Recreating '94 Rockets today with Hakeem - How far would they go?

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;14858749]But Embiid did 1.08 PPP on 9.3 post-up possessions per game. Hakeem's tracked numbers from 1993-1995 aren't that far off that. Only the volume is 55-56% higher.

I stand by my claim. Hakeem passes the eye test on footage. What spacing and ease of post entry that was lost with the removal of the Illegal Defense rule is mediated by the improved spacing from the increased shooting.[/QUOTE]

Thing is Hakeem would play a bit differently today. Even if you time traveled him here. So those numbers aren't too meaningful.

One would think that due to the rule changes he'd utilize his great face up more but then he wouldn't be taking advantage of the more frequent strength advantage he'd have in today's league. So what wins out? back to the basket game to exploit his strength or face up game to exploit the rules? These kinda things have to be played out to find out. The great thing about Hakeem is that he was versatile enough that he'd dominate in any era. But would he dominate more, less or about the same? Hard to say. The best analysts can't even predict how good a guy playing right now will be in the NBA.

You can try to find comparable players but the Rockets cast had something else you can't replace. They were perhaps the most clutch collection of role players I've ever seen on one team. We got gamewinners from what seems like half the team.

They were ahead of their time with the 3s, so why wouldn't they translate to this era well. I know the game changed for typical bigs but Dream wasn't typical at all.

[QUOTE=sdot_thadon;14859605]You can try to find comparable players but the Rockets cast had something else you can't replace. They were perhaps the most clutch collection of role players I've ever seen on one team. We got gamewinners from what seems like half the team.

They were ahead of their time with the 3s, so why wouldn't they translate to this era well. I know the game changed for typical bigs but Dream wasn't typical at all.[/QUOTE]

the biggest thing that happened with that squad is they didn't have to go through the GOAT

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14859631]the biggest thing that happened with that squad is they didn't have to go through the GOAT[/QUOTE]

Well here in Houston there ihas always been the belief that had Mj not retired, we still win both chips. I'm an Mj fan too so I was always torn on the subject( and the fact that we could have had Mj and Dream, but that's another story). The unanswerable question always was what could the Bulls do with Hakeem? Any version of them? We always played them tough in the regular season.

Oh and having to go through Mj or not wasn't the change that allowed us to chip, they hadn't made the finals yet, because the Sonics had our number and then some amongst other things. Also was the 2nd full season under Tomjanovich who turned us around.

[QUOTE=sdot_thadon;14859673]Well here in Houston there ihas always been the belief that had Mj not retired, we still win both chips. I'm an Mj fan too so I was always torn on the subject( and the fact that we could have had Mj and Dream, but that's another story). The unanswerable question always was what could the Bulls do with Hakeem? Any version of them? We always played them tough in the regular season.

Oh and having to go through Mj or not wasn't the change that allowed us to chip, they hadn't made the finals yet, because the Sonics had our number and then some amongst other things. Also was the 2nd full season under Tomjanovich who turned us around.[/QUOTE]

The way Hakeem played they may have won anyway but it would certainly mean a lot more if they'd gone through the champs.

How would they have had Hakeem and MJ? Could have had Sampson and MJ which may have gotten them a ring sooner before Ralph's body failed him

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14859707]The way Hakeem played they may have won anyway but it would certainly mean a lot more if they'd gone through the champs.

How would they have had Hakeem and MJ? Could have had Sampson and MJ which may have gotten them a ring sooner before Ralph's body failed him[/QUOTE]

I agree and it would have solidified Dreams career even more had he beaten the Bulls. But if.....

So I wanna say I heard it the 1st time the season we traded for Clyde (95), the college teammate reunion with Hakeem was a big selling point of the story. They brought up the fact the Rockets had the opportunity to reunite them in Hakeems rookie season but passed on it. Portland wanted Sampson and was willing to give up Drexler and their pick in the draft, the 2nd Pick that became the infamous Sam Bowie. The Rockets would have had Drexler, the 1st and 2nd picks in the draft and would have drafted that next guy after Bowie. Portland only took Bowie themselves because they were desperate to draft a big man. So the Rockets start 1985 with a core of Clyde, Hakeem,......and Jordan. What could have been lol. Somehow I wonder would they still have screwed it up and drafted Bowie 2nd.

[QUOTE=sdot_thadon;14859768]I agree and it would have solidified Dreams career even more had he beaten the Bulls. But if.....

So I wanna say I heard it the 1st time the season we traded for Clyde (95), the college teammate reunion with Hakeem was a big selling point of the story. They brought up the fact the Rockets had the opportunity to reunite them in Hakeems rookie season but passed on it. Portland wanted Sampson and was willing to give up Drexler and their pick in the draft, the 2nd Pick that became the infamous Sam Bowie. The Rockets would have had Drexler, the 1st and 2nd picks in the draft and would have drafted that next guy after Bowie. Portland only took Bowie themselves because they were desperate to draft a big man. So the Rockets start 1985 with a core of Clyde, Hakeem,......and Jordan. What could have been lol. Somehow I wonder would they still have screwed it up and drafted Bowie 2nd.[/QUOTE]

If they get Drexler they may have taken Bowie not MJ

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14859770]If they get Drexler they may have taken Bowie not MJ[/QUOTE]

Well the way it was told at the time they would have picked up Mj, but maybe that was said in hindsight, who knows.

Barkley would have worked too

Alot further than if you swapped Hakeem with Ruby.

[QUOTE=Phoenix;14859782]Alot further than if you swapped Hakeem with Ruby.[/QUOTE]

Ruby Tuesday?

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14859785]Ruby Tuesday?[/QUOTE]

[IMG]https://media1.tenor.com/m/QStZC4Wbz6oAAAAd/playing-catch-fetch.gif[/IMG]

Too easy.

Good catch on the name. Would have better remembered if the player in question mattered.

That team wouldn't go far at all. In today's game Olajuwon STILL would be arguably the best player in the league. Because he would be the most skilled on the block among the bigs, could switch out on the perimeter players on switches, and defend the paint better than any center in today's game. As great as Joker and Embid are in today's game, I can't say they are better than a peak Olajuwon.

The problem is the supporting cast of the team the OP laid out. People sleep on how good that three guard rotation was of Kenny, Maxwell, and Cassell. And Robert Horry was a athletic 6'10 who could defend damn near any position on the court. And for that era stretch the court good enough for a player his size. The squad the OP laid out DOESN"T MEASURE UP to the guards and Horry.

[QUOTE=bizil;14859908]That team wouldn't go far at all. In today's game Olajuwon STILL would be arguably the best player in the league. Because he would be the most skilled on the block among the bigs, could switch out on the perimeter players on switches, and defend the paint better than any center in today's game. As great as Joker and Embid are in today's game, I can't say they are better than a peak Olajuwon.

The problem is the supporting cast of the team the OP laid out. People sleep on how good that three guard rotation was of Kenny, Maxwell, and Cassell. And Robert Horry was a athletic 6'10 who could defend damn near any position on the court. And for that era stretch the court good enough for a player his size. The squad the OP laid out DOESN"T MEASURE UP to the guards and Horry.[/QUOTE]

Really think Kenny was more than a Dinwiddie level player? Horry didnt even average 10 ppg although I do think he's the 2nd best player in that team. Stop the overrating.

[QUOTE=iamgine;14860020]Really think Kenny was more than a Dinwiddie level player? Horry didnt even average 10 ppg although I do think he's the 2nd best player in that team. Stop the overrating.[/QUOTE]

There is a side of the court CALLED DEFENSE!!!!! Kenny Smith was a better long ball shooter AND defender than Dinwiddie. And the thing with Horry ONCE AGAIN IS DEFENSE!!!! Would Dinwiddie BE WILLING TO PLAY largely a floor space role often like the Houston trio of guards?? That team functioned best LIKE THAT!! That Rockets team was built A CERTAIN WAY around the Dream to win rings. Plus Kenny, Mad Max, and Casell COULD ALL RUN THE PG! AS WELL AS play off the ball. So EVEN THOUGH none of those guys were superstar or perennial All Star type players, they had MORE FLEXIBILITY in that regard than most guard rotations in the league at that time!!!

When Drexler came in for the 2nd ring, they added a living legend in the backend of his prime to give them them another guy who could takeover games along with Dream. But in the grand scheme the Rockets title teams WEREN'T CLOSE to being the most talented team in the league on paper. BUT they had the best player in the world (since MJ was playing baseball) in Dream. And FROM THERE had the perfect role players around them WHO KNEW THEIR PLACE!!!! The role players the OP laid out DOESN'T CHECK ALL THOSE BOXES!

Even though ON PAPER somebody like a Dinwiddie is more talented than Kenny. But Kenny LEVELED down his scoring to become more of a floor space on those Rockets teams. It comes down to if it ain't broke DON'T FIX IT! The 93-94 title team ALSO had an underrated hoss in Otis T. as well. Who was an All Star only a couple of years prior to them winning a chip. So when you use the word RECREATE, that means MIMIMICKING to a large extent something from the past. THE TEAM the OP laid out DOESN'T DO THAT!!!