Hack I traded Bird and essentially got Stockton and Erving back so shut up.
LogGrad is the one who traded Carter for Wade. Don't start making early excuses for when you lose.
This is really tough.
The one question I have for Spy is if Rodman is guarding Magic; Is Billups guarding Kobe? Wade guarding Majerle?
Damn straight and I'd do it again. I got for value for that one, and a superstar to boot.
Dude, Kobe was Shaq's sidekick, whereas Hakeem crushed Shaq in the Finals.
I know Kobe was Shaq's sidekick. Hence why I said Kobe was Shaq's #2. But, then Kobe became #1 and got 2 more titles, same as HO. Also, again let's not forget that HO didn't have to face JOrdan in his prime in those "championship" years.
Shaq is not on my team, so it doesn't matter if HO crushed Shaq in the finals. Has no bearing on this match-up. That said, Shaq got to the Finals in just his 3rd season... HO went up against Baby Shaq and No Jordan. It took HO 10 years to get to the Finals. Again Shaq just 3.
I think HO was a reach as the #2 pick in this draft, considering Shaq in his prime is better than HO in his prime, plus there is Wilt, Russell, and Jabbar. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals all three times and had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history. It would have been fun to watch Shaq in his prime versus HO in his prime, but I think Shaq would've ultimately won... and Jabbar and Wilt would've beat them both.
And the chemistry between them works well. Wade is primarily a driver, balanced out by some of the best shooting you've ever seen in Bird. Bird's ability to shoot and post up give him tons of flexibility when Wade handles the ball, and Wade proved he could play off the ball when he teamed up with LeBron.
Hakeem, IMO, is the best center ever, and many people around here share that sentiment. You can debate who was best offensively between he, Shaq, and Kareem, but there's no question about who was the better defender. Overall, Hakeem was the best. I took Hakeem just as high a few years ago and went to the Finals with him. Taking him as high as I did is not a stretch. Hell, even Shaq and Jordan say Hakeem was the best.
At the end of the day, we both deserve to advance, and lots of teams that will, don't.
The chemistry I brought into question was that of Kobe and Magic (your two best players). I don't think they're an ideal pairing. Kobe is not accustomed to playing with a ball dominant PG, and Magic loses a lot of value when he doesn't have the ball in his hands when Kobe would want to run the show.
Doesn't mean it's the end of the world, toxic chemistry. Just saying they're not a natural fit as much as Hakeem/Bird are.
Check the list. Kobe has more than Hakeem in almost every major category and ties him in most of the others. Hakeem's only advantage is DPOY, but Kobe has more Defensive first teams. Kobe is #2 SG all-time, Hakeem is not maybe Top 5 center of all time (Wilt, Kareem, Russell, Shaq, and #5 Hakeem).
KOBE
5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009–2010)
2× NBA Finals MVP (2009–2010)
NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
17× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2015)
4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
11× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2000–2001)
2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003–2004, 2006–2011)
3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2002, 2012)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
2× NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
#3 scorer all time and counting
HAKEEM
2× NBA champion (1994–1995)
2× NBA Finals MVP (1994–1995)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1994)
12× NBA All-Star (1985–1990, 1992–1997)
6× All-NBA First Team (1987–1989, 1993–1994, 1997)
3× All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1990, 1996)
3× All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1995, 1999)
2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993–1994)
5× All-Defensive First Team (1987–1988, 1990, 1993-1994)
4× All-Defensive Second Team (1985, 1991, 1996–1997)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
2x NBA rebounding leader (1989-1990)
3× NBA blocks leader (1990-1991, 1993)
NBA all-time blocks leader
Olajuwon and Walton are really the only two players to lead a team full of no-names to a championship (LeBron and Iverson came close).
These were the five best players on Olajuwon's first championship team:
Hakeem Olajuwon
Otis Thorpe
Vernon Maxwell
Kenny Smith
Chris Jent
These were the five best players on Walton's first championship team:
Bill Walton
Maurice Lucas
Lionel Hollins
Bob Gross
Larry Steele
I mean Lucas had a few good years and so did Hollins, but neither are in the Hall of Fame. Same goes for Thorpe, he had a few good years, but nobody on that team is in the Hall of Fame either. I mean nobody else on those rosters were picked in this thing and I'm sure you have heard of a few of them, but none of them make you think "star".
So I think that makes Olajuwon and Walton even more impressive.
Wait, are ppl doubting the greatness of Hakeem Olajuwon? Is there a single flaw to this mother-****er's game? Is there any HOFer from the 90s that this dude didn't completely **** in his prime? Can someone name one average player from Hakeem's 93-94 season?
Every great player from that generation (Shaq, Jordan) gives the doo his credit. Kenny the Jet would have had a career equal to ****ign Stromile Swift if he didn't ride on Dream's coattails.
Wait, are ppl doubting the greatness of Hakeem Olajuwon?
Not people. Just Jeffrey. And he's not exactly the most disinterested observer.