Maxwell's 3 with a little more than a minute left in game 7 against the Knicks. It put the Rockets up by 7. Might be hard to imagine now because of today's NBA, but it was the game-clincher and everyone knew it at that moment. Unless the Rockets win another championship, I'll be surprised if any moment in the future displaces this one for me. It just doesn't get any better than realizing the Rockets were going to win their first title. Hakeem's dramatic block of Starks in game 6 at the buzzer set the table.
I know this one isn't an amazing basketball play but one of mine is Reggie Miller's last game/playoff game and Larry Brown calling a timeout as Reggie Miller was subbed out for the last time to let people cheer for him, including Larry Brown himself.
13 in 35 and the 22 win streak. Sadly, when I was growing up I didn't care for sports and therefore the whole championship era flew right by me
I was in grad school in Phx in 95. Yeah Elie's kiss of death was the best. Loved rubbing it in when I was there.
Nothing will ever top Ralph's shot. That was also the greatest game in Rockets history. They don't play games like that anymore. Ralph and Hakeem definitely had each others back in that game. Every time they show that game on NBA TV, I watch it again.
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ultimately the best... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AgSYA3Gb7oI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Vancouver Grizzlies First Home Game - A 100-98 OT win vs. Minny with a buzzer-beater tip-in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq8F3ynjzws&t=0m44s (For the embed... starts at the 44 second mark) <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pq8F3ynjzws" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
All the '95 playoffs run, including these: Mario Elie Kiss of Death <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LhydzXhSiIA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Hakeem Tip in game 1 of 95 finals <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j1tf28qahCo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Hakeem owning David Robinson <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SxDopaqTxiY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Disclaimer: I am only going to mention playoff games because although I find the regular season games entertaining, they do not come close to the playoffs ones in terms of implications. Playoffs are where history is made. Warning: Spoilered due to long read. Spoiler 1994 Playoffs against the Suns: Games 3 and 4 at Phoenix where the Rockets tied the series 2-2 after blowing the first two games. This was the turning point for the franchise. Most everyone had them for dead, not simply because they lost the first two games on their home court, but the way they lost it; by giving up huge leads in the 4th quarter. They were down by a lot in Game 3 in Phoenix as well and it seemed inevitable that Suns would go up 3-0. And then Maxwell went psycho and started to hit everything. Rockets turned the tide on the Suns and were the storng finishers in both games 3 & 4. The stage was set for an epic Sunday afteroon game 7 in which Hakeem dominated all facets of the game and an unlikely rookie hero, Sam Cassell, emerged. Sam hit some big shots late in the game. 1994 Finals: Game 3. Series was tied 1-1 after Knicks stole game 2 in Houston. It was critical that Rockets take this game to regain the HCA. The game was close like all other games in this 7 game series. Sam Cassell once gain shined as a rookie by hitting a big 3 at the end of the game. I was laughing hard when Ewing got called for a moving screen on Maxwell, which gave the Rockets free throws instead of the Knicks attempting to tie the game with seconds left on the clock. This win was HUGE. If Rockets had lost this game, Knicks would have been celebrating with the trophy. 1994 Finals: Game 5. The wild and beautiful white bronco ride on my TV screen. The TV's fate was sealed after this episode. 1994 Finals: Game 6. John Starks was on fire. Everything he heaved was going in. He could have shot through a pinhole. The stage was set for the last shot of the game. Everyone except Stormile Swift knew that Starks would take the final shot, and sure enough thats what transpired. Everyone also knew that it was going in. But then Hakeem made a play which I believe no other center in the history of game could have made. He followed Starks on the perimeter, changed direction to keep up with him, and then blocked his three point attempt to force a game 7. This was the biggest play in the entire series and IMO the play that won the Rockets the championship. 1994 Finals: Game 7. Maxwell's 3 point shot with a few minutes left in the game. Although the 3 pointer gave the Rockets only a 7 point lead, a 7 point lead in this brutal series was more like a 15 point one. I also remember Hakeem and Thorpe hugging each other on the court while the game turned into a free throw shooting contest. This championship was even more special to me because I was in NY and my friend and I had to withstand all the crap for the Knicks fan. One Knicks fan tried convincing me before the Finals that he would rather have Oakley on his team because he is a better rebounder than Olajuwon *laugh*. I wanted to rub it in after the Rockets won the championship but found out his roomate went Artest on him and I didnt want to make a trip to the hospotal. 1995 Clyde trade: I used to like Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Rick Adelman when they were with the Trailblazers. When the Rockets announced the Drexler trade, I was excited. I understood that this wasnt the same Drexler as in Portland but he was still good enough to give help Hakeem on offense. The Rockets offense had become too predicatble. The entire 1995 playoff run was just epic. Every series except the finals (other than game 1) had drama. So many games to chose from. 1995 playoffs Game 1 against Utah: Hakeem had just come back after a long absence due to anemia. He was still battling it as he had an oxygen tank behind the bench. If jazz fans were hoping that he would be rusty he quickly laid those thoughts to rest. He opened up a can 100% Organic and pure whoop-ass on the Jazz (40+ points and some clutch shooting late in the game). Rockets had a chance to win the game with the last shot but then Maxwell decided to take matters in his own hand. With a few seconds left, taking advice from bill Walton, he checks himself into the game and heaves up a prayer from close to the mid court which sealed his fate with the team. 1995 playoffs Game 2 agianst Utah: This time Hakeem had help. Plenty of help from his long range snipers. The Rockets set a record in 3 point mades in this game. Horry had some thunderous dunks on Benoit and Malone. Hakeem had some humiliating blocks on Malone. It was a blowout in Salt Lake City and it was throughly enjoyable. 1995 playoffs Game 4 against Utah: Elimination game. Rockets needed to win to force a deciding game 5 in Utah. Hakeem and Drexler made sure it happened. It was a tale of two halves. Hakeem dominated the first half while Drexler domintaed the second. Each, (yes each) scored 40+ this game that included some great moves by both players. The bonus for me was that Chuck Daly was the color comentator and I loved him oohing and aahhing at Hakeem/Drexler moves. But even he was skeptical at Rockets chances winning the deciding game 5 in Utah. 1995 playoffs Game 5 against Utah. This was the deciding game of the series. In Utah. Odds were not in Rockets favor. The Jazz went up in the 4th quarter and things were not looking very good for the Rockets. But then the Rockets made a run and had a late comeback because of some clutch plays by Drexler, Hakeem, and two free throws by Chucky Brown. The best part was watching Malone treat the ball like a hot potato with the game on the line and continuously pass it to David benoit. Benoit obliged and kept bricking. Again and again. And once again it was NOT Utah's year as Jazz fans were accustomed to saying otherwise. 1995 Playoffs Game 5 against the Suns. Suns were up 3-1 with a chance to eliminate the Rockets in game 5 on their home court. Drexler was out with the flu. This was one ugly game. Suns had several chances to finish off the Rockets late in the game but Barkley just could not make his free throws. Kept missing. I was a nerve-wreck but found it hilarious. Then, Hakeem made a clutch shot to tie the game. Suns could have ended the series but Wesley's Person's 3 pointer hugged every part of the rim and rolled out. Yes, the Rockets were soooooo close to being eliminated. Horry made some big plays in OT and Rockets forced a game 5 which was a blowout in Rockets favor. 1995 Playoffs game 7 against the Suns. The Rockets were in trouble early in Phoenix. Olajuwon had to be benched due to foul trouble. Drexler and Sam kept the game close. Olajuwon started to carry the Rockets in the 3rd and 4th quarter. KJ was on fire. He made somewhere around 20 free throws and then ends up missing one late in the game. Rockets had the ball with the game tied. Hakeem was momentaritly open under the basket. Instead Mario Elie, in a moment of epiphany, decides that a 3 pointer was a higher % shot. Rudy looked perplexed on the sideline. But no one was complaining because the shot went in and sucked the life out of the Suns and their fans in their own arena. BTW, this was a mentally exhausting game for me. It almost felt like they won the championship. Entire Series against the Spurs and Admiral Robin was epic. Horry hitting big shots. Drexler playing Robin's role. Elie showing his new found confidence. And of course, Hakeem completely destroying David. For years I had argued that while the skills sets might be somewhat similar (however i do not agree with this either), Hakeem was a more dominant player and much much much fiercer competitor. I was personally vindicated after this series. I have watched NBA for a very long time but I have never seen a player dominate a series and another star player like Hakeem did in this series. His numbers were off the charts but the way he was doing it with moves I had never seen left me in awe. 1995 NBA Finals Game 1. Rockets went down double digits. They were in a big hole and then Kenny Smith caught fire. He kept making threes after threes. Even had a game tying one over Penny Hardway to send he game to overtime. This of course after 4 straight FT misses by Nick Anderson, who was a high % FT shooter, which could have sealed the game for the Magic. His FT misses changed him as a player (He went from a cant miss 3 point shooter to a cant make a 3 pointer) and changed the complexion of the series. Rockets went on the win the game in OT thanks to Hakeem's tip-in. The game was a huge psycholoical blow to the young Magic team and it showed in Game 2 which was a blowout in Rockets favour. Honeestly, the rest of the series after game 1 was sort of an anti-climax to the incredible playoff runs the Rockets had. Rockets swept the Magic (boring!) but it was still special because it got them a second ring and encapsulated an unforgetabble playoff run. 2005 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks Game 1. Loved McGrady and Mike James lay down the hammer on the Mavs in front of their crowd. Watching Ryan Bowen frustrate Dirk was equally enjoyable. 2005 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks Game 2. Yao and McGrady dominated. Everyone thought that the next Shaq-Kobe had arrived. McGrady raped Bradley in front of his fans. He also made clutch plays in the late minutes to win the game. Rockets went up 2-0 with a promising future. Of course everyting went downhill after that. Who would have thought that this game was going to be the finest playoff performance by the duo in Yao-McGrady's career. 2005 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks Game 6. Cheaters always win in the NBA. 2005 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks Game 7. I dont remember anything about it. Not even sure if the game was played. 2007 playoffs against the Jazz game 7. This game was going to be either make it or break it for the Gundy built Rockets. The flawed team had already been exposed in previous games of the series. Although Yao and Mcgrady struggled, they were absoluetly getting no help from their role players. A team starting Juwon Howard and Rafer Alston was doomed to begin with. Sloan exposed the Rockets weakneses and the Jazz finished off the Rockets on their own home court. The Rockets had some really humilitaed showings in this series that I am embarrassed about them to this date. 2009 playoffs against the Blazers: Artest and Yao lead the Rockets to 2nd round after an eternity. McGrady cheers Kob....err Rockets on from his home. The irony of the moment was not to be missed. After all his drama, and him throwing his teammates under the bus, saying how he didnt have the supporting cast to get to the next round, he is sitting at home while his supporting cast move on to play the Lakers in the 2nd round. Ouch. 2009 playoffs agianst the Lakers: Thoroughly enjoyed game 1 and 6 with the Yao comeback and Aaron brooks shooting display. And that's about it....as you can see, Rockets playoff performances in the last 10 years or so are pretty dismal. PS. I thoroughly enjoyed the Warriors humiliate the Mavs in the first round after the Mavs complied an impressive regular season record.
Scottie Pippen dunking on Patrick Ewing. Shaq fighting Charles Barkley and Brad Miller. Wade's dunk on Anderson Varejeo was filthy. Plus, Wade getting payback by dunking on Rodney Carney. Michael Jordan making buzzer beating three pointers against the Pistons in 1992 and the Hornets in 1997. In the 2008 playoffs, when Deshawn Stevenson taunted after making a three despite being down by 16. I loved the reactions from Reggie Miller, Marv Albert and the fans. Dwight blocking Lebron from behind in the 2009 ECF (it was ruined by a bogus call). Jeremy Lin's gamewinner against Toronto. Ryan Hollins dunking over Tim Duncan after Jason Kidd missed a three in the 2009 playoffs. Magic Johnson has countless plays that are favorites of mine, one was making back to back three pointers against Chicago in the 1991 Finals. Grant Hill dunking on Andrea Bargnani in 2009 and Carlos Boozer in 2010. He had some hot dunks early in his career but those 2 surprised me. Blake Griffin dunking on Kendrick Perkins.
Reggie 8 points in 9 seconds at the end of a playoff game. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VjwKSwwcdyU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Reggie 25 point 4th quarter to end another playoff game, same road arena, same team, 1 year earlier <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dkd92gXLR5E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> My single favorite sports photo, the collective anguish on the faces of hundreds of Knicks fans who know with 100% certainty that the shot will go in, though it has not yet left his hands. There are multiple imitations on Munch's "the Scream" apparent, upon close examination.
