The alternative: Bash the Rockets and talk about how great we used to be. This thread is a nice change of pace.
Old rules with hand checking, or current rules that favor perimeter players? Obviously, I think we win either way. But this makes a HUGE difference.
You cannot do these kind of polls on this site, too much bias... it work more so on a more national forum. Very tough series to call. 1994 Rockets had their hands full with 94 Knicks. Even with Ewing and Oakley, I don't think the Knicks are anywhere close to what Miami is. The Heat could beat most of the same teams that Chicago, in probably the same fashion. The Heat would be a bizarro-version of the MJ Bulls. The Bulls had Rodman and Grant, but neither of them were ever as offensively talented as Bosh, while I think Wade and James are both in another class than Pippen. Two elite scorers (and clutch performers who can carry a team consistently) with a top 5 power forward with serviceable role players. I don't care if you throw in handchecking or forearms that's irrelevant and could actually also work in Miami's favor. The Knicks barely got past a Chicago team featuring Pippen, Grant, and Armstrong, also Chicago, at the time really didn't have a great go-to post player. I think the Heat would beat the Knicks in 5 or 6 games, maybe 7. The Knicks have no go to weapons outside of Patrick Ewing (John Starks...John Starks) ... which is what killed them against Chicago, Houston, and Indiana. Not having a great post game wasn't the reason the Bull lost to the Knicks ... it was because they didn't have *cough* #23 *cough.* Again, this would be John Starks trying to slow down LBJ or Wade. Mason might prove to be a handful for Lebron in post. One problem, LBJ might be too fast and too strong. People have to stop comparing Lebron to Michael Jordan, they have similar games, but Lebron is a bulldozer with Ferrari speed. Again, people are clinging to argument of letting players get away with more fouls. How does that not work in his favor on both ends of the floor? On defense, he's already a nightmare, but you can let him push, shove, and use weight. Same on offense, he's going getting away with alot more fouls on offense. Between the Rockets, it would be a low-scoring 7 game series, the Heat even without a big would be one of the toughest teams that the Rockets ever played in the playoffs. To have one player MJ-like player is one thing to have two MJ-like players is completely another one. It's not just LeBron James, it's also Dwyane Wade. Maxwell could give Wade some fits, but I'm not sure he'll completely shut him down, while I don't think Houston will have very much success LBJ. One thing that helps New York against Miami, that Houston might not have against the Heat is backcourt defense. The Rockets backcourt isn't quite as strong defensively as the Knicks who featured Mason, Starks, Smith, and Harper. Even offensively, I'm not sure they are going to be alot of help against Miami, sort of like New York. We are talking Lebron, Wade, Chalmers, and Battier. You have to remember the Heat have being playing against the likes of Westbrook, Rose, Durant, Rondo, Pierce, and Melo. There's no one on the Rockets wing remotely towards that, except Sam Cassell and that was later in his career (and it wasn't as strong as say these other players). Houston could have a game where Olajuwon goes for 40+, but the Rockets could easily still lose. Olajuwon is on the ultimate advantage the Rockets have over the Heat, and at every other aspect it favors Miami. Many posters keep clinging to the point of the Heat not playing against any teams with dominate bigs. I could make the same point about the Rockets never playing any teams that had so many dominant wings in the starting lineup. You are talking about a top 3 SF and top 6 SG ever, and a perennial all-star power forward who can all score a boat load of points and play defense with every single one being in or close to their prime. The sweep votes are funny. , the Rockets didn't even sweep a reeling Portland team and had to go the distance with the Suns who also did not have what you would call a great center or power forward (AC Green played small forward for the Suns that year, for those snarky posters out there).
Who would stop Dream? The Bulls played post defense with guys like Rodman, Cartwright and Grant. The Heat depend on the opposition not having a real post game. Is this even a real question?
Again, like I mentioned earlier the Suns did not have any great post defenders hardly and took Houston to 7, while having a 3-1 lead in the series. Took them to 7 the next year as well. It's a very good real question or debate.
