i agree with everything the Jet said right there. He is typically the most reasoned of the TNT analysts. He might be wrong... but his reasoning usually is well thought out and makes sense. The 93/94 Rockets would/could have beaten any version of the Bulls from 90/91 through 94/95. The 94/95 Rockets would have the same, and put up a decent fight against any of the 95/96-97/98 Bulls. I would favor them against the 97/98 Bulls, "last dance" be damned. I'd favor the 95/96 and 96/97 Bulls against the Rockets and maybe against any team ever, so that's not saying a ton. 94/95 Rockets though, once they hit that groove in the playoffs, would have given them a good long fight. That squad took out what, four 60 win teams. Took out Malone, Stockton, Jerry Sloan, Barkley, KJ, MVP David Robinson, Shaq and Penny. This year's Rockets have a chance. They'll probably ultimately be "too small", but they have a good chance.
Loved Sam too and felt that he was better player back in the day. Thought he should start. But there was a reason Kenny started with Dream. Kenny was an integral in-out option for 4 out system that Dream simply dominated in. Kenny was much better 3 point shooter and his contribution very underrated.
Cassel wasn’t anywhere close to a better player the years they won the rings. He just had that fun bench guy thing going for him later Sam became the better historical player. Kenny had some very solid years when he was younger but best cassell was just better and for longer. He was an all star and finished all nba second team once.
He was also on the most recent Bill Simmons podcast and talked about how he felt The Rockets would have faired against those Bulls in the finals. Worth a listen
I disagree. Even as a kid, I thought that Sam was the more skilled player. As a rook he could come of bench and create for himself. Sam was an integral part of rotation almost from the start. Again, Kenny was the better fit because of his 3ball.
People keep living in this MJ fantasy. If it were the best player, LeBron, Wilt, Dr.J, would have like 8 rings. SAS says if MJ thoroughly played with rest, they would've beaten a team that they struggled with even in his untouched prime. People will say it was regular season, but we are talking about "petty-grudge holding MJ" on the sprinting Bulls. The Bulls had the best record through the regular season and were top dogs, but they couldn't beat Houston, like they did most teams. Houston brought the Nightmare in the middle, 3 point attack and depth, especially with players, like Horry, Cassell, and Elie. They had a player who could actually guard MJ with some success in Mad Max. They had ancillary stars, like Drexler and Thorpe who could also score and make big plays. Chicago had great defense, but it was weak in places where Houston's offense was at its greatest. Olajuwon is the one sets the tone. Give any budding playoff team Olajuwon and that team would give fits or outright beat the Bulls.
Scottie Brooks finished most games because Kenny couldn’t or wouldn’t, it looked the same. Kenny would cry to the media if he didn’t get the start or his minutes were cut even if the Rockets won. Kenny was combo guard and Sam was a point guard. The ONLY reason Kenny found success here was Vernon Maxwell could guard anyone and that left Kenny to hit open 3’s.
clutch city rockets are pure They will defend the Rockets championships forever Just like real rockets fans on Clutchfans and I understand that the Stephen a smith fans Don’t like this @Os Trigonum
Kenny smith’s contributions to the Rockets titles were not one game only @Ziggy it’s easy to point out the fake fans here they are like tiktok users who get mad if they don’t get likes for their Taylor swift dancing videos
If Stephen A Smith or Kenny Smith got you riled up that means they are really good at their jobs, I know Stephen A makes $10 mill, and Kenny probably a few million If Kenny Smith took a dump on live TV on a giant poster of James Harden.. IT WILL NEVER CHANGE WHAT HE DID AS A PLAYER I understand that most people here on Clutchfans, are PURE SUCKERS FOR MEDIA TALK SHOWS and DON'T CARE ABOUT THE GAME AT ALL Like I said, the worst thing that could happen to the current state of Clutchfans is if Stephen A or Max went on vacation @Os Trigonum Also, the Rockets have NEVER PROVEN KENNY WRONG
I'm pretty sure, not many people here remember when we first got Kenny Smith and how awesome he was he was not just a person standing at the 3 point line. that's the I only saw the videos of championship fans 1991 I think nobody remembers this except, real rockets fans I'm glad #1 @Clutch remembers
You posted the most admired person on the GARM Stephen A Smith He's obviously more important to people here than Rockets History, James Harden or Russell Westbrook
This was a weak, weak defense from Kenny. Regardless of whether MJ had a better overall career in terms of winning, for those 2 years Hakeem was not going to be denied, which is why he did it twice in a row. Rockets would have beaten the Bulls. The Bulls were not built to defend a 4-out offense with an unstoppable force in the middle. Here is why: MJ was not as unstoppable against the Rockets as Hakeem was against the Bulls - because matchup wise we could throw Max or Clyde at him whereas the best interior defender they could show was who exactly? Rodman came later IIRC. We would have the most dominant player in the series, and I don't know if any other team in that era could say that. Even Shaq demonstrated that it was possible to beat the Bulls from the inside out. MJ crushed Orlando the second time around though. Jordan himself has never denied the validity of those titles and has heaped praise on Hakeem. Greatness knows greatness. Kenny doesn't seem to think those two were in the same ball club in 1995.