70sFan wrote:Kareem wasn't Dantley-esque. I've been working on a video about his post game and he's not more of a ball-stopper than Shaq. Not at all, he fought for deep position and even without success he could launch the skyhook from 15 feet without taking a single dribble. Kareem was much quicker with his decisions than you think. There are some cases when he slowed down the pace, but it was because he knew teams will double him and he waited to take advantage of it.
I also think that you've watched way too many 1980s games if you believe that teams were happy with Kareem guarded one on one. In the 1970s, Jabbar was doubled even without the ball and it wasn't that rare. In late 70s Lakers team teams didn't give him a space even to breath, the only time I've seen many one on one actions from him is against the Bulls who had Artis Gilmore to guard him. Watch games from 1977 or 1979, Kareem scaried teams just as much as Shaq.
Didn't see this when I posted but 100% agreed. Kareem is one of the fastest moving post players ever, I mean that's the point of the skyhook entirely and it was his go to move. It's something you can get from a crap angle without much setup. Literally catch and make from wherever you are at the time. That's why it was so deadly. Not to mention his turnaround fadeaway which was also deadly.
Doc's criticism would work for most 70s bigs. Kareem on the other hand was by far the fastest moving player in the post back then.
