The two series we lost were fantastic series. Lakers last year was thrilling because we stepped up when our best player Yao Ming got hurt and took the eventual champions to 7 games. This series also showed what kinda of players the Rockets have. A team that never quits. The 92-93 loss vs Seattle was epic, horrible officiating, and a key loss to San Antonio in the regular season cost the Rockets home court (where we were awesome). The San Antonio loss was the infamous, David Robinson scoring like 5 minutes after the buzzer sounded (Rockets getting screwed over).
last year because even with yao injured we nearly beat the team that ended up winning the championship
I've gotta go with 94-95 over the Suns because of the way we came back in the series, and it eventually led to a championship. Last season is a close second.
Cliff Notes for newbs or tmac fans 2008-09 Lost Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) versus Los Angeles MASH unit almost beat Lakers without Yao. Rockets finally making it past the first round. 1996-97 Won Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) versus Seattle Finally beat Seattle. Barkley, Clyde, and Dream, the big 3. 1994-95 Won Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) versus Phoenix Kiss of Death. look it up. 1993-94 Won Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) versus Phoenix the birth of "Clutch City" after Houston paper labels Rockets "Choke City" 1992-93 Lost Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) versus Seattle Supersonics One jumper away in game 7 from a possible WCF or even NBA Finals matchup!
That may have been the best series I've ever seen. But if anyone picks that as their favorite, they're masochists.
The 94-05 series vs the Suns was a CLASSIC series...down 3-1 having to win twice on PHX's homecourt both coming down to the wire, just fantastic. PHX record was 59-23 and we needed to beat them 3 STRAIGHT nevermind they wanted revenge from the prior year...just remarkable. In game 7 the Suns had Barkley and AC Green with both getting 20 boards and KJ had 45 points and WE STILL WON!!! No team had ever won a game 7 on the road after being down 3-1 and no team since the 83 Sixers had won game 7 on the road. No Doubt 94-95 vs the Suns is my choice.
Last year's series was great. I loved that 2008-2009 team. A lot of heart and hustle. The Rockets had a ton of street cred back then with Artest, Lowry, Hayes, Yao, Scola, Battier, etc.
Man, no love for the Sonics series. That use to be a heated rivalry, considering they always played illegal defense. Even Rocket fans here name themselves "Anti"Sonic because of it! I guess moving cities and having likable players like Durant changes things. Who can hate a team coached by Scotty Brooks?
I feel you on the 92 series, it was a fantastic series with plenty of drama but the fact they lost and the way it went down is PAINFUL to relive. The 97 series was a good 7 game series but almost blowing a 3-1 lead with 2 games at home kind of rings hollow for me. It was more relief then the joy that the others brought at their conclusion.
The "Kiss of Death" was the defining moment of the Clutch City era. Elie sticking the dagger in to the heart of the Suns on their home court was one of the most gratifying moments in the history of Rockets fandom. It was, and still remains, the coldest shot in NBA history. Mario was just that dude.
Because of what transpired after that series, most Rockets fans have tried to completely erase that year from our memories. Even now, as I read that (4-3) versus Seattle Supersonics in your poll, it gave me no happy thoughts as I remembered.......NVM
give me the original Sonics series. That was crazy.. epic Game 7 overtime. I think the home team won every game that series? Kenny and Vernon came up big.. Dream was Dream. It was around the beginning of the illegal D for the Sonics But really it was the beginning. Every team has that year when they almost get through, but don't. The Bulls had Detroit. Detroit had LA (lost in the finals the year before they got it together and won). The Spurs of the late 90's had the Jazz that went to the finals twice before them. The Rockets had to lose a tough series to learn how to win. This was that series edit: yes, it left fans (and surely players) with a pit in their stomachs. But that made it that much more satisfying to come out on top the following year!
first no doubt: kiss of death against phoenix, last year was amazing too. with Yao getting injured and then coming back.
