Rookie AK-47

[Reckless]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVz0i7ScMP4[/youtube]

i miss old ak-47

[Ziploc]

I miss Stockton and Malone.

and yes old AK, you can really see how age and injures can effect a player. But look at him, he is such a beast in this video I love it.

Crazy to think that he got to play with Stockton and Malone. nice vid.

[BarneyGumble]

If we had the 2004 AK in either 07 or 08, we likely would have won the Championship. His decline really was sharp after signing the max deal

Also, damn I miss Stockton! So focused and methodical, and always made the right decision....

[Ziploc]

Also, damn I miss Stockton! So focused and methodical, and always made the right decision....

brings a tear to my eye!

[awesomator]

Uh. He looks the same now, only better. Like he doesn't leave his man for no reason to go for a block or steal... Oh wait he still does that. Ok, but at least now he finishes around the rim. Oh, my bad. But in 9 years he has finally learned to shoot.

[QuantumMacgyver]

I honestly don't think AK plays all that much different now. He is a bit slower, but injuries, age and the muscle he put on last summer will do that. I think its more a case of everyone in the league knowing what AK is capable of, as compared to him being such a mystery to most of the league in these old games. There was definitely a 2 or 3 year stretch where we didn't see much from AK tho.

[HammerDunk]

Could you imagine if he was on the 96-98 squads? There is no way we would have lost to the Bulls.

[The59Sound]

Definitely true. AK, or even Okur. But those are just what-ifs -- and they depress me. The reality, painfully, is that a shove in the ass and a 15-footer have [wrongfully] taken John Stockton out of the conversation for GOAT at his position.

[erudite23]

No, he isn't the same player. Offensively, sure. But defensively he has lost the energy and hustle that made him the biggest terror I have ever seen. He's still good, just not a game changer. His offense, though, was always a tad over done. He wasn't terribly efficient as a scorer and he turned the ball over quite a bit. He just had more touches in the offense because we sucked so bad at the time. So, offensively he's close, maybe even a bit better. Defensively, though, he's only a "very good" as opposed to "all time dominant" like he was back then. Nothing like watching him take over a game with his shot blocking. Damn I miss it.

[BarneyGumble]

He's not even close to the same player offensively either. He used to slash to the bucket and get slams and layups. Now he woopty dooes his way into the lane and creates alot of turnovers. Also, he used to make like 50 FTs in a row for stretches during the season. In years past he has not been nearly as reliable. Same goes with his jumper. Used to not be a dagger, but it was reliable. Now you just pray he catches iron and we have a chance at an offensive rebound.

[LjJazzman]

AK was such an exciting player to watch. When AK was at the top of his game he was my favorite player to watch of all time, he really was. He could just do so many things that nobody else could ever dream of doing.

Anyone who says he is anything close to the same player doesn't remember how freaking amazing he was. On offense hes not much worse then he used to but he plays in a completely different way. Same goes for defense.

Hes still a very good player when healthy but he plays completely different then he used to. How often do we see him come the weak-side and jump over another Jazz players back to block a shot? He used to do that every single game. He blocks shots still but not in the way he used to.

[BarneyGumble]

Dude I remember AK was getting 5x5s and triple doubles in the BLOCKS category. Jeebus he was just a freak of nature to watch. I remember on opening night against the Lakers in 2005 I think it was he blocked Kobe Bryant 5 times in the first quarter.

[Bullet]

Speaking of the 5x5s, I can't catch a video of the game/s on youtube. Anyone have it? Or at least a link?

On the topic, Raja's back. Maybe that can ignite AK to bring his old game back.

[The59Sound]

On the topic, Raja's back. Maybe that can ignite AK to bring his old game back.

AK will just get freaked out by his intensity and strain a ligament as he's backpedaling from him.