TrebleMan
Superstar
Top 10 players I'd draft.
I think I'd take Shaq over him though because Prime Shaq was on a different level.
Yes, Hakeem was plenty more skilled. Within the context of the game and all things equal dude is the best center.
However, the refs called the games different for Shaq. Defenders could foul him on every single play and the refs would allow it. To stop Shaq you had to play defense outside the context of the game. NBA players have admitted this.
Shaq didn't really "break the game" but more like the refs "broke the game" to level the playing field for defenders to have a "fair fight" against Shaq. Seriously watch how many times grown centers and power forwards would be clinging onto Shaq and no calls. Completely changes what "acceptable" defense is.
If the context of the game were treated fairly for both players, Shaq would foul out every single center and power forward within the first half. Shaq with Kobe and correct-called games would be blowing teams out by 30 a night.
Side note: I believe there's a game in 1998 where Hakeem picked up a technical foul because Shaq faked him out bad and got Hakeem to foul him, but really you could see the accumulated frustration because Shaq was just too much at that point and Hakeem (although past his prime) was looking like everyone else who tried to stop Shaq. The next year though was when Shaq was Prime Shaq.
I think I'd take Shaq over him though because Prime Shaq was on a different level.
Yes, Hakeem was plenty more skilled. Within the context of the game and all things equal dude is the best center.
However, the refs called the games different for Shaq. Defenders could foul him on every single play and the refs would allow it. To stop Shaq you had to play defense outside the context of the game. NBA players have admitted this.
Shaq didn't really "break the game" but more like the refs "broke the game" to level the playing field for defenders to have a "fair fight" against Shaq. Seriously watch how many times grown centers and power forwards would be clinging onto Shaq and no calls. Completely changes what "acceptable" defense is.
If the context of the game were treated fairly for both players, Shaq would foul out every single center and power forward within the first half. Shaq with Kobe and correct-called games would be blowing teams out by 30 a night.
Side note: I believe there's a game in 1998 where Hakeem picked up a technical foul because Shaq faked him out bad and got Hakeem to foul him, but really you could see the accumulated frustration because Shaq was just too much at that point and Hakeem (although past his prime) was looking like everyone else who tried to stop Shaq. The next year though was when Shaq was Prime Shaq.
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