Yes. I remember Kemp running train on the Rockets. It was like LaMarcus Aldridge's game 1 performance every night he played us. Probably the only guy I've seen take a prime Dream to school on a regular basis.
Definitely those Kemp/Payton Sonic teams. I loved their style, I loved their arena (loudest in the league), and I actually really respected their fans. That swarming/trapping defense was so tough to deal with. And they just happened to be strongest at the 2 positions we were weakest at (pg and pf). Sam Wyche's Bengals for showing everyone what a BOOB Jerry Glanville was.
Those Sonics scared the crap out of me. Had to respect the lineup of Kemp, Payton, Schrempf, Dale Ellis, Xavier McDaniel, Nate McMillan, Ricky Pierce, Kendall Gill, Sam Perkins...Although, some of those guys didnt play on the team at the same time, but still...those names are deeply entrenched into my brain.
This right here. Mix that with their rabid fans and it was an incredibly helpless feeling playing on their court...so difficult to win under those circumstances.
I agree with everything...except they didn't play swarming/trapping defense. They played an illegal (at the time) zone...and Rudy used to position them in it so frequently that the refs gave up calling it due to the constant technical fouls would slow the game down. I hated that about George Karl and his defensive schemes. I also hated how tall their entire team (sans Gary Payton) was. This used to cause all sorts of problems. Fun and very frustrating times as a Rockets' fan. Which leads me into a rant. I know OKC has supported "their" team very well. But there is no way in hell they should have the Sonics over Seattle. I still can't believe that guy ripped that team out. I wonder how well OKC will show up when Westbrook and Durant bolt for greener pastures (LAL???) and the Thunder are winning 30 games a year. /idiotic rant
Dear OP: The plural of "nemesis" is "nemesis." There should not be an apostrophe on your thread title, unless you're talking about something the nemesis possesses. Thanks. ----------- vs Rockets: SPURS of the 2000's vs Oilers or Texans: STEELERs of all time That's about it.
Yeah, their "small" foward was 6'10 (Schrempf) and their center (Perkins) was deadly from the 3-point line which meant Hakeem couldn't stay in the paint and block shots like he wanted to. They were really a horrible matchup for us. But man, were the games fun to watch. Totally agree. They were the last team that should have relocated.
Um, what? http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=olajuha01&p2=kempsh01 Not even close, man. Yea, which is why I never really "respected" them, and still wish people would stop bringing up Karl as a possible coach for the Rockets. They are as well for me, but I think for a different reason than respect
I gotta go with the Cardinals, and if you hear some of the things LaRussa has said in interviews, that organization has much respect for the Astros too. I miss having them in our division, and I'm glad they broke the Rangers' hearts in the WS.....they're like arch-allies now.
How are the current Spurs a nemisis right now? We don't even last long enough to play them, or be a threat to them in playoffs? I love the Spurs at this point. At least they give Texans something to watch.
90's Sonics I was so scared of that team, I knew we couldnt beat them and I HATED when they came up on the schedule. They always have been a thorn in our side. Thank God for the Nuggets in 1994.
Mine: 1992-93 Buffalo Bills 1994-95 SA Spurs 1996-1997 Utah Jazz 2012-2013 New England Patriots 2013-2014 Portland Trailblazers
Oh, I don't know.... I see OKC being very much like Sacramento... No other major sport team to root for... I see them being rabidly loyal even if they start losing.... I remember seeing empty seats in Seattle's down years...
