Just for fun, who was better, Olajuwon or Duncan?

[Manwiththeplan]

Robinson would have done the same to Hakeem, had Rudy T not double and triple teamed the Admiral the entire series. Bob Hill is the reason Robinson got abused in that series, and Rodman too. Hill refused to double and triple the Dream, the way Houston was doing David, and Rodman was acting like a complete tool.

I guarantee if Robinson and Olajuwon would have gone one on one the whole series, the stats would have been basically identical.


Now, onto Duncan and Olajuwon. Duncan is 5-1 in the Finals (and if Pop has Duncan in the game in the final 30 seconds of game 6, he is 6-0 in the Finals), Hakeem is 2-2. Both are HOF players. Hakeem is definitely the more athletic of the two, which I think is a huge benefit to Duncan and his longevity. Duncan definitely has the higher basketball IQ. The Spurs winning % with Duncan is the best in all of North American pro sports in that time span. It blows away Hakeem's winning %. Duncan has had better success in the postseason. Duncan has more individual accolades. So, with all that being said, I give the edge to Duncan.

Basketball is a team sport, so I think it's worth mentioning that outside of Drexler, none of the players on that Houston 1994 or 1995 team are going in the hall of fame. In fact, Otis Thorpe made 1 all star team in 1992 and Sam Cassell made one in 2004. Hakeem was surrounded by a bunch of very good role players. Can't say that about Duncan. Parker is a far superior player to Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell. Manu Ginobili is a far superior player to Vernon Maxwell. Robert Horry played with Duncan for several years and for 2 of those championships, David Robinson was far superior to Otis Thorpe.

Also, Hakeem is 2-1, I think he lost to Boston in 1986 and never went back until 1994

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I think one thing that hurts Duncan in a comparison with Hakeem, is that Hakeem was the DPOY twice while Duncan never won the award. And yes, Duncan was all defense first team 8 times to Hakeem's 5, I'd argue that if they took 2 centers like they did 2 forwards, then Hakeem would have exceeded him with 9. He was just the overall better defender, which is why he's one of the highest, if not highest centers on the SPG list as well.

Offensively, it is close. Hakeem had some great moves, which likely causes people to believe he was more dominant, but outside of a few years, from 92-93 to 95-96, their numbers are very similar. I think Duncan was just about as good, just not as flashy, but defensively I think Hakeem has a clear edge.

 

[joseephuss]

You're discounting Duncan's longevity. That has to count for something. Duncan's stats will never be as good as the top players because he plays in a system the emphasis team play and not individuality.

I'm not discounting his longevity at all and I don't know why you would think I did. Plus Duncan doesn't really have longevity over Olajuwon. Duncan has been the more durable player. Both played 18 seasons in the NBA. Duncan will go for season 19 next year. Duncan has played in more games, which does count for something. It just doesn't overcome all the other things Hakeem did better in my opinion. It is still close between the two.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I have to rephrase my question because I know Kareem was a great defender. My screw up. Was Kareem considered that great a defensive player? You had him in the top 3. I've never seen him ranked that high before. I usually see him ranked in the top 20 for sure and mostly around the 7 to 10 spot, but never in the top 5 of all time for defenders.

I tend to think he is, his block numbers are phenomenal for the first few years of his career (I think the first 4 blocks weren't recorded) and he made a combined 11 all NBA first/second teams. He never won DPOY, but the award didn't exist until 82-83

 

[YosemiteSam]

That's difficult. I choose not to pick. I would take either one of the Big Fundamental or The Dream and be damn happy.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

That's difficult. I choose not to pick. I would take either one of the Big Fundamental or The Dream and be damn happy.

where's the fun in that?

 

[Tabascocat]

Hakeem......../end thread!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I have to admit I'm a bias Spurs fan. The performance Olajuwon had against Robinson in the playoffs still gives me nightmares.

Which leads me to...

Olajuwon = dominant force
Duncan = consistent force

 

[Biggems]

Basketball is a team sport, so I think it's worth mentioning that outside of Drexler, none of the players on that Houston 1994 or 1995 team are going in the hall of fame. In fact, Otis Thorpe made 1 all star team in 1992 and Sam Cassell made one in 2004. Hakeem was surrounded by a bunch of very good role players. Can't say that about Duncan. Parker is a far superior player to Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell. Manu Ginobili is a far superior player to Vernon Maxwell. Robert Horry played with Duncan for several years and for 2 of those championships, David Robinson was far superior to Otis Thorpe.

Also, Hakeem is 2-1, I think he lost to Boston in 1986 and never went back until 1994

yes, you are correct, Houston went just before Hakeem got there and lost to Philly. I forget Akeem was still at Houston during that time. I think Sampson was there though.

 

[Biggems]

Which leads me to...

Olajuwon = dominant force
Duncan = consistently dominant force

there, I corrected it for you

 

[Biggems]

Basketball is a team sport, so I think it's worth mentioning that outside of Drexler, none of the players on that Houston 1994 or 1995 team are going in the hall of fame. In fact, Otis Thorpe made 1 all star team in 1992 and Sam Cassell made one in 2004. Hakeem was surrounded by a bunch of very good role players. Can't say that about Duncan. Parker is a far superior player to Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell. Manu Ginobili is a far superior player to Vernon Maxwell. Robert Horry played with Duncan for several years and for 2 of those championships, David Robinson was far superior to Otis Thorpe.

Also, Hakeem is 2-1, I think he lost to Boston in 1986 and never went back until 1994

And who the heck did Robinson have? At least Hakeem had guys who could spread the floor and kill you from beyond the arc. Had Rodman played for us the way he did for Chicago, we would have had a better chance to win the series, but he was a complete headcase. Our outside shooters couldn't by a basket, especially in the Dome.

We have seen Horry's value to a team.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

And who the heck did Robinson have? At least Hakeem had guys who could spread the floor and kill you from beyond the arc. Had Rodman played for us the way he did for Chicago, we would have had a better chance to win the series, but he was a complete headcase. Our outside shooters couldn't by a basket, especially in the Dome.

We have seen Horry's value to a team.

This thread is about Duncan vs Hakeem, not Robinson vs Hakeem. Robinson from 1997-2003 is relevant as a team mate of Duncan and as a major contributor to those 2 championships. Robinson in 1994 and 1995, not so much with the topic at hand.

And I'm not saying this to be difficult, but more of an attempt to keep the conversation on track.

 

[Biggems]

This thread is about Duncan vs Hakeem, not Robinson vs Hakeem. Robinson from 1997-2003 is relevant as a team mate of Duncan and as a major contributor to those 2 championships. Robinson in 1994 and 1995, not so much with the topic at hand.

And I'm not saying this to be difficult, but more of an attempt to keep the conversation on track.

No, throughout this thread, Hakeem's play in the 95 WCF finals has been discussed and how he allegedly schooled David. So, while the thread is about Duncan vs Hakeem, David has a place in this conversation, since he and the Dream were rivals for about 8-10 years.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

No, throughout this thread, Hakeem's play in the 95 WCF finals has been discussed and how he allegedly schooled David. So, while the thread is about Duncan vs Hakeem, David has a place in this conversation, since he and the Dream were rivals for about 8-10 years.

What he did against an elite defender in Robinson, is relevant in a Hakeem vs Duncan debate, but the supporting cast of Robinson doesn't really have a place.

 

[joseephuss]

yes, you are correct, Houston went just before Hakeem got there and lost to Philly. I forget Akeem was still at Houston during that time. I think Sampson was there though.

No, Sampson was not on that 1980-1981 Rockets team that reached the NBA Finals. Those Rockets were led by Moses Malone. Ralph Sampson was a rookie in 1983, the year before Olajuwon joined them.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

there, I corrected it for you

Yeah I thought about that after... But Duncan us so smooth... Doesn't seem dominant.. But that's good

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'm not a fan of either the Rockets or Spurs. But, I think at their absolute peak, Hakeem was better. He was literally unstoppable. Duncan was incredible, but at his peak he wasn't unstoppable.





YR

 

[bounce]

As a homer, I'll take Duncan, but I can't argue against Hakeem.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Which leads me to...

Olajuwon = dominant force
Duncan = consistent force

This is good. If I had to describe each player, I might do it this way:


Olajuwon is the Hurricane that will destroy anything in it's path. When it shows up, you know that you better be elsewhere because it will kill you. It comes and then leaves but it always leaves Awesome devastation and utter destruction in it's weak.

Duncan is the steady river of water, that over time, carves out the Grand Canyon. In a single instance, the force of the river might not seem as great a threat but the water always finds a path and over time, it wears down anything.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

This is good. If I had to describe each player, I might do it this way:


Olajuwon is the Hurricane that will destroy anything in it's path. When it shows up, you know that you better be elsewhere because it will kill you. It comes and then leaves but it always leaves Awesome devastation and utter destruction in it's weak.

Duncan is the steady river of water, that over time, carves out the Grand Canyon. In a single instance, the force of the river might not seem as great a threat but the water always finds a path and over time, it wears down anything.

Your description was colorful... Accurate analogies. I like!