Rocket Fuel

Hayesfan · Sep 13, 2007

I know when Garnett first got traded to the Celtics some of yall were comparing them to the 96-97 Rockets. This guy took it a step further in his comparison and I thought I would share (how many weeks until the season starts?)

Rocket Fuel

As you know, the new look Celtics have been under the microscope since August 1st. We've heard and read comparisons made between the "New Three" and the original "Big Three". On the flip side, there has been just as much talk, if not more, about the lack of roster depth, the lack of an experienced PG, and the potential lack of chemistry. I have also, on a couple of occasions, seen this team grouped on the same level as the greatest team to ever take the court - the 1985-86 Celtics. Calling that wishful thinking is like calling Rosie O'Donnell "slightly" annoying. However, there is one team that keeps popping up in the team comparison debate, and that's the 1996-97 Houston Rockets.

11 years ago, the Rockets changed the face of their team by trading for 33 year old Charles Barkley, who had played the previous 4 seasons in the desert. In the deal, Houston traded away Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown. All seemed worth it, however, as it would unite Barkley with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to form a formidable 1-2-3 punch, and a probably run toward an NBA title. As it would turn out, the Rockets would win 57 games that season, good for 2nd place in the Midwest Division. However, the Western Conference Finals would be the last stop, as the Rockets would end up losing the series to the Utah Jazz.
Let's take a look at that 1996-97 Houston Rockets roster(thanks to basketball-reference.com for the info):

Hakeem Olajuwon
Clyde Drexler
Charles Barkley
Mario Elie
Matt Maloney
Eddie Johnson
Kevin Willis
Sedale Threatt
Othella Harrington
Matt Bullard
Randy Livingston
Charles Jones

One could argue that this team was more top-heavy in talent than the current Celtics are. Olajuwon, Barkley, and Drexler averaged a combined 60.4 points/game, while the starting five averaged a total of 83.6 points. Meanwhile, the team, as a whole, averaged 100.6 points/game (note: Although he was acquired via trade mid-season, and only played in 24 games as a Rocket, I am using Eddie Johnson's stats in these totals; Matt Maloney was the previous starter). So, 57% of the team's scoring came from the Olajuwon/Barkley/Drexler trio, and 79% from the starting five. That's just further evidence that depth is a luxury, not a necessity. (to see the Celtics percentages, see my previous article Numbers Game).
Now, let's compare the 2007-08 Celtics roster to that 96-97 Rockets team:

Starters:
Kendrick Perkins|Hakeem Olajuwon
Kevin Garnett|Charles Barkley
Paul Pierce|Clyde Drexler
Ray Allen|Eddie Johnson
Rajon Rondo|Mario Elie
Bench:
Tony Allen|Matt Maloney
Scot Pollard|Kevin Willis
James Posey|Sedale Threatt
Leon Powe|Othella Harrington
Eddie House|Matt Bullard
Glen Davis|Randy Livingston
Gabe Pruitt|Charles Jones

I'll actually give the nod to the Rockets' starting-5 right now, simply because we don't know exactly what Rajon Rondo will do. Plus, that's three "Top 50 Players Of All-Time" right there. Here's how I see it: Olajuwon over Perkins; Garnett over Barkley (Barkley was hurt much of that 96-97 season, too); Pierce over Drexler (Clyde was 34 at the time, and on the decline); Allen over Johnson; and Elie over Rondo (for now). I realize that I chose 3 Celtics to the Rockets' 2, but the Olajuwon/Perk matchup is far from close (I am Perk's biggest fan, believe me, but let's be straight), which gives the Rockets the edge. I know that Barkley, Olajuwon, and Drexler were all approaching their mid-30s, but Olajuwon was THAT good.
Looking at the benches, I'd have to give the Celtics the nod in this one. My memory may not be as good as it once was, but I'd take Allen (healthy), Posey, House, and Pollard over Maloney, Willis, Threatt and Bullard 10 times out of 10.

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw this out there for some friendly debate and chatter. There are definitely some parallels between the two teams. Both have three superstars, with mediocre depth. Both sold the farm to "win now". And both have very high expectations (at least from the fans). One thing in the Celtics' favor is the ages of their trifecta, with no one yet 33 years old, which both Barkley and Olajuwon were already (Drexler was 34). But, ultimately, the Celtics will have to prove their standing on the court. 57 wins is a lot, especially when many aren't even predicting 47.
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c1utchfan925 · Sep 13, 2007

interesting read, outside of the rockets i really want to keep up with the celtics and see how much damage they do in the east.

famicom · Sep 13, 2007

ROCKET FUEL MALT LIQOUR.....DAAAMNN!!!

OrangeRowdy95 · Sep 13, 2007

Celtics are deeper than Rockets were back then. We essentially didn't have a pg once Brent Price got hurt. Celtics also have defense and Tom Thibodeau to go with their 3 allstars. They're in the LEast. Championship is theirs.

professorjay · Sep 13, 2007

famicom said:

ROCKET FUEL MALT LIQOUR.....DAAAMNN!!!
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Awesome reference.

Pocket Rockets · Sep 13, 2007

maloney started, not eddie

kaleidosky · Sep 13, 2007

Pocket Rockets said:

maloney started, not eddie
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yeah, that'd be a tough lineup handling the ball and defensively with Elie and EJ and Clyde on the wings

RiceDaddy07 · Sep 13, 2007

The Celtics only have future Hall-of-Famer of their big three. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are just two " really good " players. To actually compare them to the '98 Rockets more accurately, it'd have to be something like Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Kobe playing on the same team.

You cannot compare those current three with the Rockets' old big three LEGENDS.

If we took back the '98 Rockets from time and put them in the Eastern Conference today, they would win the East easily.

KellyDwyer · Sep 13, 2007

RiceDaddy07 said:

The Celtics only have future Hall-of-Famer of their big three. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are just two " really good " players. To actually compare them to the '98 Rockets more accurately, it'd have to be something like Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Kobe playing on the same team.

You cannot compare those current three with the Rockets' old big three LEGENDS.

If we took back the '98 Rockets from time and put them in the Eastern Conference today, they would win the East easily.
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That team couldn't even make it to March.

Hard to win the East with Drexler taking his time recovering from heart attack surgery.

That said, I still can't believe I whiffed on Rodrick Rhodes.

Dei · Sep 13, 2007

Rocket Fuel... isn't that the new Mountain Dew with even more caffeine?

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