Re: Has Rudy Tomjanovich compared Moses&Hakeem?
continued...
[QUOTE].....................
By the numbers
How Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, left, compares statistically among the top three contenders for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. NBA ranking, (if in the top 40) is listed in parentheses next to each stat:
Category .....Olajuwon.......Barkley........Jordan.
Team rec. .....44-25 (5) .....52-15 (1) .....48-20 (2).
Scoring .......25.2 (6) ......26.0 (4) .......32.5 (1).
Rebounds ......13.0 (3) ......12.5 (6) .......7.0 (40).
Assists ........3.5 ..........5.0 (28) .......5.6 (24).
Steals ........1.68 (20) ....1.52 (32) .......2.67 (1).
Blocks ........4.12 (1) ......1.1 (35) .......0.88.
FG Pct. ........525 (11) .....523 (13) ........488.
FT Pct. ........776 ..........750 ............845 (23).
Turnovers ......3.1 ..........3.2 .............2.5.
Note: Statistics do not include Tuesday's games. ........................
Writers' picks
The Chronicle polled 20 NBA beat writers (11 from Western Conference cities and nine from Eastern Conference cities) on how they would cast their MVP vote. First-place votes are worth five points, second place three points and third place one point:
Player ......Team .......1st ...2nd ....3rd...Tot.
Olajuwon ....Rockets .....7 .....9 .....4 .....66.
Barkley .......Suns .....11 .....2 .....4 .....65.
Jordan ........Bulls .....2 .....5 .....9 .....34.
Ewing .........Knicks .....0 .....2 .....1 .....7.
Robinson .......Spurs .....0 .....1 .....0 .....3.
Wilkins ........Hawks .....0 .....1 .....0 .....3.
O'Neal .........Magic .....0 .....0 .....2 .....2. ........................
The pretenders
Top NBA players who have no realistic chance at winning the Most Valuable Player Award. NBA ranking, (if in the top 40) is listed in parentheses next to each statistic:
Player ............Team.........Points .........Reb.
.........................FG Pct......................
David Robinson ....Spurs.......23.3 (9th).....11.7 (8th).
.........................498 (37th)......................
Patrick Ewing.......Knicks......24.2 (7th) ...11.6 (9th).
.........................510 (27th)......................
Shaquille O'Neal.....Magic......23.7 (8th)....13.7 (2nd).
.........................569 (2nd).......................
Dominique Wilkins....Hawks......30.7 (2nd).....7.0.
.........................480............................
Karl Malone...........Jazz......27.2 (3rd)....11.4 (11th).
.........................551 (5th).......................[/QUOTE]
This one came up while searching too (similar quote):
[QUOTE=David Moore][B][CENTER][SIZE="6"]Olajuwon's turn steers Rockets to top[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]
The Dallas Morning News - Sunday, March 14, 1993
One year ago, it was hard to find a relationship this side of Woody and Mia that was more explosive than the one between the Houston Rockets and Hakeem Olajuwon.
The club questioned Olajuwon's integrity and suspended him when it believed he faked an injury. The All-Star center responded by hurling insults at owner Charlie Thomas and general manager Steve Patterson. Both sides agreed it was time for a separation.
It never happened. The result: Olajuwon has thrust the Rockets into first place in the Midwest Division. The club has showered him with praise, pushed him for the league's Most Valuable Player award and is prepared to sign Olajuwon to an extension that will allow him to finish his career in a Rockets uniform.
This turn of events is almost as dizzying as the 12-game winning streak that has propeled the Rockets upward in the standings. The credit goes to Olajuwon.
A player of Olajuwon's status could easily force a trade. All one has to do is look at Charles Barkley's boorish behavior -- and uninspired play -- for Philadelphia last season for a blueprint.
Barkley got his wish. He was traded to Phoenix.
Olajuwon took a different tact.
"People will come up to me and ask, "How are you doing with that guy?' ' Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "But there's never been a problem between Hakeem and any of the coaches.
"Probably one of the biggest misconceptions is that he's got a negative deal on him. That's so wrong. He's good to be around. He's a friendly person. He's got a good sense of humor, and he cares about people.'
Olajuwon worked hard in the off-season. He practiced the turnaround jumper that had been so effective earlier in his career. He stressed conditioning.
He was driven, in part, by the thought of having a fresh start. Olajuwon was convinced he was going to be traded, and he wanted to show his new employer his skills had not diminished.
When Olajuwon reported for another season in Houston, he admits he was disappointed. But he refused to let his hard work go to waste. A long talk with Thomas on the flight back from Japan, where the Rockets opened the regular season against Seattle, helped clear the air.
Olajuwon has been outstanding ever since. He's sixth in the league in scoring with an average of 25 points, third in rebounding at 12.8 and first in blocked shots with 4.27. He has been at his overpowering best late in the game, which is one reason the Rockets have won 25 of their last 30 games.
"He's having an MVP season, his best far and away,' Patterson said.
"I think it's between him and Charles Barkley for MVP,' Miami center Rony Seikaly said. "I'd have to flip a coin. Hakeem is as good as anybody.'
Olajuwon had no problem letting Rockets management know how he felt last season. But with that goes the responsibility of helping solve the problem, not creating one.
That is exactly what Olajuwon has done.
"The worst thing that could have happened after the controversy of last season was to come in this season and let it continue,' Olajuwon said. "The bottom line is to take care of business on the floor. I have an obligation to fulfill, and I fulfill it the best way I know how.'
Olajuwon's way has put the Rockets at the top of the division.
"One thing about Hakeem, he's focused this year,' Houston forward Otis Thorpe said. "My opinion is that he's set his mind in the direction he wants to go and what he wants to accomplish. If he accomplishes those things, I think he's a happy man.
"If he was caught up in things before, I would say right now, he's on top of things. He's the king of the hill.'
Staff Writer David Moore covers pro basketball for The News. His column appears Sunday.[/QUOTE]
Re: Has Rudy Tomjanovich compared Moses&Hakeem?
[QUOTE=Odinn]Great reads.:bowdown: :bowdown:
Especially [B]fplii[/B].:applause: :rockon: :bowdown: :bowdown:
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It is truly great to read such things. Three legends in the thread title and right now thread contains why they're some of the true legends.[/QUOTE]
:cheers:
Re: Has Rudy Tomjanovich compared Moses&Hakeem?
NugzHeat3 should start coming by here again. Great poster.
Re: Has Rudy Tomjanovich compared Moses&Hakeem?
