Throwback Posterization: Drexler Dunks on Sean Elliot

This week's Throwback Posterization features Clyde "The Glide" Drexler dunking over the Spurs' Sean Elliot, who was a favorite of mine growing up. From what I hear, he's an awful commentator these days like so many other former players... I'm looking in your direction, Reggie Miller. I'm not sure what year this is from but it has to be sometime after 1995 when Clyde was traded midseason by the Blazers to the Rockets. If this was indeed the '95 season, the Rockets would go onto defeat the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals as Hakeem Olajuwon schooled MVP David Robinson.

Ok, onto the dunk. Terry Cummings gets trapped under the basket by Olajuwon and company, forcing him to make a bad pass that Kenny "The Jet" Smith picks off. While the Spurs struggle to get back on defense, Smith takes the ball up court and makes a nice bounce pass to Drexler trailing on the wing. Sean Elliot tries to draw the charge but Drexler goes up and throws it down hard, causing both players to fall to the floor.

Throwback Posterization: Shaq Throws Down Oop on Hakeem

For this week's Throwback Posterization, I'm going with a classic alley oop by Shaq over Hakeem from the 1995 NBA Finals. I chose this particular posterization by Shaq because recently a typed letter has surfaced on the internet that Shaq left with Olajuwon after the Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals. In the letter, Shaq challenges Hakeem to one-on-one, which many are speculating was the launching pad for their classic Taco Bell Ads. I really hope that that's true, but regardless, it's a pretty amusing letter.

As I'm sure most of you have heard, this letter isn't the only reason that Shaq has been in the news. After courting team after team (San Antonio, Miami, Atlanta) to try to come to terms on a contract, the Boston Celtics have signed Shaq to a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum. This proves yet again that Danny Ainge isn't afraid to take risks with potential locker room cancers, as he signed Stephon Marbury and Rasheed Wallace in the past two seasons respectively. Shaq will join fellow washed-up-center-with-an-Irish-sounding-name Jermaine O'Neal, as the two provide an insurance policy for the injured Kendrick Perkins. We'll see how that works out.

Now, finally, onto the dunk. Shaq gets good position on Hakeem under the rim, and does his patent "black tornado" to free himself from Olajuwon. The ball handler on the perimeter (I can't figure out who it is) takes notice of Shaq getting open and tosses a perfect lob to O'Neal. Shaq finishes the oop strong, throwing it down right in Hakeem's face. Olajuwon tries to contest the dunk, but it's just too late by the time he goes up. It was a small victory for Shaq in a series that saw Olajuwon score over 30 points in all four games.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Shaq Crushes The Dream

It's already Thursday again Dank Gamers, so you know what that means... Throwback Posterization time! This week's throw down is courtesy of Shaq Diesel, as he absolutely destroys Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. Because Scott Skiles was still with Orlando in this video, this is either from Shaq's first or second year in the NBA. Just a year or two later these two teams would meet in the Finals, with the Rockets sweeping Orlando for their second title in a row.

The Magic run a great play here to get Shaq the dunk. Scott Skiles cuts to the basket and gets a nice a bounce pass from Jeff Turner. Because Skiles beats his man Scott Brooks on the cut, Hakeem is forced to help on defense. Skiles notices that Olajuwon left Shaq open and immediately dishes it to him. Brooks makes a half-assed attempt to steal the ball from Shaq, and Olajuwon does his best to contest Shaq's dunk, but the Diesel is just too powerful. It's a great posterization by Shaq, who hangs on the rim with one hand to rub it in.

One thing worth noting is that both point guards in this video are candidates for this season's Coach of the Year Award. Both Scott Skiles and Scott Brooks have led young teams to unexpectedly successful seasons, with the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Phi Slamma Jamma's Finest

I mentioned Phi Slamma Jamma in last week's Throwback Posterization, so I figured I'd follow it up with another Clyde Drexler posterization from that era. The Glide's victim in this clip is a 5'11" point guard from Memphis State named Andre Turner AKA The Little General.

Damn, what an insane dunk. Truly mesmerizing.

By the way, if anyone knows what that song is, let me know.

As a bonus, I'm throwing in another short but sweet video highlighting Phi Slamma Jamma. It also has a real tight Camp Lo song, which is obviously a big plus.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Drexler Throws Down on Laimbeer

For this week's late Thursday Throwback Posterization, I give you Clyde "The Glide" Drexler with a vicious one handed slam on Bill Laimbeer. This is from the 1990 NBA Finals, which would culminate with the Detroit Bad Boys winning in five games for their second straight title. This Blazers squad led by Drexler, Terry Porter, and Cliff Robinson would make it to the Finals again two years later only to fall prey to another back-to-back champion in the Chicago Bulls. Drexler would eventually get that elusive ring with the Rockets and fellow Phi Slamma Jamma alumni Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995.

Despite being one of the most highly regarded defenders of his era, Joe Dumars gets absolutely burned by Drexler. With Dumars left in the dust, Drexler goes up strong for the dunk on the late arriving Bill Laimbeer for the and 1. Laimbeer was notorious for hard fouls, so Drexler turns up the speed and throws it down extra hard to make sure he gets the bucket. It appears that Drexler didn't get a technical for slamming the ball, which would be a guaranteed technical in today's NBA.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: KJ elevates over Hakeem

With all of the NBA trade deadline madness today, I nearly forgot to post a Thursday Throwback Posterization again.

This week's video features 6'1" point guard and current mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson going up and over 7-foot Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon from the 1994 Western Conference Semi-Finals. After missing a three-pointer and getting the ball back from Danny Ainge, KJ burns Kenny Smith and seriously gets up on the dunk over Olajuwon. KJ times it perfectly, taking off before Hakeem has time to contest the dunk. The commentator amuses me when he says, "look at the determination and intensity in this man's [pause] soul."

The Rockets would go on to win the series 4-3 on their way to beating the New York Knicks in the Finals. Oh, and later in the series Olajuwon would get back at KJ by doing this:



This video has KJ's recollection of the dunk, which includes a hilarious impersonation of Hakeem: