Moses Malone:1955-2015

Over the weekend, the Sports World lost one of the Basketball legends Mr. Moses Malone. He was only 60 years old. I caught the news of his passing through Social Media during a Sunday Night Football Game. When I checked Instagram, I was devastated. Just six months ago, I wrote a tribute article for Moses when he turned 60. It was a great presentation of his Career wrapped into one package. Now, I find myself writing about his passing. Even the local News Station broke the story about his death.

He was the ultimate blue-collar player that used nothing but pure work ethic and physicality to get the job done. Moses was the greatest rebounder of the post Chamberlain-Russell Era. One could make a counterargument for Dennis Rodman, but in the end I don't see it standing for long. Same with Malone's protege Charles Barkley.

Moses was very reserved and not very outspoken. He mumbled when he spoke, but his game spoke loudly when he was on the court.

Malone's brilliance as a rebounder was simple, he just went to the rack. Although he was not always the quickest, Moses kicked things in another gear once the ball bounced off the glass. When that happened, his natural instincts kicked in to grab the board. Moses was the definition of a "glass eater". He earned the nickname "Chairman of the Boards" because he commanded the paint.

Moses Malone was a pioneer for future High School players who became stars in the Pros when he jumped from Petersburg HS to the ABA in 1974.The blue-chip recruit from Petersburg had originally sent a letter of intent to join the University of Maryland under coach Lefty Driesell. However, his circumstances said otherwise. The paychecks were screaming louder than the classrooms and textbooks. As a rookie, his body looked nothing like the imposing rebounding machine that he eventually became. His rawness was only temporary, but soon he would develop a drop step along with his own fade away that were autodidactic (self-taught). Malone would join Julius Erving, George Gervin, and others in the NBA following the closure of the ABA in 1976. Dr. J and Iceman were the flashier names, but Moses made a huge impact of his own in a quiet way.

"The young Moses Malone had virtually no offensive moves other than a devastating ability to get the ball off the glass," former Utah Stars coach Tom Nissalke says in the ABA oral history Loose Balls. "He was so lightning-quick and just seemed to know where a rebound was going. I saw a playoff game in his rookie season where he had 38 rebounds, 23 of them off the offensive glass." Many other people including Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown have considered Moses Malone to be the greatest offensive rebounder of all-time. Statistically, it is hard to argue because he is the all-time leader.

Malone was a standout star with the Houston Rockets. By the end of the 70's into the 80's, Moses took Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's place as the best Center on the planet. His three MVP Awards in five years speak for themselves. At that time, he pretty much had Kareem's number and that is hard for anyone else to say.

Moses carried a 40-42 Rockets team to the Finals. He claimed that his team could beat Boston with anybody from the playground of Petersburg. The Celtics won, but he put up the best fight that he could with that team. As we know in 1982, Malone was traded to the 76ers as Philadelphia gave up players like Darryl Dawkins, Caldwell Jones, and some draft picks. Moses essentially gift-wrapped an NBA Championship for Julius Erving in 1983. They were a great combination. Moses was quiet and straightforward while Dr. J was stylish and full of flair.

In an odd coincidence, Darryl Dawkins passed away three weeks ago at the age of 58. Both men share similarities as they were the first to come from High School to the Pros (Dawkins in 1975). They both reached their peak with the 76ers. Both played with Dr. J. However, that is where the similarities end.

Dawkins was a player that has become known as a spectacular sideshow that broke backboards but was never as accomplished. Meanwhile, Malone became one of the unsung warriors of the game with a first-ballot Hall of Fame Career. You could match his career with that of Dr. J himself, and you could find yourself being torn between the two. In the ultimate form of irony, the Sixers got rid of Chocolate Thunder to bring Moses in for them to reach the Promise Land. Both men have their share of connections.

Moses played for an NBA Record 21 Seasons (tied with Robert Parish). He was a workhorse until the very end. In 1996, Moses was honored as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players and continues to be ranked as such by fans across the basketball world. In 2001, Malone was inducted into the Basketball HOF by long-time friend, fellow ABA alum and Championship teammate Julius Erving.

Malone played a style that left an impact on the game like no other player ever.

Rest In Peace Mr. Fo' Fo' Fo'.

What Could have been: Bulls vs Rockets in NBA Finals

There are always events or situations in history where we look back and wonder "What Could have been?". Whether it was a great team that could not win a championship ('90s Orlando Magic), or a great match that never happened (ex: Shawn Michaels vs The Rock). There are also dream matchups that never manifest (Hogan vs Flair at WrestleMania VIII, Austin vs. Hogan at WM X8). In this case, I would like to look at what would have been the ultimate dream series (pun intended) between the two best players of their respective era. In this case, I would like to examine what could have been the premiere Finals series between Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets. If only Mike did not put the Basketball down to pickup the Baseball bat. We would have the best Finals series of that decade in my view.

People always like to run with this idea that the Chicago Bulls would have won eight straight championships if Michael never left for baseball. First and foremost, Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever pick up a basketball. He is to Basketball what Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin are to Wrestling and what Jerry Rice is to Football. I just wanted to clear that point. However, I would like to take a quick flashback to the year 1984. There was a young man from the University of Houston by way of Lagos, Nigeria who was drafted two spots ahead of Michael as the 1st Overall Draft pick. His name was Akeem Olajuwon (later Hakeem). MJ was incredible in North Carolina, but Dream was very close in his own way as he carried the U of H on his back. For the record, I knew nothing about the University of Houston until I found out that Hakeem Olajuwon played there. Plain and simple, this man put that school on the map. Hakeem was not some nameless scrub player. He did not have to carry the regret of being the player that his team passed over Michael Jordan to draft (Sam Bowie). The Dream had a remarkable career in his own right.

In fact, I would like to fast forward to 1986. That season, Jordan was injured for most of that season. As we all know, Michael torched the 1986 Celtics Empire for a Playoff Record 63 points. Unfortunately, the Bulls were swept in that series. Meanwhile, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals against that same Boston Celtics team led by NBA MVP Larry Bird. Boston would capture their 16th Title in that series. Remember, the Dream led his team to the Finals five years before Jordan would conquer Magic Johnson's Lakers for his first championship. What makes this fantasy series even more special is that Olajuwon was THE Dominant Center of his Era/Generation in a time where you had at least four other Hall of Fame (future Hall of Fame) Centers in their prime or entering their prime. You name the player, Hakeem has given him a lesson at some point. Out of that era, he was the most versatile. He had the quickness and handles that wing players envied, along with a presence that traditional pivotmen were not able to match.

Whenever this topic is brought up, everybody wants to put an asterisk next to Houston's two championships as if they meant nothing. At least Hakeem stepped to the plate to become a champion, instead of becoming another ringless statistic like Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley or Karl Malone. None of them took advantage of that window of opportunity, and their legacies have suffered because of that. It is hard to argue against Michael going undefeated in the Finals (6-for-6). On his path to the Championship, Jordan went through some giants such as the Celtics led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons as well as Magic's Showtime Lakers.

Jordan's first three-peat was his most statistically dominating run as the Bulls defeated the Lakers, Blazers and Suns (his numbers speak for themselves). However, there is one common denominator in each series. None of those teams had a dominant Center like Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston. The Dream would give Chicago matchup nightmares in the Finals. Chicago's defense would be faced with threats that they never had to face in the first or second three-peat. Kareem was retired by the time the Bulls played the Lakers. Hakeem's post moves and footwork would have Bill Cartwright and Horace Grant pretty much dumbfounded. The Sonics and Jazz did not have Centers that created major threats either. Next to Michael Jordan, I would say that Hakeem was the 2nd best player of the 90's. These two titans dominated in what is considered by many to be the "Golden Era" as it was a time where every team across the league seemed to be loaded with Hall of Fame talent.

On one hand, I won't say that the Bulls would have had a run of eight straight championships. The Rockets have proven that they can give Chicago matchup issues in the regular season. On the other hand, I will not say that Houston would have won two straight over Chicago. You could go with either season, and Houston would have walked away with at least one trophy. The Rockets are the one team that has a career winning record against Michael Jordan. From 91-93, Jordan went 1-4 against the Rockets.



Figuring out a defensive scheme against Olajuwon would have been much harder than creating a defensive scheme against Karl Malone or Charles Barkley.

Just like Jordan in 1988, Hakeem won both MVP and DPOY during the 1994 Season. However, Dream won Finals MVP in that same season where he picked up the other two awards. That 1994 team defeated Chicago's rival New York Knicks in seven games during their first championship run. New York was led by Hakeem's rival Patrick Ewing. For the 1995 campaign, Houston managed to win their second title as a 6th seed with under 50 wins (47-35). They were called "Road Warriors" for a reason as they never had home court advantage during their playoff run. Along the way, Houston defeated the No. 3 seed Utah Jazz (60-22), No. 2 seed Phoenix Suns (59-23) and the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs (62-20). Those teams featured very decorated players: Karl Malone and John Stockton (both 1st Team All-NBA), Charles Barkley (2nd Team All-NBA) and David Robinson (1st Team All-NBA, MVP). In the finals, they would squash a young Orlando Magic Team (57-25) led by Shaquille O'Neal (2nd Team All-NBA, Scoring Champion) and Penny Hardaway (1st Team All-NBA). Houston conquered the top teams and stars of the league during that two-year window. During the second run, the second biggest factor next to Hakeem was Clyde Drexler.

Clyde was acquired by The Rockets during a trade midway through the 1995 Season as the Blazers traded him in exchange for Otis Thorpe. Despite the rough start, Drexler was able to play a key role in Houston's second title chase. Clyde was looking to redeem his image after Michael Jordan demoralized him in the 1992 NBA Finals. If Houston plays Chicago, Drexler would be looking to seek revenge. Drexler's legacy was revived once he reunited with his former College Teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. Clyde needed Hakeem more than Hakeem needed Clyde. Drexler's window was closing to win a championship as he was in the twilight of his prime.

If I had to lean to any one of those Rockets teams to defeat Chicago, I might lean towards the 1995 Team slightly. Michael Jordan was the main player who demanded double teams, because of the damage that he can do on the offense. Scottie Pippen did a great job in Michael's absence, but he only averaged 16.7 ppg while Jordan was gone. That would not fly when you are trying to establish yourself as a leader away from His Airness. Scottie was not a player who screamed "Double Team". Meanwhile, Olajuwon and Drexler each demanded double teams as they could create problems in their own way.

As for the series outcome, Houston wins in a 7-game series as Olajuwon wins Finals MVP. It would have been great to see this happen. All we can do is fantasize about what could have been.

Moses Malone: Unsung Hero



I would like to take this time to highlight one of the Unsung Hero's in NBA History as he reaches a milestone. NBA legend Moses Malone reaches 60. Moses was a pioneer, as he became the first player to come out of high school to become a star in the pros. Had it not been for Malone doing what he did, we would not see future Hall of Famers like KG, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Moses jumped from St. Petersburg HS to the ABA in 1974 only at age 19. He started his career with the Utah Stars. There were flashes of brilliance in his game, as he was obviously much lighter as Moses had yet to fill out his 6'10" frame. After one season, Malone went to the Spirits of St. Louis, where he would spend his last ABA Season as the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976. Moses had a rocky start coming into the NBA as he was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in the ABA Dispersal Draft. However, the 21-year old Moses never played a single game for Portland, as he was traded to the Buffalo Braves for a 1978 first round draft choice in the first game of the 1976-77 season. Ironically, Portland would win the championship that season. After two games with Buffalo, Moses was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he would first make his mark as a star in the NBA. In Houston, Moses would establish himself as one of the most dangerous rebounders and premiere players in the league. His strength was offensive rebounding, as he was critical for creating second chance points. Malone finished the season with 13.2 ppg and 13.1 RPG. Very even season, as he ranked third behind only Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in rebounding. That year, he also set a record for most offensive rebounds in a season with 437. Malone also ranked 7th in blocked shots with 2.21 big. In the playoffs, Moses took his game to another level when he led the Rockets to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose to his future team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Malone averaged 18.8 ppg, and 16.9 ppg in 12 playoff games. The 1977-78 season would prematurely end for the rising young star when he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, causing him to miss the final 23 games. However, Malone still led the NBA in offensive rebounds again (380) and finished second in rebounding average (15.0 RPG). That season, Moses made the first of 12 consecutive All-Star appearances. Had he gone to college, this would have been his senior season. Moses finished with 19.4 ppg, finishing third on the team behind Calvin Murphy (25.6) and Rudy Tomjanovich (21.5). During his first two seasons in Houston, Moses wore #21. In 1978-79, Moses switched to #24, which is the number he used for the remainder of his time with the Rockets. That was also Malone's breakout season, as he averaged 24.8 ppg, and a career-high 17.6 RPG to win his first NBA MVP Award at only age 24. If Moses had accepted the scholarship that was offered to him coming out of Petersburg, this would have been his rookie season. Instead, he was in his fifth campaign as a pro. Part of his success, this season came after adding 15 pounds in the offseason, bulking up to 235 lbs. Malone led the league in rebounding for the first time, and broke his own regular season record for most offensive rebounds with 587. That season, Moses also shot a career-high 54% from the field. Malone was the starting Center for the East in the All-Star Game, as he also made his first appearance on the All-NBA First Team along with All-Defensive Second Team honors. On February 9, 1979, Moses would grab a career-high 37 rebounds against the New Orleans Jazz. Houston made it to the playoffs but were swept by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Moses continued to carry the load for Houston, as he would average 25.8 ppg (5th) and 14.5 RPG (2nd) during the 1980 Season. Malone made his third straight All-Star Game Appearance as the Starter for the East. He would make the All-NBA Second Team, as Kareem would make the First Team by winning MVP that season. Moses' will and blue-collar dominance would lead the Rockets past the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, as he scored 37 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in the third and final game, as Houston would win 141-120. The Rockets would lose to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the 1980-81 season, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs would be moved to the Western Conference (Midwest Division). That season, Malone would lead the franchise to their first NBA Finals appearance with 27.8 ppg, and 14.8 RPG in 80 games. He also made his 4th All-Star Team. In the playoffs, Malone would average 26.8 ppg with 14.5 RPG to help the 40-42 Rockets advance to the Finals. Houston would fall to the Boston Celtics in six games, as they were led by second-year star Larry Bird. In 1982, Moses would continue to produce spectacular numbers as he averaged a career-high 31.1 ppg with 14.7 RPG to capture his second MVP Award. This would be his second straight rebounding title, as he would finish second in scoring to George Gervin (32.3 ppg). Moses also led the league in minutes played and minutes per game (3,398, 42.0 mpg) along with offensive rebounds (558). This was a testament to how Moses was the ultimate workhorse in NBA history. He would also make the All-NBA 1st Team for the second time in his career. This would eventually be the last season for Moses in a Rockets uniform, as Houston would be eliminated in the first round by Seattle in three games. Moses was also instrumental in mentoring a young promising Big Man from Nigeria named Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon during the offseason when Olajuwon was a freshman at the University of Houston.

At this time, the Houston Rockets were in the process of rebuilding, as they allowed restricted free agent Moses Malone to explore his options in the free agent market. On September 2, Moses Malone signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Houston matched the offer, only to trade Moses to Philly anyway for Caldwell Jones and a 1983 first-round draft choice. In the end, the Sixers had the last laugh as Moses would lead them in scoring with 24.5 ppg (5th in NBA), along with rebounding with 15.3 RPG (1st in NBA). Moses was the final piece that the Sixers needed to win the championship. Dr. J had struggled for 6 NBA Seasons as Philadelphia lost in 3 NBA Finals appearances, as time was winding down for him to become an NBA Champion to further cement his legacy. Moses was clearly the right name, as he led the Sixers through the Red Sea of the NBA and to the Promise of the NBA Crown. That first season with Philadelphia was the best of Malone's tenure with the team, as he won his third MVP Award as the Sixers would pound the Showtime Lakers of Magic and Kareem in 4 games during the Finals. That would be considered as the defining season of his career, as he helped save Julius Erving's NBA legacy. The team could not be any better for Moses, as he completed a great starting lineup of the legendary Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones. The Sixers were a powerhouse, as they cruised on the Moses Express. Moses was named NBA Finals MVP in dominant fashion with 26 ppg, and 15.8 RPG. At this point, Moses reached his pinnacle and pretty much peaked out with stratospheric numbers from the span of '79-'83. He was the clear-cut most dominant player in the league by this point. In 1983-84, Moses would be limited to 71 games from an ankle injury. He would average 22.7 ppg that year. The Sixers suffered an upset in the first round at the hands of the New Jersey Nets. Malone still led the league in rebounding once again with 13.1 RPG. Boston Celtic Small Forward Larry Bird would take control of the MVP Award from this point. In 1984-85, Malone would average 24.6 ppg for his eighth All-Star appearance. On November 28, 1984 Moses Malone scored his 15,000th point and grabbed his 10,000th rebound on March 29, 1985. With the addition of rookie Charles Barkley, the Sixers would make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals as they would ultimately lose to the Boston Celtics. As time would take its toll on the team (especially Dr. J), the Philadelphia 76ers would start a steady decline in the pecking order of the Eastern Conference as the Detroit Pistons would make their emergence. Moses Malone's 10th NBA Season would be his last with Philadelphia as it was cut short from a fractured orbital in his right eye. Without him, the Sixers would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games in the ECSF. His reign as the rebounding king would come to an end as well. By the start of the 1986-87 season, Moses Malone was traded to the Washington Bullets. Malone bounced back in his 11th season with 24.1 ppg, and 11.3 RPG to make his 10th straight All-Star Game. On April 12, 1987 Moses scored his 20,000th career point. Malone would make another All-Star team with the Bullets in 1988, before signing with the Atlanta Hawks for the 1988-89 season to join Dominique Wilkins in the frontcourt. In his first season with the Hawks, Moses would record his 10th straight season averaging at least 20 ppg and 10 RPG. Although Moses was far from the player that he was in his glory days with the Rockets and Sixers, he still managed to make his 12th straight All-Star Game in Houston, the place where his NBA Career would start. Moses would fail to average 20/10 in 1989-90, which was the first time since his second season. Malone would spend his twilight years being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before going back to the Sixers and ending with the San Antonio Spurs in 1995. By the way, in 1995 the Spurs were led by MVP David Robinson along with another Rebounding Stud named Dennis Rodman. He retired from a pretty great team. In 1996-97, Moses Malone was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. In 2001, Moses was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as Dr. J was his presenter. When you factor his ABA Career along with his stellar 19-year NBA Career, Moses Malone's resume is outstanding:

• 29,580 Career Points (20.6 ppg, 7th All-Time in Points)
• 17,834 Career Rebounds (12.2 rpg, 3rd All-Time in Rebounds)
• 1,936 Assists (1.4 apg)
• NBA champion (1983)
• NBA Finals MVP (1983)
• 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982–1983)
• 12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
• 2× ABA All-Star (1975–1976)
• 4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982–1983, 1985)
• 4× All-NBA Second Team (1980–1981, 1984, 1987)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
• ABA All-Rookie Team (1975)
• 6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
• NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• ABA All-Time Team
• No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets

In an era that featured the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Moses managed to shine in his own way. What he achieved during that time is remarkable. He would be the bridge between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the reign Hakeem Olajuwon as the NBA's premiere Big Man from 1984 into the future. What Malone lacked in style, he more than made up for with incredible substance. Mr. Moses Malone was truly an unsung hero. "Fo, Fo, Fo".

 

 

NBA Playoff Predictions (1st Round)

East:
Heat over Bucks (4-0)
Celtics over Knicks (4-2)
Bulls over Nets (4-2)
Pacers over Hawks (4-1)

West:
Thunder over Rockets (4-0)
Spurs over Lakers (4-0)
Clippers over Grizzlies (4-3)
Nuggets over Warriors (4-2)


East:

Heat vs. Bucks:
Miami will skate through the first round through Milwaukee. The Bucks stops with the Heat.

Celtics vs. Knicks:
Even though Carmelo won the scoring title, I believe that Boston's defense will neutrailize New York's ballstopping. The Knicks live by outside shooting, and during the playoffs, teams that live by that more often than not will die by that. Even with Rondo out, Boston will find a way to rally and regroup.

Bulls vs. Nets:
Tough series for me to call, but I see Chicago finding a way to regroup after that humiliating loss in Game 1. Even with their franchise player (Derrick Rose) out for such a long time, the Bulls have proven that they can be a down and dirty team that will fight even harder with their back against the wall. Noah has been battling injuries, while Deng, Hinrich and Gibson fell flat in Game 1. Boozer led with 25, while Nate Robinson came off the bench with 17, along with Marco Belinelli had 13. The Starters have to raise their game to give Chicago a stronger chance. Meanwhile, the Nets had six players in double-figures: Deron Williams (22), Brook Lopez (21), Joe Johnson (16), Gerald Wallace (14), Former Bull C.J. Watson (14), and Andre Blatche (12). If Chicago's nucleus can pull their own weight, this will be the blue-collar matchup that will be right in their favor.

Pacers vs. Hawks:
Indiana's nucleus of Danny Granger, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, David West, George Hill, and Tyler Hansborough will be too much for the Hawks to handle. The Pacers have been a more proven playoff team for the past two years. In 2011, they were a tougher matchup for the Bulls than the Hawks were. In 2012, they put Miami against the wall in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pacers are too physical for the Hawks to overcome.

West:

Thunder vs. Rockets:
This will be a very interesting matchup, with former Sixth Man James Harden facing his former team as a star for the Houston Rockets. This storyline will be the focus of the series. In the season opener, Harden made his own statement versus the Thunder, with a career-high 46 points in Houston's only win against Oklahoma City during the season. The Duo of Harden and Jeremy Lin have led the Rockets to the 8th Seed in the West. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City will zero in on James Harden, after Harden hit a wall in the Finals against the Heat, costing them the series. James Harden has averaged 25.9 ppg in his first season as a starter. Meanwhile, the Thunder have not missed a beat with new addition Kevin Martin (the very player they traded Harden for). Kevin Durant led the team in Scoring (28.1 ppg- 2nd in NBA), with Russell Westbrook finishing 2nd on the team in Scoring (23.2 ppg). Kevin Martin sacrificed his scoring, with 14.0 ppg, while Serge Ibaka put in 13.2 ppg. The games themselves will be pretty tough, but Oklahoma

Spurs vs. Lakers:
Both teams have been battling health issues. Clearly, the Lakers lost their franchise player for the next 6-9 months. However, San Antonio has proven to be a more effective and devastating team, when both are healthy. The Lakers have greatly underperformed all season long, with the team that they have assembled. (Kobe, Dwight, Nash, Pau Gasol, Artest) San Antonio's chemistry and Basketball IQ will exploit that massive weakness. However, I see the Lakers pulling out at least 1, as they will find a way to move the ball around more without Kobe. The Spurs will pick them apart with their superior ball movement, defense, and other strategies.

Clippers vs. Grizzlies:
I see this series being more of the same from last year's series. In Game 1, the Clippers had their way with Memphis (112-91), with Chris Paul leading the way with 23 points, Eric Bledsoe with 15, Chauncey Billups with 14, Caron Butler and Jamal Crawford both with 13, and Blake Griffin and Matt Barnes both with 10. Memphis has the advantage inside (Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol), but the Clippers perimeter will find a way to neutralize them.

Nuggets vs. Warriors:
This will be a battle of two great small ball teams. Led by 3-point marksman Stephen Curry along with the likes of David Lee, Klay Thompson and co. Golden State will be a very intriguing matchup for Denver. However, the Nuggets have a  more well-rounded team in my view. Denver has a very dangerous combination of guards (Ty Lawson, Andre Miller) star wingman (Andre Iguodala), along with an interior presence (Javale McGee). The Nuggets can not only run the table on fastbreaks, but can dominate inside as well. As I have said about the Knicks, teams that live too much by the three will die by it in the playoffs. I see this happening with the Nuggets using their size to take great advantage as well.

Hakeem The Dream at 50

Today, I would like to take the time to wish a happy 50th birthday to NBA legend Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. After playing soccer & handball in Nigeria, Hakeem caught on to the game of basketball at 16. The world class balance, and footwork from those sports helped him even more when he made the transition to basketball. Olajuwon was certainly a world class athlete. After taking the game by storm in his home country, University of Houston coach Guy Lewis flew to Nigeria to watch Hakeem play, and to recruit him. When coming to America (no relation to the movie), Hakeem was able to quickly adapt to the style of the United States. During his freshman year, he would lead the Houston Cougars to the Final Four, only to fall to the eventual champion North Carolina Tar Heels. During the summer, Olajuwon would improve his offensive post game at the Houston Recreational Center. The perfect mentor/opponent to push him to the next level, was reigning NBA MVP Moses Malone. Malone's relentless, physical style strengthened Olajuwon and fueled his drive to become the best that he could be. During the final session of the summer, Hakeem took his lessons, and applied them against his mentor. Soon afterwards, Hakeem would take his brand new skills and put the NCAA on notice. His offensive game progressed to match his defensive game, which made him a one-man machine. As the anchor of the team on both ends, Hakeem led the Cougars to 22 straight wins. With their stylish, in your face, above the rim style, the Cougars were named "Phi Slama Jama". One of Olajuwon's teammates would be fellow Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler. Hakeem's blocks would lead to tremendous fastbreaks. Houston would later reach the Finals of the NCAA Tournament, only to fall to the North Carolina State Wolfpack. After the bitter upset, Drexler would turn pro. The Cougars would regroup for the next season, as Hakeem carried them to another NCAA Finals Appearance. This time, they would fall to the Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing. After the loss, Olajuwon would announce his decision to enter the NBA Draft. After tanking the 1983 season to draft Ralph Sampson 1st overall, the Houston Rockets would bomb the 1984 season as well. After those disappointing seasons, the Rockets would draft hometown hero Hakeem Olajuwon as the 1st overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. The rest as they say, is history. In his rookie season, Olajuwon's impact was felt immediately. In his rookie season, he made his 1st All-Star appearance. That season, he averaged 20.6 ppg, 11.9 rpg, and 2.7 bpg, which earned him 1st Team All-Rookie Honors. During this season, he shot a career high field goal percentage of 54%. He finished 2nd for NBA Rookie of the Year, behind Michael Jordan. The following season, Hakeem would average (23.5 ppg/11.5 rpg/3.4 bpg) leading the Rockets to the NBA Finals. After a monumental upset of the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets would face the legendary 1986 Celtics, led by MVP Larry Bird, along with McHale, Parrish, etc. Boston would eventually capture their 16th title in that series, but it was a great lesson for Olajuwon. In 1986-87, Hakeem would make his 1st appearance on the All-NBA 1st Team (23.4/11.4/3.4). That would be his second season averaging 3 blocks per game. In 1987-88, Olajuwon averaged 22.8/12.1/2.7. In the 1988-89 season, Olajuwon averaged at that time a career high 24.8/13.5/3.4. That was the first of two straight seasons leading the league in rebounds. He also recorded a career-high 213 steals, along with 282 blocks, which made him the first player in NBA history to record 200 blocks and steals each. In 1989-90, Hakeem surpassed his career-high in rebounds, averaging 14 rpg, to match his 24.3 ppg/4.6 rpg. (career-high) '91-'92 would be two of the most down years for Olajuwon in his prime. However, he still managed to lead in blocks (3.9 in '91). If he had become a U.S. Citizen sooner, he would have made the 1992 Dream Team, without question. Going into the '92-'93 season, Hakeem would enter the best 3-year run of his career. In '93, he averaged 26.1/13.0/4.2, earning him his first of two straight Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Olajuwon also finished 2nd in MVP Voting to Phoenix Suns Star Charles Barkley. In the playoffs, he would lead the Rockets to the Western Conference Semis, to fall short to the Sonics in Seven Games. In 1993-94, Hakeem would finally put the icing on his cake of his 10-year career. Olajuwon averaged 27.3/11.9/3.7, which earned him both NBA MVP & DPOY. After leading the Rockets to their first of two straight championships, Olajuwon was named Finals MVP. The following season, Hakeem led the 6th seeded Rockets back to the title, becoming one of the lowest seeded teams in history to achieve that goal. Mid-way through the season, Houston traded Otis Thorpe to Portland for Hakeem's college teammate, Clyde Drexler. As Hakeem added to his legacy, he helped to reshape Drexler's along the way. Dream's dominance against the premier Centers of his time (Robinson, Shaq, Ewing) further cemented his place among the all-time greats. In '96, Hakeem would stay relevant, averaging 26.9/10.9/3.4, while finally winning an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Unfortunately, Hakeem does not receive the proper credit & recognition that he deserves for being the first International star in NBA history, because of his later citizenship. If it were not for players like him and Patrick Ewing (Jamaica), there would be no Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Dirk Nowitzki, etc. Now, Olajuwon is mentoring others on their post game, the same way that Moses Malone mentored him.(minus the brutal physicality) Just ask Kobe, LeBron, Dwight and now Amare. Kobe's low post game improved to help lead the Lakers to back-to-back titles. LeBron's training with Hakeem was incredible. His field goal percentage increased (53%), as he became much more of a low post presence. LeBron's new arsenal would help him lead the Heat to an NBA title, while winning his first ring and Finals MVP. Hakeem is now 10th in Career Total Points (26,946), 12th in Total Rebounds (13,748), 1st in Blocks (3,830), and 9th in Steals (2,162). During the time of his retirement, he was among the Top 10 in all four categories. He is also the only big man ranked in the top 10 in steals. His amazing hand speed, coordination and guard like footwork helped him reach these feats. If it were not for Michael Air Jordan's monstrous dominance devouring the NBA, Olajuwon would have been the defining player of his era. He was already the best Center of that time. During the playoffs, he raised his level of play to greater heights, averaging 25.9/11.2/3.2, FG% (52%). The Dream is one of only three players to reach this feat, along with Pettit, and Nowitzki. Hakeem Olajuwon's legacy is often overlooked, but can never be duplicated, especially by today's players. He was a nightmare to his opponents, but when looking at what he did was beautiful to watch. As Biggie would say "It was all a Dream". Long live the Dr34m.

I had to add this. Sorry Admiral, lol: