Older Rockets fans how memorable has this season been?

Been a fan since 1990 , Olajuwon led team gave me confidence they can beat anybody especially the playoffs. Watching Olajuwon turn it up to legend status during the playoffs was a thing of beauty. I'm going to watch the 93-94 finals DVD to pump me up for the playoffs.

 

Meh. We aren't contenders unless Howard suddenly returns to form, so it doesn't really stand out. Very similar to the Yao years when we had no chance.

 

2 score & a year ago, I became a Rockets fan. The only delusion I have is that the Rockets can win a title with this core group. Maybe not this year, but I can't wait to see what a year of seasoning can do to solidify this group-injuries permitting. This season is as memorable as the Yao/T-Mac years & hopefully as memorable as the 92-93 season(which led to the championship seasons.

 

I became a Rockets fan and follower when the team first moved here from San Diego. I've seen it all...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

This years team is very special and one of the very best I have seen. They have faced more adversity than any other playoff team...and still have a great season going.

They are special for overcoming that adversity and perhaps more importantly for the team chemistry they have been able to build and are still building in spite of it. I believe it is a special team chemistry, one that separates this team from most of the others I've seen.

I'm not going to predict what this team will do in the playoffs...anything could happen and might....but I will say this: I see a lot of similarity between this team and the second championship team that came all the way from a 6th seed to win it all....the heart of a champion. We have not seen this team function at 100% yet, and in fact not really all that close to 100%. It is still a work in progress.

I just hope they don't run out of games before they are able to get all the pieces together and hit their peak. If they do this, there is no limit to what they can accomplish.

 

I didn't experience the 80's, but Hakeem's ONLY true knock is exiting so many times in the First Round.

What happened?

Dwight played like a #1 just last season. You don't believe he can be second fiddle?

 

I disagree. The way we play just makes me want to vomit. Never seena talented team play with so many obstacles. We play horrendous and barely squeeze out a win against inferior teams. Cocky, lazy, undisciplined, gimmick offense philosophy ... and all this is the cause of Morey wanting a yes man coach to run his stupid ass offense.

 

Pat Bev is still one of the heartiest Rox PGs ever. His feisty defensive demeanor and open 3 point drainers will be missed this whole season. Those of you that don't think Pat Bev will be paid are delusional. He's hyped with ESPN and NBA Team analysts and that's enough to know that he will be paid this off season elsewhere. Suck it up .....

 

All the seasons are memorable, but what makes this one special? Dedication to winning in the regular season. You can put that on McHale. He knows the value of a high seed and this team is listening to him. I know this because Houston is a regular season underachiever and has been for many many years. We always think we'll figure it out and be in the finals. Done it twice in our history so save the regular season energy, right? Also, this team is one that real NBA fans are calling legit. I have friends that hate Houston, but think the Rockets are going to do very well. They're all scared of our defense and ability to figure out a way to win. Since I've been a fan, only the regular season 93-94 Rockets were respected this much.

Harden and McHale are a great combo. Things are going on behind the scenes that we'll never understand. Those things make what we see on the court, fun as f*** to watch. It all boils down to the best part, we expect to win every game before it starts and that is unusual. I've been shocked when we lost, even to Atlanta or Golden State.

 

*Ahem* Thunder

Missing last year's MVP of the league kind of trumps all injuries.

 

The big difference between this team and all the teams since the title run days is that there are 2 guys on the team who have been to the finals (Harden/Howard) and 2 who have won a title (Terry/Brewer). Add in Josh Smith's playoff experience, and what you have is a team full of guys who have playoff experience and more importantly success. This will be a huge thing when it gets to be winning time in the playoffs.

 

The Rockets this year started off on a very nice win streak. It didn't match the '94 championship team's streak, but it was nice. Our injuries set in early.

I have no idea what this team will do, and where exactly all the pieces will fall. But we do have a superstar that is capable of being the centerpiece of a championship team.

Our team faced an insane amount of injuries to top tier starters and still managed to be one of the top teams in an insanely stacked Western conference. That speaks volumes about this team from the players to the front office and management.

The only thing that remains is to let the season play out. If the Rockets win it all then they are as great as ever. If they don't do well then I'd say they rank with the '92-'93 team that lost to Seattle and went on to win the championship the next year. To me that's the minimum of where they are. This is at least that magical to me. It could be higher than that, and only time will tell.

A lot of the players are young and new to working together. Had this core been together last year, then I'd think we'd be sitting where the Warriors are right now. But it takes time to get the chemistry to its peak.

Watching them I have the same belief in them that had in the '92-93' season which built the base for the belief I had during their championship years.

 

There were two peaks in Rockets history, one in the 80s, the other in the 90s.

How memorable this season is depends on what happens in the playoffs.

 

Exactly. If this is going to be the start of another great era, of whatever length, it depends on what happens in the playoffs. This amazing season could become a mere footnote in Rockets history if we witness another 1st round exit nightmare, with the highlights being Harden's MVP caliber play and a superb record despite being crapped on by the God of the "i" Word. In short, we could end up with nothing more than an unusual season with a great individual performance by our shooting guard, a season good for exchanging stories while sitting at a bar and not much else unless we have success in the playoffs. Getting to the second round is a must, and if we lose there, it has to be an epic series, glory in defeat, in other words, to make up for a lot of expectations around here. In my humble opinion. If we had a healthy team going into the post-season, my expectations would be the Western Conference Finals. The team as it is now? Gotta go with DD and B-Bob. Who the hell knows?

Who the hell knows?

 

Getting eliminated by the Sonics in the second round in 7 games, in the 1992-1993 season, prepared the team mentally, matured the team and they grew up fast, and they were tough as hell. When they lost that series me and my family knew they were going to be back the next year. Im not sure the Portland elimination gives me that same feeling.

In the 1994-1995 run, the team struggled but, i remember being extremely confident come playoff time that Dream would take it home, even when we were down 3-1 to the Suns. I think the whole city knew we were coming back to win that series.

As someone mentioned earlier its the playoff runs that make the season memorable.

So really i cant compare this to the "winning" seasons, cuz you never know until the playoffs. I do think this Rocket teams is built better for the playoffs than last year, it should be a fun ride.

Would certainly be awesome to re-live those days. The city came toegther, the yellow "clutch city" signs were everywhere

 

Wake me up when we get to the WCF

I heard the same **** last season and then we got bounced by an inferior team with a better coach

 

This season, the Rockets find a way to win, instead of finding a way to lose. I'm more confident heading into the playoffs because we have a legit MVP candidate. McGrady and Francis never had a season like this with the Rockets. or Yao.

whatever bad adjustments and short comings McHale has, Harden has erased it with his unbelievable play.

If you want the short version:
Harden
Harden
Harden

 

I only became a fan in 94. On paper and in the W-L column of one of the most difficult conferences ever, this team has been at exceptional without being at full strength. We are suddenly going to have one of the best front lines in the playoffs when D-Mo is back. That's huge. Dwight is going to keep improving and integrating. It's not crazy to expect he's going to score just as much with fewer but different types of shots. Harden was below average or maybe average in last year's playoffs. However he's made a big leap in the regular season and there's reason for optimism about an improved playoff performance.

Things seem to be coming into place nicely. I'm very optimistic and I know we have the MVP even if he doesn't win the trophy. Anyone who's watched James Harden recently can see the guy is having an insane season, carrying a projected 4th/5th seed to challenge for the #2 seed with a never fully healthy team.

My biggest concern is McHale and I'm through blaming McHale for his weaknesses. The Rockets had a chance to address it and decided to extend him. A championship team needs to win tactical coaching battles over a seven game series. I don't think McHale or the coaching staff is capable of doing that. If the coaching goes well, it's clear this is a title contender.

 

All of our weaknesses will be exploited in the playoffs as they always do.

Morey has improved the veteran leadership and defense from last year.

 

And another point i would like to make is the amount of turnover this current team has had. I think chemistry is huge.
(if i forget anyone or anything, please correct me)

Comparing the Championship team to this one;

2014-2015:
Harden, Bev and Jones have been here the longest, 3 seasons together. Not necessarily the "core" but, thats all.

1993-1994:
Hakeem and OT had been gaurding the paint together since the 1988-1989 season, not to mention THREE straight first round defeats together.

When the third player on the 1994 title team finally arrived it was 1990...

1990-1991
Hakeem
OT
Smith
Maxwell
Bullard
1st Round Exit

1991-1992:
Hakeem
OT
Smith
Maxwell
Herrera
Bullard
Did not make playoffs

1992-1993:
Hakeem
OT
Smith
Maxwell
Horry
Herrera
Bullard
2nd Round Exit

1993-1994:
Hakeem
OT
Smith
Maxwell
Horry
Cassell
Elie
Herrera
Bullard
Championship

Not saying it can't be done or Morey's logic is flawed, but that team took a little bit to grow. Elie, Horry and Cassell added just the right spark to it. What has me most excited about this years team is the additions of Ariza, Brew and Josh Smith, and the fact that the Rockets can play defense now.

 

I think Dwight's willingness to accept pick and roll offense, due to his absence, will be huge. He's incredibly efficient. I think Dwight is very capable of being a low post first option in the playoffs (because the sissy charge calls go away), but not this season. He is an amazing pick and roll player and he's obviously accepted this role since his comeback. That willingness makes James so much more dangerous. If Dwight can increase his minutes without losing too much endurance wise.. watch out! His ability to rebound and protect the rim is unreal, even when he's less than 100%.