How Hakeem absolutely shut down Ewing with his defense in the 1994 Finals

[coastalmarker99]

Every NBA fan knows and frequently talks about The Dream’s domination on both ends over David Robinson in the 1995 WCF.


However, something that’s less talked about was what Hakeem did a year prior during the ‘94 Finals against another great big man of the 1990s: Patrick Ewing.


First, Hakeem’s numbers in the 1994 finals:
26.9 PPG
9.1 RPG
3.6 APG
55.6% TS (terrific efficiency against Ewing, who was a really good defensive Center in his own right)

But Specifically, his defensive numbers were crazy:
3.9 BPG
1.6 SPG
95 DRTG (via bballref)

Now Let’s dive into some Ewing numbers:

Ewing’s scoring in the 1994 playoffs before facing Hakeem:

Averaged 23.1 PPG on 54% TS

How Ewing scored in the ‘94 Finals vs Hakeem:

Averaged 18.9 PPG on 39%(!) TS

Hakeem defensively was clearly on another level this series.


Next, let’s dive into what specifically Hakeem did on defence to smother Ewing throughout the entire 7 game series:




One big thing Hakeem did was his great job contesting Patrick Ewing on his jumpers, whether it be his fadeaways or off a size up.

With jumpers being a big staple of Ewing’s offensive game, it was huge that Hakeem rarely gave Ewing an easy look on them.


Another HUGE element was Hakeem’s disruption as both a shot-blocker and with his hands. Pressuring Ewing constantly is again a key.


Of course, Rockets did send double teams at Ewing when Hakeem was on him which often left open shooters.

And Hakeem’s activity sometimes resulted in mistakes: being baited in Ewing pump fakes on fadeaways/jumpers or gambling for tips/steals on entry passes to Ewing


Additionally, Ewing was bigger physically so whenever he was able to back down low it resulted in him winning vs Hakeem more easily in the post.

But overall, Hakeem clearly won the matchup on the defensive end.

[BlakFrankWhite]

I mean he was the reigning Defensive player of the year so not really a big surprise.

[3ba11]

And yet the Knicks almost won with Ewing getting 18 on 35%

So Jordan's 34/6/6 career average would sweep Hakeem

Only in 1995 did Hakeem have a chance against Jordan, and probably beats Jordan that year because he had a "pippen" at 3rd option (horry averaged 18/10 on 55% in the 95' finals)

[coastalmarker99]

And yet the Knicks almost won with Ewing getting 18 on 35%

So Jordan's 34/6/6 career average would sweep Hakeem

Only in 1995 did Hakeem have a chance against Jordan, and probably beats Jordan that year because he had a "pippen" at 3rd option (horry averaged 18/10 on 55% in the 95' finals)


MJ was too mentally weak to keep playing after 1993 so he would have lost in 1994 and 1995 to Hakeem who was on a mission.


As the Rockets throughout that era used to own the Bulls.

[coastalmarker99]

And yet the Knicks almost won with Ewing getting 18 on 35%

So Jordan's 34/6/6 career average would sweep Hakeem

Only in 1995 did Hakeem have a chance against Jordan, and probably beats Jordan that year because he had a "pippen" at 3rd option (horry averaged 18/10 on 55% in the 95' finals)

Olajuwon's Rockets faced Jordan and the Bulls 21 times during their careers.

The Rockets went 12-9 during those games and Olajuwon averaged 23.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 1.9 steals, and had a 51.3 FG%


6-2 from 90-95 during the Rockets first championship and the Bulls 3 peat as well.


Olajuwon’s averages against the Bulls were all higher than his career averages, which is further proof of how they simply couldn’t stop The Dream. Olajuwon had a 20-20 game against the Bulls, in which he scored 24 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, while also blocking four shots, and that’s just one of many good games Olajuwon had against the Bulls.

Hakeem also had three near triple-double against the Jordan-led crew, as he posted the following statlines in those three games.

23 points/10 rebounds/7 blocks
32 points/17 rebounds/9 blocks
28 points/13 rebounds/7 assists
The Rockets went 3-1 in those four games mentioned above, and it’s safe to say that they would’ve beat Jordan’s Bulls in the Finals, because of The Dream.

Jordan actually stated that he feared the Bulls couldn’t stop the Rockets during a conversation with legendary Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich (subscription required).

“He gave our team great respect,” Tomjanovich said. “He didn’t feel that they could contain Hakeem. They just didn’t have the personnel to do it. And he said he thought we were the team that gave them the most trouble.”

Considering how Hakeem dominated Jordan and the Bulls, it makes perfect sense that he had this concern. Olajuwon posted 14 double-doubles during his battles with Jordan and the Bulls, including posting one in nine straight games, spanning from their first match in the 1989-90 season and concluding with the first match during the 1995-96 season.

That means there were four straight seasons in which Olajuwon posted a double-double against the Bulls, and the Rockets went 6-3 during those games. We also have to remember that Olajuwon was such a great passer that the Bulls couldn’t double him, because Rudy T was one of the first to adopt the 3-point strategy.

The Bulls didn’t have the ability to defend Olajuwon one-on-one in the post, which means he would’ve drawn a second defender, which would have led to a wide open 3-pointer from the likes of Mario Elie, Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, Matt Bullard, or Vernon Maxwell.

[coastalmarker99]

And yet the Knicks almost won with Ewing getting 18 on 35%

So Jordan's 34/6/6 career average would sweep Hakeem

Only in 1995 did Hakeem have a chance against Jordan, and probably beats Jordan that year because he had a "pippen" at 3rd option (horry averaged 18/10 on 55% in the 95' finals)

After a regular-season game between the Bulls and the Rockets back in 1992, a journalist named Fran Blinebury covering the Rockets claimed he was talking to Michael Jordan in the locker room. The Bulls lost (110-96) yet again to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets.


He says Michael Jordan told him, “you know it’s a good thing these guys can’t get out of the west.” and the reporter asked, “WHY?”

Jordan’s response was (regarding Hakeem)… “WE’VE GOT NO ANSWER FOR THAT BIG MONSTER.”

[MadDog]

Hakeem was ALL TIME from 93-95. And yeah, he was great defensively vs Ewing - but if Starks just makes a couple of shots in G7, N.Y. takes that finals. He was awful, and didn't makeup for it on defense like Pat did.

[SATAN]

Hakeem at his best was absolutely dominant. The stats don't even show the full picture.

[ShawkFactory]

And yet the Knicks almost won with Ewing getting 18 on 35%

So Jordan's 34/6/6 career average would sweep Hakeem

Only in 1995 did Hakeem have a chance against Jordan, and probably beats Jordan that year because he had a "pippen" at 3rd option (horry averaged 18/10 on 55% in the 95' finals)

3 posts in and you’re making a legitimate Ewing/Hakeem thread about Jordan.