Looks like PP may be the next to take the pilgrimage to Houston

[Rondooooooooo]

so is paul actually doing this cause i haven't seen any proof lol

[slamtheking]

having seen Mchale's and Hakeem's careers, I'd say Mchale was the superior post player.  He's the best I've seen, period.  Hakeem had a more-athletic game where he could handle the ball better and thereby be more of threat to make a move to the hoop from farther out.

Bottom line, I saw Mchale split an unbelievable amount of double and triple teams and score while I saw Hakeem do far less of that.

If I wanted a player to learn how to play post offense, I'd send them to Mchale.

[FreeGreen]

Does Mchale shoot a single shot with his left hand in that video? 

[Jeff]

link?

[saltlover]

to learn some post moves from Hakeem "the dream" Olajuwon. The pilgrimage to Hakeem started years ago with Kobe or was it Howard, I dont recall. Has this pilgrimage ever paid off for any of the pilgrims? Dream is an all time great, but when it comes to post moves dont we have the greatest of all times in Kevin Mchale?

Isn't McHale in Houston also?

[ram]

McHale was easily the better open jump shooter (see FT% for both and 3 pointers). He also had better low post moves. McHale was without peer for low post moves.

Akeem was much quicker and was a better shooter off the dribble or off a face up move.

Keep in mind also that Akeem played mostly during a watered down period of the NBA and even won his 2 rings while Jordan swung and missed at curve balls.

OTOH, McHale had 2 of the greatest passers to get him the ball in the right position (Bird and DJ).

 

[footey]

I'm with action781 here. Hakeem would almost be a lock for the C spot on any fantasy team I would pick (Russ would get a F spot instead). Sometimes when you were watching Olajuwon you forgot you were watching someone who is 7 feet tall because the Dream had it all, even a reliable jumper.

Ogaju, do you have a link to the story?

He was more like 6'10".

[GreenFaith1819]

I think if Paul did in fact take such a pilgrimage, I'd be happy with either McHale or Olajuwon tutoring him.

As to who was better post player, McHale seemed to take (and make) most of his shots (from what I've seen) in the post. Olajuwon did his damage seemingly all over the floor.

Olajuwon appeared to be a better passer than McHale.

Olajuwon seemed to be the better overall player, BUT: Hakeem never played with Bird. The players around Hakeem seemed to be tailored more towards HIS play. Those 80's Celtics teams were tailored more around Larry.

Could McHale have been the Big Kahuna on a different team - without Larry or Chief? I'd like to think so.

In any event, I love talking about two of perhaps the best bigs of all time. Once KG and Tim moves on, that will be a sad day for the NBA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW4uXlRGAF0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm5cbbDtFbs

[RJ87]

to learn some post moves from Hakeem "the dream" Olajuwon. The pilgrimage to Hakeem started years ago with Kobe or was it Howard, I dont recall. Has this pilgrimage ever paid off for any of the pilgrims? Dream is an all time great, but when it comes to post moves dont we have the greatest of all times in Kevin Mchale?

Lebron worked with him last offseason, and he dominated in the post this postseason. Kobe has worked with him and he's a pretty post player for a guard. And D12 has shown more confidence and better moves since he worked with him. Hakeem isn't a miracle worker, but he does help players. I love the idea of Paul going to work with him.

[Redz]

Does Mchale shoot a single shot with his left hand in that video? 

He didn't really needed to.  That inside-out-up-and-under fake spin created enough space to his left to shoot with his right whenever he needed it.

[Lord of Mikawa]

to learn some post moves from Hakeem "the dream" Olajuwon. The pilgrimage to Hakeem started years ago with Kobe or was it Howard, I dont recall. Has this pilgrimage ever paid off for any of the pilgrims? Dream is an all time great, but when it comes to post moves dont we have the greatest of all times in Kevin Mchale?

Lebron worked with him last offseason, and he dominated in the post this postseason. Kobe has worked with him and he's a pretty post player for a guard. And D12 has shown more confidence and better moves since he worked with him. Hakeem isn't a miracle worker, but he does help players. I love the idea of Paul going to work with him.

If you are dedicated to the game and your craft, I think working with the Dream will help you out.

[alley oop]

to learn some post moves from Hakeem "the dream" Olajuwon. The pilgrimage to Hakeem started years ago with Kobe or was it Howard, I dont recall. Has this pilgrimage ever paid off for any of the pilgrims? Dream is an all time great, but when it comes to post moves dont we have the greatest of all times in Kevin Mchale?

Link please?

[mgent]

Not saying McHale was necessarily the better post player, but when it comes to footwork he's number 1 and what else can you really teach at this level, other than maybe fakes which he was better at too?

Unfortunately, I don't think the vast majority of NBA players could truly take their post games to the next level by working with someone.  Guys like Al Jefferson have all those fundamentals but what really sets them apart and makes them elite is just pure instinct.  It is such a big part of post play that guys like Dwight and Bynum can never learn to be THAT good just because they have the size and athleticism.

As for Paul, I'm glad he's STILL trying to improve his game every offseason.  Especially considering I've felt he's already had the best footwork and timing among perimeter players for the past 10 years.

[mmmmm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnIifSra3GA



Feel free to change your mind...

I only watched the first minute, but those moves were unbelievably boring and unimpressive compared to those of Hakeem.  His quickness and foot work for a 7 footer hasn't been seen since.  Maybe you need to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tPZ-KljR0

well, i watched more than the first minute of each video and they showed me what i have seen many times about both players.

each are terrific and to denigrate one so as to elevate the other is plain silly.

advocating for a great player is not an automatic zero-sum situation. hakeen was clearly more athletic than mchale, i cant think of anyone who argues otherwise. but saying mchale had "unimpressive" moves under the basket is both inaccurate and unnecessary.

but the point being put forth by the first poster about mchale, i think, is that DOWN LOW, NEAR THE BASKET mchale has more moves and was better than hakeem. watching all of both videos shows that.

look at the majority of hakeem's shots. he was much better farther away from the basket than mchale and that was hakeem's game. no center could guard him there. he was terrific.

look at the majority of mchale's shots. he is consistently double teamed down low and splits/beats the double team so many different ways. he was impossible to stop close to the basket and was stronger battling there than hakeen.

each was great, but had a different type of game. what's the real debate here?

+1

I totally concur with this.

[syfy9]

McHale does so many up and unders it's crazy. I think slower players would be better suited under his teachings. McHale also had the better touch around the basket.

That being said, Olajuwon is more dominant defensively and is a lot more quicker. He doesn't have as many go to moves as McHale, but he still has the 2nd most go to moves of all time. Add that with his amazing quickness, and he's near unstoppable.


PP would probably enjoy a session with McHale more than Olajuwon, imo.