Around this time of year, Hardwood Paroxysm usually does a theme week. This year, as the pool of players who began their careers in the 1990s dwindles, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the entire decade. In typical HP fashion, we will be covering ten years of basketball like a cat chasing a laser pointer. There is nothing comprehensive about our plans, around the HP Network we’re simply digging into the players, teams, and stories from that decade which interest us most. Welcome to #90sWeek.
Among all the great centers that graced an NBA court in the ’90s, Hakeem Olajuwon was the best. The Dream was a wily defender, using his quickness to protect the rim. Over his career, he averaged 1.7 steals per game and 3.1 blocks per game. He was also one of the more crafty post scorers that we’ve ever seen. Hakeem was incredibly nimble for his size, which he used to fool slow-footed opposing centers. The Dream Shake was his iconic move. He’d post his defender up, fake one way by rotating his torso just slightly and turning back around the other way for a fadeaway jumper.
Now, this is no Dream Shake by any means, but it is impressive nonetheless. Hakeem faces up David Robinson — who certainly isn’t a slack on defense — in the left corner. He begins his move by dribbling right but immediately crossing over to the baseline. He fakes a move by extending his right arm with the ball just slightly, but Robinson barely bites. Then, Olajuwon pivots 180 degrees towards the baseline and fakes another shot, this time a little hook. Robinson takes the bait. Now that his defender is in the air, Hakeem has an easy bucket.
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