1994 Hakeem Olajuwon vs 1983 Moses Malone

[SportsGuru08]

Two all-time great centers at their peak. Who you got?

[Special_Puppy]

This isn't really close. Its 100% Hakeem

[HomoSapien]

This isn't really close. Its 100% Hakeem

I have no problem with anyone picking Hakeem, but not even close? Moses was the MVP that year. Dude averaged 25, 15, and 2 blocks while while leading the Sixers to a championship over an all-time great Lakers squad. I pick Hakeem too, but to say it's not even close is just wrong.

[AEnigma]

That is like saying 1970 Reed is close to 2003 Duncan because both won MVP and Finals MVP with 20+ ppg averages.

[70sFan]

I think Moses has a slight edge on offensive end, he was more versatile offensive player (which may sound strange considering his limited passing skills, but he could thrive in more roles than Hakeem).

That small edge on offense doesn't make up the large defensive advantage Hakeem possesses. Olajuwon defense puts him on another level.

[LukaTheGOAT]

1994 Hakeem

Even if you wanted to argue Moses is a better offensive player, it would only be slightly. And there is a massive gap between them on defense, which leads to a notable difference in their overall impact.

1994 Hakeem in the RS

26.3 pts per 75 (rTS% of 3.7%)

Backpicks BPM-6
AuPM/G-5.5
BPM-6.8
PIPM-6.20
RAPTOR-6.07
Estimated RAPTOR-6.2

1983 Moses Malone in the RS

24.1 pts per 75 (rTS% of 4.7%)

Backpicks BPM-3.4
AuPM/G-4.6
BPM-3.7
PIPM-4.81
RAPTOR-6.52
Estimated RAPTOR-5.3

As good as Moses was in the playoffs, Hakeem was known for raising his level considerably as well. His general activity levels on that end went up.

1994 Hakeem in the PS

28.7 pts per 75 (rTS% of 4.9%)

Backpicks BPM-6
BPM-8.5
RAPTOR-6.8
PIPM-3.3

1983 Moses in the PS

25.8 pts per 75 (rTS of 6.8%)

Backpicks BPM-5.3
BPM-6.4
RAPTOR-8.66
PIPM-2.98

Once again, Hakeem generally comes out looking better in the playoffs too.

I think there are two ways you can look at there scoring. I think Hakeem was able to generate higher volume, because he was a better self-creator than Moses, and could create shots on demand in more ways. On the other hand, you could prefer Moses' scoring, because he perhaps can get his points off-ball a bit more. Moses is one of the GOAT offensive rebounders, and therefore he arguably generates shots in with needing the ball as much. You might also predict Moses to be a bit more efficient to, as he isn't taking as many difficult shots as Hakeem (in part because he didn't have to create as much).

Since Moses rebounded so many of his own shots, it is also possible rTS% underrates his efficiency, since he is getting those missed shots right back. If we look at something like ScoreVal, an estimate of a player’s points per 100 impact from scoring only, Moses does look better.

Hakeem: 1.7

Moses: 2.3

I don't have an issue with Moses>Hakeem as a scorer. Though, I still feel like I might side with Hakeem. I appreciate Hakeem's offensive floor-raising, and the fact that Hakeem could hit tougher shots, and generate shots he was comfortable with as primary offensive option.

Also, if you look at 3-year PS scoring stretches for more context, Hakeem looks better than if you do only single year stretches.

93-95 Hakeem

28.7 pts per 75 (rTS% of 3.4%)

PS ScoreVal-1.6

82-84 Moses Malone

23.8 pts per 75 (rTS% of 3.9%)

PS ScoreVal-1.6


Next, I would say Hakeem is a better playmaker than Malone. Because of Hakeem's ability as a 1 v 1 scorer, I believe there was more the defense had to account for when Hakeem has the ball. I also think Hakeem might just be a better pure passer out of the post.

In terms of passing/playmaking evaluations.

94 Hakeem

RS
Passer Rating (An estimate of a player’s passing ability on approximately a 1-10 scale)-4.2
Box Creation (Estimated Shots Creating Per 100)-4.7

PS

Passer Rating-4.9
Box Creation-6.2

83 Moses

RS
Passer Rating-1.6
Box Creation-1

PS

Passer Rating-1.7
Box Creation-2

If the overall evaluation of who is the better offensive player between Hakeem and Moses is hazy, then I think Hakeem is the right choice for being the better overall player. Hakeem lead elite defenses with not great defensive talent many times. Hakeem was not only an ATG rim-protector, which is the most valuable form of defense, but a true shutdown artist 1v1. Hakeem was more active in the passing lanes and that showed in better steal numbers. This might be too grandiose of a statement, but I am not sure if there is one aspect of defense Moses did better than Hakeem, other than maybe putting opposing bigs in foul trouble, which consequently kept the starting bigs on the bench more.

Therefore, I do think Hakeem was better.

[HomoSapien]

That is like saying 1970 Reed is close to 2003 Duncan because both won MVP and Finals MVP with 20+ ppg averages.

Again, Hakeem is better but to say not even close makes it sound like Moses is a scrub. If Hakeem was a 10, Moses was like a 9.

[tsherkin]

That is like saying 1970 Reed is close to 2003 Duncan because both won MVP and Finals MVP with 20+ ppg averages.

Again, Hakeem is better but to say not even close makes it sound like Moses is a scrub. If Hakeem was a 10, Moses was like a 9.

That doesn't need to be true.

The defensive gap is sufficiently large that it be clearly in Olajuwon's favor without reducing Moses to something less than an outstanding player. It's a very, very significant gap in ability and impact, particularly in-era. The offensive gap is less consequential, and we are specifically addressing peak-type season here. I would never even consider 83 Moses over 94 Olajuwon.