1. Hakeem Olajuwon: Was the Finals MVP. He put up 32.8 PPG, 11.5 rebs, and 5.5 ast. In the four game sweep of the Magic.
Hakeem had a league high 33.8 PPG in the playoffs, and added 10.3 rebs,
4.5 asts, and 2.8 blk, while shooting 53% in 22 postseason games.
He was an All-Star, 3
rd team All-NBA and 2
nd team All-Defense and fifth in the MVP voting.
The Dream was 2nd in the NBA in scoring with 27.8 points, and blocks with 3.4. He pulled down 10.8 boards per game in the regular season and shot 51%.
He posted 35 PPG in round one vs Utah, including 40 and 33 in games four and five to clinch the series.
Olajuwon averaged 30-11.6-5.7 in the final three games in round 2, as he led Houston back from down 3-1 to stun Phoenix in seven.
With the famous use of the “dream shake.” Hakeem powered the Rockets past MVP David Robinson and Spurs with 41-16 in a Game Two win, 42-9-8 in Game Five and 39-17 and five blocks to clinch the West in Game Six.
The Rockets were 47-35 in the regular season. They beat the top three seeds in the West (San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah) on their way to the Finals.They pummeled the East’s top seed Orlando towin their second straight NBA crown.
2. Shaquille O’Neal: Won the scoring title and was MVP runner-up. He was 2nd team All-NBA., and starting center for the East All-Stars (22 points and 7 rebounds). He was also the NBA Player of the month in November.
Shaq averaged 29.3 point game and also led the league in field goals. He was second in FG % (58.3), and 3rd in rebounds (11.4).
In Round two against Chicago, O’Neal put the Magic on his back with 23-22 and five blocks in Game Five and 27-14 in the clincher in Game Six.
In the East Finals he dominated Indiana with 39 and 10 in Game Two.
In Game Five to break a 2-2 series tie, he had 35-13 in the Magic 108-106 win.
He averaged 28-12.5 and 2.4 blocks in the Finals loss to Houston.
Orlando had the top record in the East (57-25). They beat Boston in four, Chicago in six and Indiana in seven to get to their first Finals, where they were swept. The Magic led the NBA in scoring with 110.9 points per game.
3. David Robinson: Won the 1995 MVP. He was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.
He was third in the league with 27.4 points and 4th with 3.2 blocks and field goals with 788. He led the league with 656 free throws.
He added 10.4 boards per game and hit on 53% of his shots and nearly three assist per contest
In the playoffs Robinson averaged 25.2 ppg and 12.1 rebs. In the second round against the Lakers he put up 28-16 and 3.8 blocks in the Spurs four wins.
The Spurs had the top record in the NBA (62-20). They swept Denver in the first round and beat the Lakers in six in the second. They were beat in six games by Houston.
I'd probably have Shaq first here, but no surprises. Coming to the end of the big man era for this list (though I guess Malone/Duncan will be in the future). Thinking of '95, Penny Hardaway first came to mind. But as good as he was, he's not on this list.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for Shaq the rest of the Magic were doodoo in the finals and getting swept when Hakeem was awesome bumped him down. Good call on Penny he was the first guy left off... yea you are right moving forward 7 footers become almost irrelavent.
ReplyDeleteApart from Shaq. I think he'll feature on your lists further down the road. '99 maybe?
ReplyDelete