If Hakeem Olajuwon made a young Shaq look sillly in the NBA finals, why is Shaq always ranked above him? (win, game)
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In those 95 Finals Hakeem the Dream took Shaq to school with so many moves and defeated the Magic in the Finals. So why is Hakeem not ranked number 4 of all time when it comes to NBA centers?
because the youngest Shaq wasn't necessarily the best Shaq. Akeem was a great player, but I don't think he would have been able to stop Shaq (Diesel) circa 1999-2003. It's debatable, but I don't see it happening.
Keep in mind, the picture 15 years later may have been drawn differently if the Magic had of won. The Magic back then lost the game on the line. They were a notoriously poor free throw shooting team...led by shaq in that department.
Personally, in his peak I'd put Shaq in the top 3.
because the youngest Shaq wasn't necessarily the best Shaq. Akeem was a great player, but I don't think he would have been able to stop Shaq (Diesel) circa 1999-2003. It's debatable, but I don't see it happening.
Keep in mind, the picture 15 years later may have been drawn differently if the Magic had of won. The Magic back then lost the game on the line. They were a notoriously poor free throw shooting team...led by shaq in that department.
Personally, in his peak I'd put Shaq in the top 3.
But Shaq couldn't stop Hakeem when playing defense. And you mention the Shaq of 1999, Hakeem had so many moves for shaq's size to matter
BTW: I always wanted Hakeem to be paired with Magic instead of Jabbar
But Shaq couldn't stop Hakeem when playing defense. And you mention the Shaq of 1999, Hakeem had so many moves for shaq's size to matter
BTW: I always wanted Hakeem to be paired with Magic instead of Jabbar
Shaq was a better player on both ends during his peak than he was early in his career. Akeem was swift, but defensively he wouldn't been able to stop Shaq. Not even Mutumbo could handle him and he was a multi winning Defensive player of the year back then.
Shaq was a better player on both ends during his peak than he was early in his career. Akeem was swift, but defensively he wouldn't been able to stop Shaq. Not even Mutumbo could handle him and he was a multi winning Defensive player of the year back then.
I don't give credit for being unstoppable because you are BIG, i give credit when you have SKILL. Shaq would just overpower guys, that's not skill
I don't give credit for being unstoppable because you are BIG, i give credit when you have SKILL. Shaq would just overpower guys, that's not skill
Well skill vs. best/who would win are two completely different arguments. No doubt Hakeem was more skilled offensively but that doesn't mean he would have been the better player if the two matched up in their primes. Unless of course you specifically define better as most skilled. Most people do not simply define better as most skilled though.
Think about Wilt Chamberlin who you have listed as the 2nd best center of all time. From what I have heard he wasn't all that skilled but he was bigger, faster and stronger than all the other centers of his era therefore he was better.
Think about Wilt Chamberlin who you have listed as the 2nd best center of all time. From what I have heard he wasn't all that skilled but he was bigger, faster and stronger than all the other centers of his era therefore he was better.
I don't include Russell and Chamberlain because they played in a weak era
In those 95 Finals Hakeem the Dream took Shaq to school with so many moves and defeated the Magic in the Finals. So why is Hakeem not ranked number 4 of all time when it comes to NBA centers?
Shouldn't it be this order below?
Bill Russell
Wilt Chamberlain
Jabbar
Hakeem
Shaq
Where is the source for you rankings? After all opinions are like holes.
Personally, I put them about even with each other.
To discount Shaq's "size and athleticism" as unfair in a sport like the NBA is quite franky ridiculous.
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