1980/81: With a 3rd Texas team joining the NBA as an expansion team the Rockets are moved into the Western Conference's Midwestern Division. In the West Moses Malone continued to lead the way for the Rockets finishing second in the league in scoring with 27.8 ppg and first in rebounding with 14.8 rpg. However, the Rockets would play mediocre basketball all season as the barley sneaked into the playoffs as the sixth seed with a mediocre record of 40-42. In the playoffs the Rockets would draw the defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers after winning Game 1 on the road the Rockets appeared to have let the possibility of an upset slip through their fingers as they lost Game 2 at home 111-106. However, the Rockets would turn up the defensive pressure in Game 3 as they stunned the Lakers 89-86 to move on to the second round. In the second round the Rockets continued to be road warriors as they beat the San Antonio Spurs in a hard fought seven game series winning three of four games played in San Antonio to reach the Western Conference Finals. In the Western Finals the Rockets would split the first two games on the road against the Kansas City Kings before winning two straight games at The Summit to grab a 3-1 series lead. In Game 5 the Rockets defense turned up the pressure again as the Rockets advanced to the NBA Finals with a 97-88 win. Facing the Boston Celtics who had swept them in the playoffs a year earlier the Rockets actually had surprised most experts by splitting the first four games. However, the Celtics talent would take over to win the NBA Championship in six games. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/houston/rockets.html Of course Dwight Howard aint no Moses Malone.
You are talking about the Rockets having to beat a team that has dominated the Rockets the last 2 years, arguably on the level of the 72-win Bulls, and a team that that is stacked offensively and defensively. We are not going to win this series. It would be the greatest upset in sports history. We have to hope to win one game at home. This could get ugly.
I agree. Rox gotta play out of their MINDS for 48 minutes. ON PAPER they are more healthy and more loaded than last year especially with DMO and Beverly back. This could be another thrilling series like last year or a Stephen King Horror Flick in my opinion
I remember that run well -- nice reference, OP. But: 3-game series, as Clutch said; team that could turn up its defense; Lakers as 3-seed had been without young magic for half a season (weird year for them). Just... so different.
A Rockets team built to jack up tons of 3 pointers vs the team who has the last 2 3 point champions from the last 2 years plus a dude who has hit 400 3s. Morey strategy
The Rockets can not guard the Warriors. JBB switches are easily exposed as they move the ball around so well eventually you have horrible mismatches, easy dunks or wide open 3 point shots. The Rockets can't out-gun the Warriors either. We may get lucky and win a game. It would be incredible to win 2 games. But it all likelihood (99.9%) this will be a 4 or 5 game series.
F the Warriors. Rockets!! I remember that 80-81 team. Had to watch playoff games on tape delay, lol, imagine that all you youngsters out there. And when the games were live, you could turn down the sound and turn on the Rockets radio broadcast and listen to Gene Peterson. Maybe some of you can do that now, but when i try the tv and radio are never in sync. Lets go Rockets, shock the world!!!