DurzoBlint wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:If I were Hakeem, I would've given Lebron James a discount just so I could build a reputation. The Dream couldn't have received better advertising than this year's NBA finals. If I'm the Hornet's, I'd go as high as $500,000 to make Hakeem the personal coach of Anthony Davis. The more I think about this, the sadder I get. Hakeem is probably making more as a coach than Patrick Ewing.

Seriously we should have Ewing sitting on are bench working with Amare and Chandler all the time

Pat did not have an array of post moves. He had that running drop step and a hook but, that was pretty much it. His was a great defender and a hell of a jump shooter for a big, one of the best shooting Centers of all time but, what Ewing had you really can't teach. He had tenacity and a fire that is/was only equaled by the likes of Jordan and Bird. Unfortunately, Pat, compared to those guys came up short.

Pat took protecting the rim personally and believed he owned the court. He put every iota of himself into the game. I'm not sure many of today's athletes have that type of competitive fire the guys back then possessed.

from what I've read, Pat is a guy that doesn't sweat the details and comes across as a lazy coach. That's why he never lands the top gig and bounces from assistant postion to assistant position

VDesai wrote:I feel like so much of what Hakeem did was instinctual and he had natural footwork and ability. Not sure if Amare is gonna come out of this with a dream shake, but since LJ is on NYK payroll, I think he could at least learns some back to the basket stuff from him...

Bonn1997 wrote:

VDesai wrote:I feel like so much of what Hakeem did was instinctual and he had natural footwork and ability. Not sure if Amare is gonna come out of this with a dream shake, but since LJ is on NYK payroll, I think he could at least learns some back to the basket stuff from him...

I think that describes a lot of what great post players do. Maybe Amare will improve slightly but I'm skeptical about how big a difference this will make. I give Amare credit for the effort though.

Yes, he deserves much credit for the effort and $$$ he is putting out in improving his abilities.
His role changed on the team, with the addition of Chandler/Melo.
He is also a bit older, he has to actually learn moves and counters, not relying on just his ability to DUNK.

Playing Center with 4 shooters to spread the floor with him, while he has the step on an advantage vs a Center.
But now, Chandler cannot spread the floor, the opponents Center/shot blocker is an extra defender in addition to the PF that matches up with his speed/athleticism/length much better than a Center.
It also didn't help that Fields was not able to spread the floor, with anyone else that were almost being dared to shoot the 3pointer.

If you have the physical tools, you can be a great low post player, and Amar'e has the physical tools. Becoming a great low post scorer is all about practice, practice, practice and applying that in the game... as well as using your brain. He should already be a GREAT low post player actually. His problem is that he has a bit of the Eddie Curry disease in that he sometimes doesn't assess a situation quickly. He'll just put his head down and run into a double team. It worked 5 years ago b/c he was so athletic that he could jump over the doubles but now he doesn't really have that benefit anymore so he really needs to work on that if he wants to re-become a successful scorer. That, and get back his mid range shot.

As for this, it can be great or just as must a waste of Amar'e's money as when he got in that twitter war. He has to really listen to Hakeem, practice against his teammates and apply all of these moves in the games and he has to constantly do it. If not, then that's just a waste of a lot of mullah that I would love to have myself. I'll take it if he doesn't want it.

Still, give Amare props. 10 years in the league and he still has the drive to be better. And who better, right? Remember what Hakeem did to then league MVP David Robinson?

Waiter!... Dream Shakes all around.

ChuckBuck wrote:

(Somewhere in Houston)

Master Hakeem: [after easily defeating Amar'e one on one] Ha, ha, never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear?

Amar'e: I hear the referees calling me for another charge, I hear footsteps.

Master Hakeem: Do you hear your own heartbeat?

Amar'e: No.

Hakeem: Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?

Amar'e: [looking down and seeing the insect] Old man, how is it that you hear these things?

Hakeem: Young man, how is it that you do not dribble under control?

Amar'e: Sheesh

Master Hakeem: Quickly as you can, snatch the pill from my hand.

[Amar'e tries to do so and fails]

Master Hakeem: When you can take the rock from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

misterearl wrote:Chuck, you are indeed a Kung-Fu Master

ChuckBuck wrote:

(Somewhere in Houston)

Master Hakeem: [after easily defeating Amar'e one on one] Ha, ha, never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear?

Amar'e: I hear the referees calling me for another charge, I hear footsteps.

Master Hakeem: Do you hear your own heartbeat?

Amar'e: No.

Hakeem: Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?

Amar'e: [looking down and seeing the insect] Old man, how is it that you hear these things?

Hakeem: Young man, how is it that you do not dribble under control?

Amar'e: Sheesh

Master Hakeem: Quickly as you can, snatch the pill from my hand.

[Amar'e tries to do so and fails]

Master Hakeem: When you can take the rock from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

haha like it.

Vmart wrote:Two weeks? That ain't enough to learn a lifetimes worth of moves. This is BS at its finest Amare needs to spend the entire off season with Hakeem. You know soon as the two weeks are up Amare won't even think about and try to replicate what he learned under Hakeem. Nice try By Amare though because it takes many month to master up and under moves and make them instinctive.

Heck, I'll be happy with 2 moves.