With all the arguing and whatnot going on lately (yes I was included in a lot of it!) I figured I'd make a more positive thread. I just wanna know, what are some of your favorite NBA memories over the years? I posted this in the NBA section because I know there's bound to be some non-Rockets ones (or maybe not ) for some of you...anyway, here's my top 3: 3. Being able to see the Dream Team play back in '92. That was the best team ever assembled and it's an honor to say i watched them. 2. Francis' 44 point game against the Lakers 1. Jordan's last shot on the Bulls. That's the best sports memory I ever had since I was a huge Bulls fan (Pippen fan actually). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BTW...happy 1k to me!
"and there's a steal by Bird, underneath to DJ who lays it in!! oh what a play by Bird!!!" hated Bird, but this one always sticks in my mind another Bird memory. He once hit an over the backboard shot from out of bounds against the Rockets in the pre-season Sleepy and Dream both going for 40+ against the Mavs in the 88 palyoffs Magic's sky hook to beat the Celtics in a playoff game
Mutombo lying on the floor of Seattle's arena, clutching the basketball. John Elway coming out and asking if we were "Ready to Mutombo?!?" Going to my first ever Nugs playoff win last year and watching us CRUSH Minnesota.
The one that sticks out the most in my mind was our second game 7 against the Suns. I was 13 at the time, and neither of my parents cared about sports at all. So on that fateful game 7, we went out for a freaking picnic!!! At least I got my dad to compromise enough for me to bring a radio. I remember Kevin Johnson was just killing us again and again going down the stretch, shooting 2 FTs every time down the court. But then, he finally missed his 21st FT, Elie made that 3 in the corner, and it was history.
Don't know if anyone remembers this one, I can't even remember what year it was. It was a nationally televised game the Rockets played against the Bulls. Drexler/Olajuwon/Barkely vs Jordan/Pippen/Rodman except both Rodman and Barkley were out for injuries. It was just an awesome game and Willis came up huge as the Rockets won. It really stood out in my mind because before the game everyone was discussing the asterisk on the Rockets championships since Jordan wasn't around. It was a sweet victory! EJ's game winner against the Jazz. Nick Anderson's career ending FT misses.
Excluding the Rox Nugz over Sonics in 94. The 2001 playoffs in general were very, very good and underappreciated. (that Sixers-Raptors series was the bomb; the Rapz were great to watch that year) Of course - Magic & Jordan vs. various, but baby sky hook & Jordan over Ehlo stand out The "Fo, fo, & fo" sixers. The Blazers-Lakers and Kings-Lakers game 7, 4th Period choke jobs The late 80's ASG's That Magic-Pacers playoff game from 95 (brian shaw's 3, I think), and the Pacers-Knicks game from 94 (Ewing's putback). The Reggie Miller games at MSG.
also excluding the Rocks, because there would be no room for anything other than them, otherwise: nuggs/sonics 94 pistons sweeping the lakers in 89 bird and dominique going back and forth pistons beating down jordan in 89 and 90 ECF pistons beating the lakers in 2004 jordan beating down the cavs year after year jordan unretiring and throwing up 55 against the Knicks magic johnson...the poetry that was magic johnson...in my mind the best basketball player who ever touched the hardwood, despite the fact i hated the lakers! reggie miller's improbable shots to beat the knicks in the final seconds the dunk -- john starks slam dunk competitions with dominique and jordan going to the all star game at the astrodome with my dad
Pippen's Dunk on Ewing Jordan's Dunk on Ewing Olajuwon's Baseline turn-around and Dunk past Ewing in Finals I always think of those when I see Ewing on the Rock's bench
the kiss of death (flat out awesome) the miller Knicks games (gotta love reggie) Jordan dunk with takeoff at the free throw line Birds 3 point shooting to win the contest at the ASG Bird and Magic games (2 incredible competitors and players) fast break with Magic at the controls and Worthy and Scott on the wings, a beautiful thing to watch, once Magic got the ball in the middle you knew it was over (even though I hated the Lakers) Magic is the epitomy of a basketball player Dr J reverse layup behind the backboard the first time I saw Spud Webb throw it down in the middle of a forest of 7 footers Hakeem's total domination of Shaq, David Robinson, and Ewing in back to back years Scott Skiles 30+ assist game (I always thought this guys was so underrated) a very creative passer Rodman-outrebounding everybody on the court when he was the smallest or next to smallest front court player on the court, and his defensive tenacity was incredible Ice Man with the pretty fingerroll Barkley getting the rebound and dribbling full court for the monster throw down his rookie year Daryl Dawkins breaking the backboard Watching Adrian Dantley post up and break down a defender The game winning shot by Jabbar in Magic's first game with Magic leaping into Jabbar's arms and Jabbar standing there saying, "We've got 81 more games, calm down kid." the behind the back, no look pass, from White Chocolate his rookie season the pretty pick and roll of Stockton and Malone (God I hate to say it, but they had it down to a science)
Kobe Bryant Last season, hit two of the most ridiculous 3pts shots in NBA history, beat the Trail Blazers at the buzzer.
-Houston sweeping Orlando and the dominance of Hakeem. -How can anyone forgets Jordan's courageous effort when he was playing with a very bad flu in game 6 of the 97 final in Utah? He won that game for the Bulls...it just gives me chill everytime I see that picture of scottie helping Jordan to the bench at the end. -Jordan 's last shot as a Bulls of course. -Jordan and Pippen with 40+pts each in the game against the Pacers. -Bulls record breaking 72 win season(96?) -JVG's Knicks made it to the finals, and a first for an 8th seed. Can JVG pull off a second one? -Heat/Knicks rivalry -Kobe's 3 straight air ball from behind the arc against Utah in the playoff. -All of Robert Horry's game winning shots. -Shaq's Dominance to bring the Lakers back from a 14pt. deficit goin into the 4th qtr in the 2000 final against the Blazers. -Yao's break-out game against the Shaqless Lakers, causing Sir Charles to kiss Kenny's ass on national TV. -Yao's first dominant performance against Shaq and fouling him out. -SF acrobatic performance in response to Kobe's in the first round game 3. -SF/Yao friendship on and off the court. -Piston defeating the Lakers after Kobe's magical shot at home. -Clutchcity goin crazy during/after the T-Mac trade with the whole Weisbrod/Francis ordeal. -Fisher/Duncan back to back miracal shot. -Piston/Indiana brawl.
I got turned on to the NBA watching Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe playing backcourt for the Knicks in the early 70's. Clyde was so cool. I remember one time he so frustrated Phil Chenier (who was a good player in his own right), that Chenier sucker punched Frazier from behind as they ran down the court. Clyde pretended like he didn't even notice, just kept lighting him up. Pure class.
Hmmm.... Hakeem's tip in against Orlando to win Game 1 of the 95 NBA Finals. Hakeem and Clyde going for 40 plus points against the Jazz in (I think Game 3 of the 94 first round series. Gave us a 2-1 edge. Game 2 had all those 3's the Rocks hit. The last 3 minutes of game 6 in Jordan's last game with the Bulls. It felt like a 3 minute epiphany. i had never respected Micheal Jordan until those last 3 minutes. Ihad always thought he was overated, but in the last 3 mins of the game...I just saw it coming, it seemed inevitable, so fast, yet soo slow....that back door steal from Karla Malone and the ensuing ankle breaker cross-over jumper from 18ft...my God..I couldn't believe it, I swear I started developing tears in my eyes. It was too heroic. Hakeem killing David in games 3 thru 6 of the 94 San Antonio series. In fact Hakeem in the 94 playoffs was basically one huge orgasmic euphoria for me. Mario's Kiss of death. Games 5 of the 93 first round playoff series against Utah in Utah.WOW! Jordans double nickel (55) in his 4th game back. He had just hit the game winner against Atlanta in Atlanta the night before. It was like the Beetles were back. Mutombo on the floor in Seattle in Game 5 of that wondrous series. Detroit beating LA in 4 last year Iverson going for 56 against the Raptors in game 3 of 2001 Eastern finals playoffs (Un-real) Hakeems 41 against Utah in Game 2 of the first-round playoffs. He had just won the MVP, and took over the game, who can remember that turn around, weeling fall away, on his ass hook he did to put the game away. The 2 famous running all court, come from behind blocks by Hakeem on Rod Strickland and Kevin Johnson. Reggie Millers 25 4th quarter points on the Knicks in the playoffs ('95?) Watching Hakeem live in 94 putting 42 on the then Washington Bullets in a losing effort. Man the Arena buzzed evrytime Hakeem touched the ball. There are soo many more............
After being a fan for nearly my entire life watching the 94 and 95 finals and finally seeing my Rockets win it all! Hakeem's career.
I was just thinking about some of these the other day. Particularly Isiah throwing a pass off the backboard to Jordan on a fast break. My favorite NBA moment is hands down Vernon Maxwell turning Choke City into Clutch City in 94 with a 24 point second half performance in Phoenix with Rockets down 2-0 after blowing 2 20 point leads at home, and losing at the half in that game. I was arguing with some fake Suns fan in the basement of my dorm at UT watching the game and when it was over I was the only one left in the room watching.
Magic Johnson coming back to put on a show in the 92 allstar game. the entire 72 win season by the bulls, MJ redefining his game with that unstoppable fadeaway. John Starks dunking on Jordan and Horace Grant. KJ dunking on Hakeem after getting like 5 layups swatted away earlier in the game. grant hill crossing over dan majerle then jamming it on Alonzo, bigtime. Penny Hardaway's performances against the Miami Heat in the 97 playoffs. Ewing swatting Hakeem in game 1 of the 94 finals to send it into halftime... The 95 finals... Rockets vs Magic..a lot of interesting little plays stuck in my mind from that series. Hakeem faking out Shaq with an unstoppable fadeaway of his own, Horry rolling the ball off his forearm before nailing a clutch 3, Cassell's circus layup buzzer beater. Hardaway trying to pull up on Horry on a fast break but gets rejected by Horry... it was like they were floating in the air.
