This one doesn't make the most memorable for me among many great ones mentioned in the thread, but a very honorable mention that I don't think has been mentioned yet ( ) was Yao's first game against Shaq (2003) when he blocked Shaq's first three shot attempts. That was a fun way for the new kid on the block to introduce himself to the then-current best center in the world -- and in the end it was a 108-104 overtime win against the Lakers.
Funny that's the same game I was talking about in my post, but I don't remember the epicness you described. Maybe I came late or something.
Haha at 4:39, before the ball even goes in, you can see a guy in the background to the right put hands over his head and duck down...classic!
Johnson at the Buzzer! Reason being, I was 3 rows back on the opposite side of the bench. (the the camera view is from) Never have I screamed, and cheered so loud before... <object width="480" height="385"><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="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Really?? A regular season game against the T-Wolves?? That's the best you could come up with? Although I do remember that game.
Can you post a pic of this SI cover or just the photo? I couldn't find it. The only thing I found was this: But I don't think that's what you're talking about. I also remember Dream blocking Kareem's skyhook on the 1986 playoff series and the announcer (Gene Peterson?) saying that that is only the 2nd time he's ever seen somebody block it (an obvious reference to Willoughby).
Great thread to give us fans something to get excited about! Well I would have to say Dream's quadruple double. I mean this is something Rockets' fans can say is exclusive to us. Dream is one of few to accomplish this and this can silence a lot of haters who neglect to put Olajuwon in top 3 centers of all-time. Other moments: Yao's return in LA; T-Mac's bradley dunk and 13 in 35; 22 game streak; Olajuwon's spin and dunk against Ewing. And too many others to even do justice to Rocket legacy.
Hey, you're right though. Steve Francis' 44 was his career high in that game where Yao blocked Shaq's first three shot attempts. OT victory over the Lakers, national TV, etc. -- a lot happened in that game.
This is not the greatest memory, or my favorite for that matter, but the obvious ones have already been used.<p>I can remember how bad Yao was getting beat up by everybody. I remember everyone calling him soft. So the play I love was when he was getting beat up by Atlanta, and he caught the ball deep in the paint and dunked on Ratliff. He yelled at ratliff and got his first Tech. Loved It.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IebhPrKQGzs
13 in 35...easy to hate on the man now, but I was at that game and it was a once in a lifetime experience.
That was a good Yao moment. Not as good as his first game against Shaq, as was mentioned earlier, but the tech was what many of us had been wanting for a long time. I think the ref was a wanker for calling it, though. It's like Stern and company want The Stepford League, where the players are automatons, devoid of emotion. I get emotional just thinking about how stupid the league is for being that way.
That game was ridiculous! That game was also example of not closing out a team, as it shouldn't have gone to 3 OTs!