He should go train with hakeem. AD with dreamshake
Someone sign AD up for a training session(s)! That would be so awesome, if AD could start playing more like Hakeem in the post. Maybe then he'd want to play more at Center too.
Last edited by LAL1947 on Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:04 am; edited 2 times in total
I think a lot of posters are reacting to the title without reading the post.
This is assuming that with the league's drop-off in dominant big men Embiid is the Shaq of the league. So in a league where Embiid is the Shaq can AD be the more skilled, less physically reliant Hakeem? Interesting question and I don't think it's that much of a reach to say yes.
I think a lot of posters are reacting to the title without reading the post.
This is assuming that with the league's drop-off in dominant big men Embiid is the Shaq of the league. So in a league where Embiid is the Shaq can AD be the more skilled, less physically reliant Hakeem? Interesting question and I don't think it's that much of a reach to say yes.
I think a lot of posters are reacting to the title without reading the post.
This is assuming that with the league's drop-off in dominant big men Embiid is the Shaq of the league. So in a league where Embiid is the Shaq can AD be the more skilled, less physically reliant Hakeem? Interesting question and I don't think it's that much of a reach to say yes.
To answer this question... sure, why not?
However, I have to point out that while AD is a better dribbler... at this point in time I don't think he is "more skilled" than Hakeem was.
Hakeem is a top 10 player of all time. Let's not get carried away.
Top 20. Let's not get carried away.
For me personally, Hakeem was/is the best center I've ever seen play. Wilt/Shaq were dominant for their size, Kareem had his hook shot, but there has never been center that had the full package of attacking skills and naturally learned/applied techniques like the Dream did (he was pretty much the MJ of centers on offense)... and then you add in his defense? Hah, he goes straight into any "best ever starting 5" I make.
Magic
Jordan
LeGramps or Bird
Duncan
Hakeem
or how about an uber attacking 5 with no PG?
Kobe
Jordan
McGrady
PF (LeGramps or Durant or Duncan or even Bird, don't really care)
Hakeem
I like this latter one a lot because it has 4 of my favorite players ever, all of whom were just naturally gifted with that special something that allowed them to make everything look easy and smooth, capable of making adjustments to moves on the fly with nothing pre-meditated... unlike some of others (LeGramps and Durant) who had to learn how to do those same things over many years after turning professional.
Wilt is probably the only center I wouldn't argue against. He owns the record books and possibly the most badass b-ball quote ever... "There shall be no more layups in this gym!"
Joined: 19 Jul 2002 Posts: 15403 Location: Oak Park
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:46 am Post subject:
Hakeem is to centers as Kobe is to shooting guards. Skill level is on another planet. Their games also didn’t translate to the modern nba archetype. But for me personally they played the most aesthetically beautiful games at their respective positions.
While ad is certainly prototypical for this era, I still don’t think that people go to sleep about being a 3 and d player or a jump shooting big man. They dream about shaking like the dream or ripping people’s heart out with shots like Kobe bang!
I don't think AD and Hakeem should be compared or mentioned in one sentence. They are just too different. But I would recommend AD to do some training sessions with Hakeem. I actually would recommend that to anyone.
Hakeem is a top 10 player of all time. Let's not get carried away.
No he’s not. He’s a fringe top 5 center of all time. He’s an all time great but probably back end of the top 20-25 all time.
Top 20-25?
That's disrespecting the dream. I've seen lists that place Barkley around that range.
Jordan
Lebron
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Wilt
Duncan
Kobe
Shaq
Russell
Robertson
I have these players at/better than hakeem. Top 15 at minimum is where I have him.
Duncan is not better than Hakeem
Debatable
Which is why I said "at" as well.
Cool
Yeah saying Duncan is better than Hakeem and vice versa isn't really controversial since there are legitimate arguments one way or the other.
It's not like I'm saying Barkley was around or better than Hakeem/Duncan just because they all have mvps. There's no question Hakeem/Duncan were better than him.
Hakeem is a top 10 player of all time. Let's not get carried away.
No he’s not. He’s a fringe top 5 center of all time. He’s an all time great but probably back end of the top 20-25 all time.
Top 20-25?
That's disrespecting the dream. I've seen lists that place Barkley around that range.
Jordan
Lebron
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Wilt
Duncan
Kobe
Shaq
Russell
Robertson
I have these players at/better than hakeem. Top 15 at minimum is where I have him.
Duncan is not better than Hakeem
Debatable
Which is why I said "at" as well.
Cool
Yeah saying Duncan is better than Hakeem and vice versa isn't really controversial since there are legitimate arguments one way or the other.
It's not like I'm saying Barkley was around or better than Hakeem/Duncan just because they all have mvps. There's no question Hakeem/Duncan were better than him.
Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 11197 Location: The Other Perspective
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:16 pm Post subject:
I'd take prime Dream over prime Duncan. _________________ "Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball…but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played."
-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8288 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 2:10 am Post subject:
LaLaLakeShow wrote:
governator wrote:
Olajuwon still better but prime healthy T-Mac vs current Greek Freak?
Sheesh. That’s tough. Tracy was so smooth. I don’t know
I think the Greek Freak is better. He's taller, stronger, more explosive, a much better rebounder and much more efficient despite lacking a strong outside shot.
If you think about it it's not even that close. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
Olajuwon still better but prime healthy T-Mac vs current Greek Freak?
Sheesh. That’s tough. Tracy was so smooth. I don’t know
I think the Greek Freak is better. He's taller, stronger, more explosive, a much better rebounder and much more efficient despite lacking a strong outside shot.
If you think about it it's not even that close.
When you say "better", do you mean better athlete or better b-ball player or better power forward?
If you think about it... you've pointed out that Giannis is taller, stronger, more explosive and a better rebounder, all of which make him a better ATHLETE and power forward than McGrady... but T-Mac was easily a better B-BALL PLAYER and small forward if we're comparing skills and shooting... and it's not even close!
Olajuwon still better but prime healthy T-Mac vs current Greek Freak?
T-Mac couldn't lead his team past the 1st round. Giannis has already far surpassed T-Mac as a leader and with team success. Individual skills in a vacuum: T-Mac was the better player
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