Dream vs Modern day big men

There was a rumored trade way back when, before the Bulls' run. Akeem to the Bulls for a package including Pippen.
 
Michael Jordan didn't have anything to do with the Rockets winning more or less titles. Its not like the Rockets were playing the Bulls every year in the Finals and losing. The Rockets never made it that far when Jordan was there. If you followed the Rockets, you'd know it was Seattle and to a lesser extent, the Lakers, that the Rockets had the biggest problem with, not the Bulls. They managed to avoid Seattle in the two championship years. If they had played them, I don't think the Rockets would have won those years, and I do think the Rockets would have had more of a shot against Jordan's Bulls than against the Sonics.

And to the subject of the thread, Olajuwon would dominate in today's league. Look at the players he had on his team in 94. Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, and Otis Thorpe were the other starters. All solid role players, but that might be the worst starting lineup in NBA Finals history, save Hakeem. The guy was absolutely unstoppable with the turnaround on the baseline.

Dwight Howard still has plenty of time to develop his game, though. Hakeem was all athleticism early in his career as well. He always had the footwork, but he developed his finesse moves later on.

"Unbeatable"
 
Hakeem was one of two players in the history of basketball to have no weaknesses in his game. The other was Michael Jordan. He was more athletic than any big man in the league today, maybe ever. As sublime as his game was in his prime, if you want just sheer athleticism, go watch some of his tape from the 80's. What he could do would make Amare Stoudemire look like a stiff in comparison.
 
People have really short memories if they think Hakeem wasn't as athletic as Dwight Howard or Amare. Just go YouTube some of his college highlights. They're sick. Also, Tim Duncan is no where near the defensive force Hakeem was. It's not even close. And teams did try to (illegally) zone Olajuwon back in his prime. Seattle was notorious for getting away with it against the Rockets in the playoffs.
 
Quote from NBA.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1993-94 he had a storybook season, becoming the first player to be named NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Finals MVP in the same season.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hakeem also won back to back NBA Defensive POY awards. Tim Duncan has none. Hakeem is 7th all time in steals. There is no other center in the top 25 in steals. Hakeem average 3.09 blocks per game for his career. He averaged over 4 blocks a game 3 different seasons. Tim Duncan has a career average of 2.4 bpg. Duncan has never averaged 3 blocks per game in any season. Timmy just does not match up to the Dream on the defensive end of the court.

Like I said, what separates Hakeem from Duncan and the rest was his ability to dominate on defense as well as offense.
 
Shaq, Duncan, Amare, Howard, and KG are all very good. Shaq has an advantage in strength. KG is a better ball-handler. Amare and Howard are better dunkers, but who cares? Duncan.......I can't think of one skill he is better at. Really.

The thing is Hakeem had multiple advantages over them all. Shot blocking, getting steals, post moves/footwork, passing, etc. I don't think there is any doubt that they all would have a very difficult time with him when he was in his prime.

Best Center ever, no. Best if he played today, yes.
 
Not making an argument for either guy since I didn't see Hakeem play in his prime, but there's a lot more to defense than steals and blocks. Much like in football where you can't just add interceptions to forced fumbles and know who the best defensive players are.
 
I never said Duncan wasn't a good defender. He is. But he is no where near the defender Hakeem was. Not even close.

And I agree somewhat that awards and even stats don't always tell the whole story. You have to watch the games. I have and Hakeem is the best I have seen from a center on both ends of the court. And he did it with much less help.
 
This is from Wikipedia on the Dream:

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Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

Only player in NBA history to have won MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season (1994).[22]

One of the 4 players in NBA history to have ever recorded a quadruple-double.[4]

Olajuwon also won the rebounding and blocked shots titles in 1989-90, becoming the third player ever (after Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton) to lead the league in both categories during the same season.[30]

All-time leader in blocked shots. (note: the NBA did not keep statistics for blocked shots until the 1973-74 season)

Olajuwon is also in the top ten in blocks, scoring, rebounding, and steals. He is the only player in NBA history placed in the top ten for all four categories.

All-time NBA Playoffs leader in total blocks with 472 and blocks per game with 3.3 per game.[48][49]

Olajuwon ranks 7th all-time in steals and is by far the highest ranked center. (note that steals were not recorded until the 1973-74 season)[50]

In 1989, Olajuwon had 282 blocks and 218 steals, becoming the only NBA player to record over 200 blocks and 200 steals in a season.[19]

Olajuwon is one of few players to record more than 200 blocks and 100 steals in a season. As the all-time leader in this feat, he did it for 11 seasons (consecutively from the 1985-86 season to the 1995-96 season). The next closest is David Robinson, who did it for 7 seasons.[51][52]
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And those stats don't do justice. There has never been a more graceful, athletic, skilled, competitive big man in NBA history.
 
To think that anybody was going to beat MJ in his prime in a 7 game series is absurd .. at least to anybody that is not a Rockets homer. Using regular season games that mean zilch as a barometer is not quite the same as seeing that the Bulls won 6 titles in a row with MJ.
 
Teams have bad matchups, the Rockets had the Sonics and the Bulls quite frankly matched up terribly with the Rockets. Sorry, that's just the way it is. And MJ was there for the second year, it's not the Rockets fault he couldn't make it to the championship.
 
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