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My first time seeing this...interesting ...check out Olajuwon's move at 8:32...the dude is still so smooth...wow!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF8Q5bwCLyE[/youtube]

Yeah, Hakeem is still in terrific shape. Even at 50, he's a lock to be better than Patterson.

Let's sign him.

Yea I saw this over the summer Melo looks so stiff next to Olajuwon its not even funny.
I was pretty upset because apparently the Knicks signed him to be their bigman coach...

dafuq! You mean to tell me we could of had Hakeem in here beastin teaching our stable of forwards how to play? We didnt get him?
Imagine Olajuwon working w/ Asik, Motie, Jones, Patterson, Smith, Morris, hell even White...

But most of all White LBJ, hey if it helped that other LBJ i'm sure White LBJ could use it. That his biggest weakness

I read that Amare paid Olajuwon $100K to tutor him for 2 weeks. I didn't know Carmelo got some lessons too.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... --nba.html

TMACFORMVP wrote:Yeah, Hakeem is still in terrific shape. Even at 50, he's a lock to be better than Patterson.

Let's sign him.

...

Goddamn, that man still has those silky swift moves. In his prime, I would say that Hakeem was arguably the smoothest big man that has ever played in the game. As a center, he didn't always try to overpower his opponents, but he had the best footwork and a lethal first step that threw his opponents off guard. A lot of people talk only about the Dream Shake, but he also had a nasty turnaround sidestep jumper or fadeaway jumper. Defensively, he did everything and was one of the few players along with Russell who would deflect shots to his teammates.

That footwork is a thing of beauty, pretty much forgotten artistry in the modern game. Its sad that players born or developed in foreign countries (Olajuwon, Gasol, Kobe etc) have such fundamentally good footwork compared to the US born NBA players.

I'm not sure about Gasol or any other foreign born or developed player, but Olajuwon always credited his upbringing playing soccer as the basis for his footwork. I'd guess that most US-born athletes get started on basketball almost immediately and may not get the early training in footwork.

Has Hakeem publically worked with a Rockets big man since his retirement?

TMU wrote:Goddamn, that man still has those silky swift moves. In his prime, I would say that Hakeem was arguably the smoothest big man that has ever played in the game. As a center, he didn't always try to overpower his opponents, but he had the best footwork and a lethal first step that threw his opponents off guard. A lot of people talk only about the Dream Shake, but he also had a nasty turnaround sidestep jumper or fadeaway jumper. Defensively, he did everything and was one of the few players along with Russell who would deflect shots to his teammates.

Arguably? Hakeem at 50 IS the silkiest bigman ever...

Mr. E wrote:I'm not sure about Gasol or any other foreign born or developed player, but Olajuwon always credited his upbringing playing soccer as the basis for his footwork. I'd guess that most US-born athletes get started on basketball almost immediately and may not get the early training in footwork.

The US has the highest participation of youth soccer... but no bigman comes close to Olajuwon.

spolgar wrote:Has Hakeem publically worked with a Rockets big man since his retirement?

Only with Yao.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/223496/Knicks_Hire_Olajuwon_To_Work_With_Frontcourt_Players

I like CD and all but damnit they should of gone after Dream.

The issue with most American development programs in any sport is that a lot of emphasis is placed on developing the physical aspect of the game like quickness and strength more than the fundamental skill. Even the American soccer team is mostly hard working players who rely on their stamina and endurance over an artistry and understanding of the game.

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:The issue with most American development programs in any sport is that a lot of emphasis is placed on developing the physical aspect of the game like quickness and strength more than the fundamental skill. Even the American soccer team is mostly hard working players who rely on their stamina and endurance over an artistry and understanding of the game.

That's more in the teen years... by that time kids have already moved on to football, bball, baseball.
You don't see 4-11 year old kids running many suicides, or laps.
All about passing games, juggling, or just some fit program designed to get kids playing.


But yea Nigeria is at least now is all about stamina & endurance... back in Olajuwon's time idk. I guess they were the Super Eagles in the 90's one of my alltime favorite soccer teams. Okocha, Kanu, Oliseh, and West the guy with the green braided hair.

lol when your a kid anyone with big bright hair is cool... Alexi Lalas, Valderama, West

I miss these moves!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22O2lApCBBs[/youtube]

Anyone see this? Shaq shows his respect!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvMZU9fbpiY[/youtube]

isn't that technically a travel at 2:20 (when olajuwan demonstrates his moves)? It looks like he lifts his pivot before the ball is released from his hand, which would be a travel. however it's very hard to see clearly with just pause/play tools on youtube.

here are the NBA rules on travelling:

Traveling:
To start a dribble after establishing a pivot foot, the ball must be released from the player’s hand before his pivot foot leaves the floor or he has committed a traveling violation. A player who receives the ball while moving is allowed a two count rhythm but must release the ball prior to the third step touching the floor. When ending his dribble a player may use a two count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting. A player who fall s to the floor while holding the ball or while coming to a stop may not gain an advantage by rolling on the floor. A player who attempts a shot may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, rim or another player. If a player comes to a stop on the count of one when both feet are on the floor or touch the floor simultaneously, he may pivot using either foot as his pivot. If he alights with both feet he must release the ball before either foot touches the floor. If a player has one foot on the floor or lands with one foot first to the floor, he may only pivot with that foot. Once that foot is lifted from the floor to shoot or pass it may not return until the ball is released. If a player jumps off one foot on the count of one he may land with both feet simultaneously for count two. In this situation, the player may not pivot with either foot and if one or both feet leave the floor the ball must be released before either return to the floor. When a player gathers the ball he may not step consecutively with the same foot, as in a hopping motion.

Olajuwon is the best there is, best there was, and best that there will ever be! (Sorry Hitman!) I can watch him doing that for hours.

Growing up, I used to tape anything and everything I could Olajuwon. I used to rewind and replay his moves over and over again. Then I would practice them over and over again.

I cannot even profess to being anywhere 1/100th of the level Olajuwon is/was at, (even at him being 50yrs old!) He still does those spin moves faster than I could ever manage.

Yet when I play, using some of those moves, I usually torch my opposition. The biggest problem I have is not having guards who know how to make efficient entry passes to the post. We always give Olajuwon his dues, (and rightly so.) But lately I wonder how good Olajuwon would have been, if he didn't have guards willing to give him the ball on nearly every posession, then spot up. Can you imagine how much better Olajuwon would have been, if he ran pick and rolls with Steve Nash, or Jason Kidd??? That would probably have been the scariest thing to ever see in NBA basketball. I am not taking anything away from Jet, Mad Max, Drexler, Elie etc. I think Olajuwon would have ended number 2 or 3 all time for scoring if tha had happened his whole career. We would have probably had more than 2 championships too.

Playing back to the basket is probably the hardest thing to teach a person. You notice Olajuwon used to catch the ball, and square up/triple threat on most plays. He could then go back to the basket again, before facing up again, or doing whatever he chose to. The closest I have seen to this in the NBA since his retirement is actually Scola, believe it or not. I saw a lot of similarities between his scoop shot and elements of the Dream Shake. Again, this is probably due to his Eurostyle upbringing. Sadly Scola wasn't anywhere near as athletically gifted. But he could play back to the basket in the post, step out to the elbow/high post, and shoot a decent mid-range jumper.

I could talk for hours about Olajuwon. He's everything to me Basketball wise. I cannot even compare him to MJ, because MJ isn't in the same league as Olajuwon, he is so far beneath it's not funny. This is one of the reasons I always laugh when people always say that MJ is the GOAT. He isn't worthy to hold Olajuwon's bags.

Whenever I hear the whole MJ argument I always propose a different hypothetical. "If MJ was 4 inches taller, do you think he would have been the GOAT? Reverse that, and make Olajuwon 4 inches shorter. He may not have been the GOAT, but I bet he would have been top 5 at least!

Hakeem is still regularly playing basketball. He has mentored Melo, Dwight and McGee, so I'm going to assume he actively encourages young players. Good for him.

inquisitive wrote:I miss these moves!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22O2lApCBBs[/youtube]

Yao does similar spin move

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS-6zf-xOYA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkWSYkdXUI[/youtube]

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:That footwork is a thing of beauty, pretty much forgotten artistry in the modern game. Its sad that players born or developed in foreign countries (Olajuwon, Gasol, Kobe etc) have such fundamentally good footwork compared to the US born NBA players.

Slava, it goes beyond basketball. The entire modern American culture generally focuses on raw power over grace. Take a look at the auto industry or the military, for example.

Zubby wrote:The US has the highest participation of youth soccer... but no bigman comes close to Olajuwon.

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:The issue with most American development programs in any sport is that a lot of emphasis is placed on developing the physical aspect of the game like quickness and strength more than the fundamental skill. Even the American soccer team is mostly hard working players who rely on their stamina and endurance over an artistry and understanding of the game.

Exactly. Any foreign-born soccer afficionado can tell you that American soccer is a joke.