Video of Sampson on the fast break <iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iIS2FpIRg5Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Sampson in the dunk contest <iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Uz8FZ-AYWY0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I became a Rockets fan in '94 and I never got to see Ralph Sampson play. If Hakeem and Sampson could have stayed healthy and played together for at least 8 seasons or so, I think we could have added another Championship or 2 to the Rockets collection...
Jordan was huge in North Caroline before the draft as I was there to get the temperature on the street. He was already being regarded as one of the best players ever. But Big men are the key to doing well in the NBA. Nearly all teams would have picked Olajuwon 1st in the 84 draft. All you have to do is look at Wade and Lebron. As good as they are, they couldn't carry a team mostly by themselves to a Championship. Jordan did it with Pippen. Lebron will do it with Wade. The elite big men dominate more the game than elite wings. Duncan, Olajuwon, Walton are prime examples and have led their teams to Championships. Howard and Ewing have come close. I would still pick Olajuwon over MJ.
I watched last night, flipping channels between this and the 'stros. Watching this game was still painful 25 years later.
great clips, tho it might reveal more of Kareem's greatness than either Akeem or Sampson. Dude was 38+ here. 38+ YEARS OLD! Facing two of the games most athletic and gifted young big mens. He was old enough to be their fathers lol and yet he manages not only to not completely and utterly embarrass himself. Instead he seems to hold his own! Thats crazy... Dream was dream... Ralph Sampson what a physical marvel. Watching him move so effortlessly here only reminds me how sad he looked when he was on the warriors when I was a kid.
It was a sad day when he was traded. The Houston pundits didn't like him, but many of the fans did. Some may remember: Sports Sunday with Craig Roberts playing highlights of him, the week he got traded.
Didn't want to start a thread, but on NBA tv, they are showing the game 6 game of Houston vs Boston. Boston ultimately wins but its on NBA tv if u want to watch it
Olajuwon was a monster running the floor, just a complete physical specimen. Playing the passing lanes!
there's something going on with Boston Garden that year, they only lost one game at home. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1986_games.html
Pretty much unbeatable. Bird/McHale/Parish/DJ, pretty stacked. Hm, Rockets losing by 3 in game 4, wonder how that game went, if Rockets win, could've been an upset championship and another banner for Houston!
