[chron] 20 memorable moments from Rockets’ 1993-94 championship

tinman · Jun 8, 2014

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...nts-from-rockets-1993-94-championship-season/

20 memorable moments from Rockets’ 1993-94 championship season
Posted on June 5, 2014 | By Jonathan Feigen

Two decades after the Rockets’ run to their first championship, we offer a look at 20 factors that made the 1993-94 season unforgettable from start to finish.

1. The loss. The end of the 1992-93 kick-started the Rockets’ roll to begin the 1993-94 season. The Rockets lost Game 7 in Seattle, lamenting not only the loss but that they had to play the game on the road. The feeling after the loss drove the Rockets through the off-season, training camp and start of the following season.

2. Rudy T. Happy as a scout and then as an assistant, Tomjanovich was named the interim coach in 1992 and made long-term head coach a month later. He quickly instilled his basketball values, emphasizing team ball and defense. He built his systems around Hakeem Olajuwon inside and became the sort of “players’ coach” his players followed.

3. The 1994 draft. The Rockets selected Sam Cassell out of Florida State with the 24th pick of the draft, though there did not seem any immediate need at his position. They were, however, drawn to his skills as a gifted scorer and learned of his talent in the clutch along the way.

4. Les is more. Leslie Alexander bought the Rockets in July, 1993 and empowered the team’s leadership to make its basketball decisions.

5. Super Mario. When Leslie Alexander said in his introductory press conference that a key addition was coming, few could have guessed Elie; fewer would have known how much Elie would mean. Rudy Tomjanovich, however, had gone out in Charlotte and watched a late-night Trail Blazers game when Elie filled in for Clyde Drexler, decided Elie was the sort of guy the Rockets needed and then got him.

6. The streak. The Rockets not only took off to start the 1993-94 season, matching the NBA record by winning the season’s first 15 games, they completed the streak with a win in Madison Square Garden in a Finals preview.

6. Coach on the floor. Though Kenny Smith started and by the end of the season, Sam Cassell often finished games, for much of the season, Rudy Tomjanovic relied on Scott Brooks to run the Rockets offense late in games.

7. The Jet set. Though a lightning rod of public debate, Smith accepted an unusual role in which he started, but did not always finish, with Scott Brooks often on the floor in the first half of the season and Sam Cassell often late in the season. Smith, however, often excelled, including late in games (such as Game 6 of the Finals.) He got the Rockets rolling in Game 7.

8. Big Shot Bob. Robert Horry earned his clutch shooting reputation over many seasons with many teams, but after the trade to the Pistons was nullified, he came back determined to be the aggressive, fearless player the Rockets wanted. He did all that while demonstrating the attitude the Rockets wanted off the floor, as well.

9. Mad Max. Vernon Maxwell began the season in mourning following the stillborn birth of his daughter. But he wrote her name on his shoes before every game and was motivated to his best all-around season of his career, excelling not only as always as a shooter that could get on an unstoppable roll at any time, but as a more effective passer and tenacious defender.

10. OT. As a powerful running mate for Hakeem Olajuwon acquired from the Kings, Otis Thorpe saved his best for last. Thorpe matched up in the playoffs against Buck Williams, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Charles Oakley.

11. The trade. Seeking more firepower in the frontcourt, the Rockets agreed to trade Robert Horry and Matt Bullard to the Detroit Pistons for Sean Elliott. Horry and Bullard made it to a game in Auburn Hills, but the Rockets nullified the trade after giving Elliott his physical. Bullard was angry. Elliott was despondent, nearly retiring. But Horry came back determined to give the Rockets what they needed when they made the deal.

12. Choke City. The Rockets took an unwanted place among the great collapses in Houston sports history, blowing an 18-point lead in Game 1 and a 20-point lead in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Suns. The Suns took the commanding lead back to Phoenix when the outscored the Rockets 24-4 down the stretch of the fourth quarter Game 2 and then won in overtime.

13. Clutch City. On Friday the 13th, the Rockets trailed Game 3 by eight at halftime when Vernon Maxwell took off. The series and the Rockets were never the same. Maxwell scored 31 of his 34 points in the second half. The Rockets rolled in Game 4 and won the series in seven games behind Olajuwon’s dominating performance.

14. All that Jazz. The Rockets took control of the Western Conference from the start, taking a 2-0 lead on the night Hakeem Olajuwon was named MVP, returning home with a 3-1 lead after overcoming a faulty clock operator in Game 4 and then rolling to a 26-point second-half lead in the decision Game 5.

15. Big-time in the Big Apple. The Rockets took on the Knicks in The Finals, with Hakeem Olajuwon going against Patrick Ewing and owner Leslie Alexander pitting the team he had just bought against the team of his youth. The Rockets went to New York with the series even, but broke through in Game 3 with Sam Cassell scoring the Rockets’ final seven points. That 93-89 win was the top scoring game in an incredibly low-scoring series, with the Knicks taking Games 4 and 5 to send the Rockets back home down 3-2.

16. White Bronco. While the Rockets and Knicks were locked in a tight Game 5, most of the nation – even including many in Madison Square Garden – were looking far away. With NFL Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson suspected in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, he led police on a long, slow-speed chase through Los Angeles, all televised live during the game. Televisions throughout the arena were switched to the chase, including some courtside that caught the eye of players. Fans turned to the televisions in the suites. NBA and NBC executives debated about sticking with the broadcast of the game, all while Simpson and his friend slowly made their way back to his home.

17. By a fingertip. To the Knicks, their best chance at the title might have come down to the tip of Hakeem Olajuwon’s fingers. The Rockets led by two on the Knicks’ final possession. Patrick Ewing set a screen for John Starks. Hakeem Olajuwon left Ewing, chased Starks behind the 3-point line and got a fingertip on Starks’ shot for the win, starting the Rockets happy dash to the lockerroom after the shot for the championship fell far short.

18. 2 of 18. Locked up throughout the series, Rockets guards Kenny Smith and Vernon Maxwell had their best game in the series’ final game. But while they found their shot, the Knicks’ John Starks lost his. Starks made just 2 of 18 shots, missing all 11 of his 3-pointers, while Knicks coach Pat Riley stuck with him until the end.

19. Dream season: Hakeem Olajuwon carried the Rockets as the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP, still the only player to take all three honors in the same season. He took the title with a win over long-time rival Patrick Ewing and the Knicks in an unforgettable seven-game series.

20. Championship-worthy celebrations. After the Rockets took the title, and the championship trophy ceremony was held at midcourt for the first time in what would become an NBA tradition, fans spilled out onto Richmond and all over town, with none of the post-championship incidents that had marred celebrations around the country. Days later, 52,000 were in the Astrodome for another party, with another 500,000 lining a 17-block parade route as the city’s first champions, riding fire trucks, road by.
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D12Eminem · Jun 9, 2014

"How sweet it is!"

DaDakota · Jun 9, 2014

I want my boys to experience this.

Next year Rox, next year.

DD

d12babymamas · Jun 9, 2014

It's so sad that this is all we have to cling onto in the last two decades. Hopefully, Mauri and Sons can make the moves to finally get us past this stench of mediocrity.

bmd · Jun 9, 2014

I'm tired of talking about these championships that happened 20 years ago.

haydenfisher342 · Jun 9, 2014

we are worse then Laker fans when it comes to reliving the past

xiki · Jun 9, 2014

DaDakota said: ↑

I want my boys to experience this.

Next year Rox, next year.

DD
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My boy did. Rockets fan for life!

ooooaaaah! · Jun 9, 2014

d12babymamas said: ↑

It's so sad that this is all we have to cling onto in the last two decades. Hopefully, Mauri and Sons can make the moves to finally get us past this stench of mediocrity.
Click to expand...

Not true, taking the Lakers to game 7 without Yao and Mcgrady was pretty damn impressive, that was not mediocrity. 86 was pretty fun too, you don't always have to win it all to enjoy it.

Rockness · Jun 9, 2014

No love for Herrera? I'm surprised they didn't forget OT, seems most people who talk about 93-94 or the Rockets of the 90s only know Dream, Kenny, Bullard (sorry but this guy was the occassional 3pt shooter and didn't contribute anything to that championship team), Drexler, Elie for his kiss of death and Max if they remember the crazy guy who went into the stands..it's always 94-95 that gets love.

Ziggy · Jun 9, 2014

There should be 99 moments. Got 99 moments and a LOF ain't one.

bleedroxred79 · Jun 9, 2014

Rookie Mistake......back then Scott Brooks was called Scotty Brooks

tinman · Jun 9, 2014

Ziggy said: ↑

There should be 99 moments. Got 99 moments and a LOF ain't one.
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I agree

tinman · Jun 9, 2014

bmd said: ↑

I'm tired of talking about these championships that happened 20 years ago.
Click to expand...

Time is a circle and clutch city is forever

I know some of you have never experienced it but those who have , it's in our hearts and in our DNA.

You need to ask yourself why this site will always have the word Clutch in it

Rox11 · Jun 9, 2014

Jordan retiring

tinman · Jun 9, 2014

Rox11 said: ↑

Jordan retiring
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TOF alert

Rox11 · Jun 9, 2014

tinman said: ↑

TOF alert
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*lof

Houstunna · Jun 9, 2014

haydenfisher342 said: ↑

we are worse than Cowboys fans when it comes to reliving the past
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Fixed

At least the Lakers have recent history or winning.

count_dough-ku · Jun 9, 2014

ooooaaaah! said: ↑

Not true, taking the Lakers to game 7 without Yao and Mcgrady was pretty damn impressive, that was not mediocrity. 86 was pretty fun too, you don't always have to win it all to enjoy it.
Click to expand...

That was an empty feeling though cuz the moment Yao went down after Game 3, that series was over. Give that team all the credit in the world for showing the heart they did, but no one(not even the Rockets themselves) believed they were beating the Lakers without Yao or Deke.

And 2009 aside, it is reaching the point where as fans we have to acknowledge this franchise has been mired in mediocrity for a very long time. 17 years and counting. And it's not like it's just an issue with getting out of the first round. In that 17 year timeframe, they've only made the playoffs 9 times. That means 8 of those seasons ended in the lottery. When you consider that 8 out of the 15 teams in each conference make the postseason every year(a better than coinflip's chance), it has not been a very good era for the Rockets and their fanbase post-championships.

tinman · Jun 9, 2014

Rox11 said: ↑

*lof
Click to expand...

99er

solid · Jun 9, 2014

I just hope this isn't the singular Houston sports championship of my life time. I am in my sixties and have had a few close calls. One more, please (or two or three…).

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[chron] 20 memorable moments from Rockets’ 1993-94 championship

The moral of the Clutch City story is

Good is greater than Evil

Never label a team Choke City until they are eliminated

Every player on a championship must have heart or else they won't win

We are better than New Yorkers

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[chron] 20 memorable moments from Rockets’ 1993-94 championship

The moral of the Clutch City story is

Good is greater than Evil

Never label a team Choke City until they are eliminated

Every player on a championship must have heart or else they won't win

We are better than New Yorkers

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DaDakota Trump is a convicted felon Supporting Member

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