Thread: NBA Playoffs
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Re: NBA Playoffs
Old 04-27-2007, 11:40 PM   #18
manasecret
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Default Re: NBA Playoffs

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGame View Post
Anyways, when I was like super young I watched a Lakers game with my family, and Rockets/Hakeem were tearing them apart, and I kinda stayed a fan since then. >.>
Ah Hakeem the Dream. Looking back at watching him, the memories are so sweet. Good bit from the Wiki article:

Quote:
Dream Shake

"the best footwork I’ve ever seen from a big man"

—Pete Newell

Offensively, Olajuwon established himself as a great finesse player, perfecting a set of fakes and spin moves that became known as his trademark Dream Shake. Executed with uncanny speed and power, they are still regarded as the pinnacle of "big man" footwork. Shaquille O'Neal stated: "Hakeem has five moves then four countermoves, that gives him 20 moves." The Dream Shake made Olajuwon near-unguardable for most of his career, because "big men" were too slow and guards too weak to stop him. Olajuwon himself traced the move back to the soccer playing days of his youth, "The Dream Shake was actually one of my soccer moves which I translated to basketball. It would accomplish one of three things: one, to misdirect the opponent and make him go the opposite way; two, to freeze the opponent and leave him devastated in his tracks; three, to shake off the opponent and giving him no chance to contest the shot."

The Dream Shake was extremely difficult to defend, much like the sky hook of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Dream Shake's closest modern equivalent comes from Kevin Garnett, whose moves have less variety and include some perimeter action.

One particularly standout Dream Shake came in the 1995 Western Conference playoff series against rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, who was voted the season MVP. With Robinson guarding him, Olajuwon crossed over from his right hand to his left, drove to the basket, and faked a layup. Robinson, who was an excellent defender, kept up with Olajuwon and did not fall for the fake, remaining planted. However, Olajuwon spun counterclockwise and faked another layup. Robinson took the bait this time and jumped to block the shot. With Robinson caught in the air, Olajuwon performed an up-and-under move, scoring an easy basket.

Ahhhh yes here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW4uXlRGAF0&NR=1
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Last edited by manasecret : 04-27-2007 at 11:48 PM.
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