A Prime Shaq vs. Hakeem

[jlauber]

Interesting footage of what a PRIME Shaq could do to Hakeem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zehfeZyNB8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCajDyd_MGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjLmCVVxUjU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Nphmersok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7tmS...feature=relmfu

Continued...

[JtotheIzzo]

Prime Shaq was a force unseen to the NBA. Unstoppable.

[EnoughSaid]

A 36 year old Hakeem past his prime. Do we need to talk about the 95 Finaks?

[jlauber]

Continued...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcAIr...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wirzn...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M46dV...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA79J...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TJDd...feature=relmfu

[jlauber]

A 36 year old Hakeem past his prime. Do we need to talk about the 95 Finaks?

When a 32 year old Hakeem battled a 22 year old Shaq? The same Shaq would outshot him by a .595 to .483 margin, while outrebounding, outassisting, and outblocking him?

Just goes to show you what a PRIME Shaq could do.

[jlauber]

A 36 year old Hakeem past his prime. Do we need to talk about the 95 Finaks?

And how about a young Hakeem, ages 22-23, against a 38-39 year old Kareem?

The same Kareem who, in TEN STRAIGHT GAMES...AVERAGED 33 ppg on .630 shooting? Who had THREE games of 40+? And in his 46 point game, it came in only 37 minutes, and on 21-30 shooting?

[jlauber]

Prime Shaq was a force unseen to the NBA. Unstoppable.

Acually, as dominating as this game proved, in which Shaq scored 37 points on 14-22 shooting against the helpless Hakeem...

think about this...

A 38-39 year old Kareem hung THREE games of 40+ on a 22-23 year old Hakeem, including a 46 point explosion in only 37 minutes.

Once again...a 38-39 YEAR OLD Kareem.

[Djahjaga]

And how about a young Hakeem, ages 22-23, against a 38-39 year old Kareem?

The same Kareem who, in TEN STRAIGHT GAMES...AVERAGED 33 ppg on .630 shooting? Who had THREE games of 40+? And in his 46 point game, it came in only 37 minutes, and on 21-30 shooting?

I don't disagree with the original Shaq post, but you conveniently overlook their only playoff matchup in 1986, where Olajuwon destroyed Kareem.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...1&p2=olajuha01

Kareem did average 27 ppg (which is impressive even though Olajuwon outdid him here, as well as almost every other statistical category), but if you watch the series, you can see Kareem had no idea how to guard Olajuwon.

[JGXEN]

so whats your point? Kareem, hakeem, shaq are three of the most dominant centers ever. They can put up crazy numbers even against each other no matter at which phase of their careers. So are you trying to downplay hakeem just because he got torched by two of the best centers ever?

[Clippersfan86]

In Hakeem's defense Shaq mentally felt defeated in their 95 matchup. To this day Shaq will say the only center that dominated him was Hakeem and that Hakeem is greater than him. I've heard him say it on live TV a few times.

[jlauber]

I don't disagree with the original Shaq post, but you conveniently overlook their only playoff matchup in 1986, where Olajuwon destroyed Kareem.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...1&p2=olajuha01

Kareem did average 27 ppg (which is impressive even though Olajuwon outdid him here, as well as almost every other statistical category), but if you watch the series, you can see Kareem had no idea how to guard Olajuwon.

Hakeem DID guard Kareem in 23 regular season H2H's, HOWEVER, in the '86 WCF's, it was SAMPSON who was the primary defender on the 39 year old Kareem (with Hakeem doubling.)

[jlauber]

so whats your point? Kareem, hakeem, shaq are three of the most dominant centers ever. They can put up crazy numbers even against each other no matter at which phase of their careers. So are you trying to downplay hakeem just because he got torched by two of the best centers ever?

Hakeem is the most over-rated player on this forum.

ONE MVP (in a season in which MJ did not play...oh, and not coincidently, Hakeem eked out a ring.)

ONE second place finish in the MVP balloting.

TWO other Top-FOUR's.

So, FOUR Top-4's in the MVP balloting, in his 18 seasons.

Oh, and BTW, EIGHT FIRST ROUND playoff exits.

And yet we have uneducated posters trying to claim that he was a better player than Shaq?

Let's take a closer look shall we?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...1&p2=olajuha01

[Djahjaga]

Hakeem DID guard Kareem in 23 regular season H2H's, HOWEVER, in the '86 WCF's, it was SAMPSON who was the primary defender on the 39 year old Kareem (with Hakeem doubling.)

Really? It seems strange that Hakeem would guard Kareem when they had 7'4'' Sampson to check him. Is there any way we could double check this?

All I know is, in that '86 series, Kareem was outclassed by Hakeem. Head to head over their careers, Kareem does have the advantage, though, I'll give you that.

[jlauber]

Really? It seems strange that Hakeem would guard Kareem when they had 7'4'' Sampson to check him. Is there any way we could double check this?

All I know is, in that '86 series, Kareem was outclassed by Hakeem. Head to head over their careers, Kareem does have the advantage, though, I'll give you that.

There was actual footage of Kareem's 40 point game against Hakeem on YouTube, but sadly, it has since been removed.

But we do have an LA Times article (thanks to PHILA BTW)...

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=206575

Worthy after the game: "Kareem always plays better against Olajuwon. It's because of all the comparisons. He's been around 17 years but he still has to show the kids that he's the best."

Hakeem after the game: "He played real tough. I tried to go around him and steal the ball but he slipped around me and went to the basket."


Los Angeles Times:

While Akeem Olajuwon spent the whole game trying to steal the ball from Abdul-Jabbar, the Laker center spent the whole game throwing down a breathtaking series of hook shots on his way to a 46-point explosion.

For some reason, Rocket Coach Bill Fitch thinks it is a good idea to let Olajuwon go one-on-one with Abdul-Jabbar. It proved to be the biggest coaching blunder in any Laker game this season.

Abdul-Jabbar made 21 of 30 shots in 37 minutes to reach his high this season. He probably could have scored 50 points (his career high is 55) had he played any longer.

[Odinn]

Hakeem Olajuwon; 1993-95
RS: 27.0ppg / 12.0rpg / 3.6apg / 2.2spg / 3.8bpg / 3.3tpg / 0.525fg% / 0.751ft%
PO: 29.8ppg / 11.4rpg / 4.4apg / 1.5spg / 3.7bpg / 3.5tpg / 0.524fg% / 0.754ft%
1x MVP; 1x 2nd(1.680 total MVP share). 2x FMVP. 2x DPoY. 2x All-NBA 1st Team. 1x All-NBA 3rd Team. 2x All-Defensive 1st Team. | 2x NBA Finals. 2x Championship.

Shaquille O'Neal; 2000-02
RS: 28.6ppg / 12.4rpg / 3.5apg / 0.6spg / 2.6bpg / 3.1tpg / 0.575fg% / 0.529ft%
PO: 29.9ppg / 14.5rpg / 3.0apg / 0.5spg / 2.4bpg / 3.0tpg / 0.552fg% / 0.533ft%
1x MVP; 2x 3rd(2.016 total MVP share). 3x FMVP. 3x All-NBA 1st Team. 2x All-Defensive 2nd Team. | 3x NBA Finals. 3x Championship.