What if Duncan would have played with Hakeem instead of Robinson?

[Upgrayedd]

He won two rings with Robinson. Would Duncan and Hakeem have won anything together later in Hakeem's career?

[iamgine]

Depends on how late and what season.

[Upgrayedd]

It would be with Hakeem from the time Duncan was drafted until Hakeem retired.

[iamgine]

Hakeem would be 35+ by then.

Perhaps in the 98-99 shortened season. That's about it.

[RichieW]

I strongly believe Robinson is one of the main men who shaped Duncans career with his team-first attitude. The way he stepped aside as 'the man' as soon as Duncan was drafted was a credit to him. If Duncan goes to the Rockets, does Hakeem do the same?

Robinsons temperament perfectly complimented Duncan. I can't imagine any player being more suited to teaching a young Duncan than Robinson.

They likely win '99 together, who knows what else could have happened. If Duncan didn't miss the '00 playoffs the Spurs absolutely could have beaten repeated, maybe if Timmy plays that year and Hakeem gets in to Shaq's head about the '95 Finals they repeat and NBA history is different.

[iamgine]

I strongly believe Robinson is one of the main men who shaped Duncans career with his team-first attitude. The way he stepped aside as 'the man' as soon as Duncan was drafted was a credit to him. If Duncan goes to the Rockets, does Hakeem do the same?

Robinsons temperament perfectly complimented Duncan. I can't imagine any player being more suited to teaching a young Duncan than Robinson.

They likely win '99 together, who knows what else could have happened. If Duncan didn't miss the '00 playoffs the Spurs absolutely could have beaten repeated, maybe if Timmy plays that year and Hakeem gets in to Shaq's head about the '95 Finals they repeat and NBA history is different.
By '00, Hakeem was 37 and played 23 minutes per game...I'd say he'd not be more effective than Rik Smits who Shaq dominated in the finals.

[rmt]

By '00, Hakeem was 37 and played 23 minutes per game...I'd say he'd not be more effective than Rik Smits who Shaq dominated in the finals.

Coincidentally, in 03, DRob was also 37 and played 23 minutes per game in the playoffs.

[BoutPractice]

If it's just "Hakeem from 1997 on", probably one less title.

If it's Hakeem at the same age Robinson was at the time (32), that translates to 1994-1995 Hakeem, so I'm guessing they could win a threepeat in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The Bulls had a lot of problems with Olajuwon: if the old Jazz could take them to 6 games, then 1995 Hakeem + rookie Duncan looks in good shape to win the Finals. They win in 1999 for sure (imagine 1999 Duncan + Hakeem still capable of averaging 27, 11, 3 and 3, on the same team, coached by Pop :eek: ). In 2000, they have a shot. Hakeem is averaging about 23, 9 and 2 blocks: like Robinson he can still cause enough problems for Shaq defensively to make his day a bit difficult, except he'd also score more. He only gets to a comparable production level to 1999 Robinson in 2001, where the Lakers are so dominant they most likely still win it all.

After 2001, the center alongside Duncan is no longer that much part of the equation (but if anything Olajuwon has more longevity than Robinson, meaning that if he stays he can contribute longer), so he still wins the other titles, putting his total at 6. I'm assuming in this scenario Olajuwon was somehow traded with Robinson after the 1994 season, so Olajuwon's final ring total would be at 4. They would rightly be considered the greatest big duo of all time, and both their legacies would be boosted a fair bit.

[iamgine]

Coincidentally, in 03, DRob was also 37 and played 23 minutes per game in the playoffs.
Exactly, that David Robinson was definitely not very good.

[Y2ktors]

It would definitely work. recall, Dream never had an issue playing with Sampson

[D-FENS]

Hakeem was washed up by the time Duncan was in the league. Robinson was still a valuable contributor for a few years until his back went out.

They win less with Hakeem. If you're replacing Robinson with Hakeem at the same age, they probably win 2 titles max. As good as Hakeem and Duncan are, they are not beating the Bulls with that perimeter rotation. Pippen, Jordan and Harper would have terrorised those three guys.
Jordan destroyed Del Negro on the regular from 1996 on (and before then it was even worse)
Pippen thoroughly outplayed Elliott in almost all of their head to head battles.
They wouldn't even need to guard Avery Johnson.

It's more interesting to picture the Rockets vs the Bulls. The outside shooting of the Rockets would have been a problem for the Bulls because Olajuwon was so good passing out of double teams and he destroyed everyone one on one

[Rake2204]

I strongly believe Robinson is one of the main men who shaped Duncans career with his team-first attitude. The way he stepped aside as 'the man' as soon as Duncan was drafted was a credit to him. If Duncan goes to the Rockets, does Hakeem do the same?

Robinsons temperament perfectly complimented Duncan. I can't imagine any player being more suited to teaching a young Duncan than Robinson.I think you're right on point. It's tough to conjure up another Hall of Fame superstar who would have so readily sacrificed his own personal glory for the absolute betterment of the team.

I feel as though I've heard or seen many stars claim they just want to win, but it often seems to be on the condition of, "as long as I'm the man and/or putting up numbers and getting the vast majority of the recognition." Yet with his last full year being one in which he averaged 25, 12, 3, and 3 (and recognizing he was coming off of injury and was likely at the tail end of his mega prime) Robinson couldn't have handled the Tim Duncan situation any better, right from the start.

[SCdac]

Considering Duncan also won championships with Rasho Nesterovic, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Oberto, and Francisco Elson at center.... I think he'd do fine with late Hakeem.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h24/scostc/oberto.jpg

[Rake2204]

Considering Duncan also won championships with Rasho Nesterovic, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Oberto, and Francisco Elson at center.... I think he'd do fine with late Hakeem.I think the rest of the supporting cast would play a role as well. For instance, those Oberto and Elson squads also featured Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, whereas that '99 club housed a 33 year old Avery Johnson and a broken down Sean Elliott. That's not to say things wouldn't have worked out in that era with Hakeem, I just don't find both scenarios (90's vs. 00's) completely parallel.

[SCdac]

I think the rest of the supporting cast would play a role as well. For instance, those Oberto and Elson squads also featured Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, whereas that '99 club housed a 33 year old Avery Johnson and a broken down Sean Elliott. That's not to say things wouldn't have worked out in that era with Hakeem, I just don't find both scenarios (90's vs. 00's) completely parallel.

Old or not, both Avery and Elliott hit some big shots late in their career and they were experienced and hungry to win. Avery hit that huge game winning shot in the Finals, Elliott was great against the Blazers.

That whole 99 team was full of veterans, and it worked to the Nth degree. Mario Elie was basically their Bowen, tough defender and clutch shooter. And Duncan came into the league a relatively polished product.

The point is this, though, Duncan didn't need an All Star center or even a fringe all star next to him to be successful, as evidenced by his long career of success. Is the situation perfectly parallel, no, but I think Spurs would be just fine with an older Hakeem.

[rmt]

Considering Duncan also won championships with Rasho Nesterovic, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Oberto, and Francisco Elson at center.... I think he'd do fine with late Hakeem.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h24/scostc/oberto.jpg

I agree. As long as Duncan has decent big man help, the Spurs contend. When they had the twin turds (Bonner and Blair), those are the dark days of the Duncan era - really no hope at all.

[fpliii]

OT - Robinson doesn't get nearly enough credit for the 99 title. Duncan was the primary low post option (though he wasn't as efficient a scorer as he was during his prime), but the Admiral was SA's best defender from watching at the time (given, that's one of the Finals series I haven't rewatched in a while). RAPM backs this up.

Hakeem was better than Robinson at their respect peaks and in their primes in general (offensively, defensively, and overall), but Robinson was a couple of years younger in 98 and 99. I don't think 98 Hakeem will bring them the ship, but in 99 they might still win (and Hakeem was basically done after that).

[Rake2204]

Old or not, both Avery and Elliott hit some big shots late in their career and they were experienced and hungry to win. Avery hit that huge game winning shot in the Finals, Elliott was great against the Blazers.

That whole 99 team was full of veterans, and it worked to the Nth degree. Mario Elie was basically their Bowen, tough defender and clutch shooter. And Duncan came into the league a relatively polished product.

The point is this, though, Duncan didn't need an All Star center or even a fringe all star next to him to be successful, as evidenced by his long career of success. Is the situation perfectly parallel, no, but I think Spurs would be just fine with an older Hakeem.That is fair.

[Manila]

these "what ifs" threads sre worthless:facepalm