a go-to move. When defenses tighten up in the playoffs, players with refined post skills are better able to score than players relying on pure athleticism.
Robinson was a great defender, but Hakeem was equally good. Hakeem averaged more steals and blocks in his career, and his best seasons in those areas surpass Robinson's best statistical seasons. While Hakeem made the defensive first team five times, Robinson only did so four times.
Finally, Hakeem's longevity supports his dominance. He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds twelve times in his career, a feat that Robinson only matched eight times. Hakeem was the better player because he won in the playoffs, had a go-to move, remained dominant for many years, and defended the post as well as anyone.
Guru of Nothing: Your thoughts represent all that is wrong with NBA basketball. Despite David Stern's best efforts to convince us otherwise, basketball is a team sport. Always has been, always will be. To proclaim that David Robinson was Hakeem's " " completely ignores this fundamental fact.
You also ignore many other facts:
In his umpteen years in the NBA, Hakeem won his two les during the only two years Michael Jordan was sentenced to double-secret probation. Coincidence? Was Hakeem someone else's " " all those other years. If you review the past 25 years of NBA playoff basketball, nowhere but the mid-90s will you find a championship team that stumbled so much as "clutch-city." 6th seed .... down repeatedly in playoff series ... LOST 2 IN A ROW AT HOME AGAINST THE SPURS, after winning the first two in SA.
Clutch? I think of Hakeem as the accidental champion.
Seriously, all bluster aside, I think Hakeem's Rockets defeated Robinson's Spurs in the playoffs because the Rockets had the better TEAM, and the better coach. The Rockets redefined the role of the 3-point shot in 1994 playoffs; Bob Hill redefined the role of abject reject.
... And by the way, defensive dominance is not measured by stats and press recognition. Any Spurs fan would know this.
Brodels: When comparing careers, it’s necessary to consider success and ability to dominate. Success is carrying your team to championships, and Hakeem’s got the edge. It’s statistical superiority, and Hakeem’s got the edge. It’s longevity and raising your game in the playoffs, and Hakeem’s got the edge.
Dominance is measured in many ways, but the ability to carry a team to a championship is paramount. Hakeem increased his statistical output in the playoffs and carried his teams to championships. David’s statistics decreased and he never carried his team to a le. Dominance also is measured by a player’s ability to score in the clutch. Hakeem had failsafe post moves; David was limited to using his athleticism to score against athletic defenders.
les are les, and Hakeem won more. The validity of every championship is questioned by someone, but the very best players in league history usually end up winning them.
Guru of Nothing: Hakeem had phenomenal moves near the basket, far better than Robinson; however, using your definitions of success and dominance, he excelled for only two years - the two years Michael Jordan sat out. Coincidence?
I maintain Hakeem and the Rockets dominated the Spurs in the mid-90s because they were the better TEAM. Look beyond the hype - teams win championships. Do not forget, David Robinson played Hakeem straight up in the playoffs, while Hakeem had help (from his TEAMmates) defending Robinson.
Go way back to June of 2005. The Spurs won as a team, not because Tim Duncan dominated another player; likewise for Detroit in 2004.
Reach for the obvious!
Olajuwon and Robinson were rare specimens. It’s disingenuous to argue the merits of one legacy against the other while removing the team element from the discussion – it’s Stephen A. Smith-esque.
In closing, I give to you arithmetic.
2 = 2.
Damn...GON is kicking ass in BB.
I would like to appeal this decision.
Thanks for posting it. But you don't really have to post the loss in my record if you don't want to.
GON got his ass kicked up and down the block.
I file a "friend of the court" brief in support of Brodel's appeal.
so, what's so special about this "outstanding battle blogs?", huh?the results of a long outstanding battle blog.
he's just kidding, right? i find it very funny
Outstanding as in unresolved.so, what's so special about this "outstanding battle blogs?", huh?
he's just kidding, right? i find it very funny
Thanks for posting it. But you don't really have to post the loss in my record if you don't want to.
Did you really think you would win one with Hakeem's in the le?
No. I've written at least three that I knew I wouldn't win.
I side with GON too.
way to go Red Hot Tamales.
I think GON did an excellent job of demonstrating that you can't win a le individually. It's a team effort.
But I do think I did a better job of showing that Hakeem was actually the better player. GON didn't take that on, and that's what I was hoping would happen.
well brodels didn't coutner Guru's argument enough...
Olajuwon might really be an accidental champion... but he was the best at that category
4-0 baby!
Seriously, straight up, Hakeem gets the nod over DRob, with a little extra thrown in; but, it's a pock-mark on the game to glorify the individual over the game.
When there are 10 players on the floor, 8 times out of 10 there are too many variables involved to compare player X to player Y, and DRob vs Hakeem falls heavily towards the 80%
That said, I think Brodel's use of the word " " cost him this blog.
Good job Hot Sauce! I owe you a beer.
Could you have presented my argument any better, friend?
I'll take you up on that next time I'm in Mississippi. You're still there, right? It's been a while since I've been there, but I'd like to go back.
I hope to drive to SA this spring so I can meet everyone. I don't know if it will happen for sure though.
Holler.
I live next door to an excessively popular bar, here in Downtown, Mississippi.
Anywhere near the coast?
No sir. Downtown = Madison County, 3 hours North.
Oh. I visited the coast a lot when I was a kid. Before the beach disappeared under hotels and floating casinos.
There are still a lot of "beaches" here in MS.
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