Shaq vs Hakeem (Starting a Franchise)

halfHAVOC · Post #21 » by **halfHAVOC** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 8:41 pm

keem'

Post #22 » by **Harry Palmer** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:30 pm

houstonboy01 wrote:Shaq has been traded 3 times and has played with 4 different teams.... Hakeem played his entire career with one team except for his last season... Shaq doest rub me as the type of player that is loved by everyone on the team... Dream on the other hand will make the players around him better.

This isn't really a point for or against Shaq, imo. For one thing, the first trade at least was at his own request, not something forced on him because of ill-will. Secondly, Hakeem himself made a trade demand mid-way through his career.

I'm not saying you are wrong about Hakeem being someone whom players respect as a person more than Shaq...I think that might well be true...but I don't think it is something that we can say for sure, nor do I think it had much bearing on their impacts, even if true. I think we could equally say that Shaq was more media-friendly.

No, for me it comes down to overall impact. Hakeem dominated end to end, side-line to sideline. Shaq, while sometimes surprisingly effective at other aspects given his size, was really only dominant at the offensive end. To me, you give Hakeem a career full of Pennys and Kobes and Wades and Phils and Rileys, and he has at least as many rings.

Post #23 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:11 pm

Incidentally, Shaq has only been traded twice; from L.A. to Miami and from Miami to Phoenix.

He signed with the Lakers as a free agent after his rookie contract with Orlando expired.

Joker · Post #24 » by **Joker** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:54 pm

Harry Palmer wrote:I'll take the guy who was dominant at both ends over the guy who was dominant at one.

Honest question: would you take David Robinson over Shaq?

Lakers05 · Post #25 » by **Lakers05** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 11:53 pm

I'll take Shaq because while statistically, they were similar, Shaq had the potential to do a lot more. So it depends on what type of coach you're giving me. If it's Popovich, I'll take Shaq easily.

Post #26 » by **Harry Palmer** » Fri Mar 7, 2008 10:18 pm

Joker wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Honest question: would you take David Robinson over Shaq?

Missed this before.

Probably not. But if Robinson had done what Hakeem did when it mattered, I probably would, for the reason I'd take Hakeem over Shaq. Robinson was better at both ends, yes, but he came up shy when it mattered, and that's enough for me to give the nod to Shaq. A Robinson who also came through in the playoffs and lead teams to rings would be one of the best to ever lace up.

Post #27 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Mar 7, 2008 10:34 pm

D-Rob was never as good as Shaq on offense because he was predominantly a face-up guy and one who relied on mismatches when he did post up more often than not. That also led to his postseason difficulties.

He was, of course, a fabulous defender but I'd take Shaq over him every time.