When people talk about the greatest shot in Rockets history, the Ralph Sampson shot is usually what's mentioned: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a0AQ7bl1jd8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a0AQ7bl1jd8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> It was a great dramatic moment. Game 5 WCF, tied game, 1 second left. One shot to dethrone the defending-champion LA Lakers as well as to send the Rockets to the NBA Finals. Hands down the greatest shot? Greatly overlooked, in my opinion, was the play at 5:20 in the video below from the 1995 playoffs, Game 5 in Phoenix: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Spxz3nL782E&hl=en_US&fs=1&#t=5m20s&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Spxz3nL782E&hl=en_US&fs=1&&#t=5m20s&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Olajuwon coolly buried a turnaround jumper with 8 seconds to go to send the game into overtime. Unlike the Sampson shot, the Rockets were down 2 and facing elimination. It was a routine-looking shot for him, true, but if Hakeem missed that shot the odds would have been sharply against the Rockets winning that 2nd championship. It was, in my opinion, the pivotal shot of that season, with all due respect to Kenny Smith's overtime-sending 3-pointer in game 1 of the NBA Finals. What do you guys think? EDIT Kiss of death needed to be mentioned also. My mistake.
Well crap, I knew I was missing something when I submitted the poll. Kiss of death: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aWGuUwjS4Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aWGuUwjS4Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Tied game, and Elie gives the Rockets a 3-point lead in the closing minutes of game 7. As huge as that shot was ... I still have to go with Olajuwon's turnaround in game 5. Should we give more importance to the shot that staves off elimination, or the shot that wins the series?
I thought this was just a Houston fact. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnIy_NhcDFg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnIy_NhcDFg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> The Junkyard Dog or Mad Max.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qx_N6rsLcoA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qx_N6rsLcoA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Seriously, it's the kiss of death or the sampson shot.
He's also forgot that Eddie something shot against the Jazz or even that Mcgrady shot that sealed that comeback win against the Spurs/
although not technically a shot id have to go with olajuwans shot block on starks in game 6 to send to 7
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/luBrkc2m9cI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/luBrkc2m9cI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Die Jazz!
ahhh chucks man We ultimately lost that series against the Jazz and that McGrady was in the regular season, not as important. mind as well go back to the drawing board...
Cassell's buzzer beating three late in game 7 vs. phoenix in 1994 deserves to be mentioned. It was very crucial and nobody expected it to go in, let alone from the rookie.
Thanks for the clips. Gotta go with the Sampson shot. We used to try replicating the shot with friends, and it never goes in. Very athletic play, and by a 7'4'' player! Nobody gave the Rockets ANY chance in that game or series. Complete shocker! The commentators assumed the Lakers were going to find a way to win. Whats his name kept saying "and what, a shot, by Maaaagic". Then Akeem goes out, and Rockets still wins. Gotta feel that Akeem getting a taste of the finals back then fueled his desire to get back and win it. Man Hakeem was impressive. Hard to believe that the Sun didn't triple team him, but I guess they were afraid of a three point shot. His ability to slide open, gather position and ball, spin and cooly make a shot to keep the season going. Impressive. Im always amazed that our teams won when you look how loaded those opponents were. Great clips!
-I would put it in this order... -Dreams tip in with .3 sec left in 1995 NBA Finals game 1. This single shot destroyed all hope for the Magic to win the finals -Kiss of Death - no need to explain, without that shot we would have went home for the season -Kenny's 3 to send the game into OT, 1995 NBA finals Gm 1. Completed one of the greatest NBA FInals come backs ever -Sampsons "the shot" - For obvious reasons -Maxwells game 7 NBA finals 3 pointer -Horrys game 3 NBA finals 3 point shot -Johnson at the buzzer...GOT IT! -Mcgrady for the win... YES! (13 in 33) My most overlooked shot in Rockets history will be.... dun dun dun... -Steve Novak's game winning 3 point shot agains the Kings. That single shot prevented the end of what would have become the 22 game win streak
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D5KjSA29Rhs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D5KjSA29Rhs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Mario Ellie 's shot was BIG!!!
Robert Horry's game winning jumper in the 1995 WCF Game 1 against the Spurs (the shot that Spurs coach Bob Hill said Horry didn't want to take) was the birth of Big Shot Rob; I think it deserves a mention.
Ralph's shot was the greatest in Rockets history. That shot came at the end of the greatest game in rockets history, and it defeated one of the greatest teams in NBA history on their home court. To fully appreciate Ralph's shot, you should watch that game from beginning to end. The way Ralph, Hakeem, and the whole Rocket team battled Magic and the Lakers is epic.
