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Sam Cassell thinks the 94 and 95 Rockets would be the best in today's NBA.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by JBIIRockets, Dec 7, 2003.

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  1. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Member

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    Sam Cassell thinks the 19 and 95 Rockets would be the best in today's NBA.

    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2276345

    Cassell: T-Wolves not at level of old Rockets


    Sure, the Timberwolves have never won a playoff series, never mind a championship. Sam Cassell played on the Rockets' back-to-back championship teams and was dealt last summer to the Timberwolves. Of the two, he said his current team is more talented.

    "Probably so," Cassell said. "Top to bottom, we probably do have more talent."

    That said, Cassell did not say the Wolves are a better team. Not only were those Rockets better than the current Timberwolves, but Cassell also believes if the 1994 and especially the 1995 Rockets were in the 2003-04 NBA, they would still be champions.

    "We'd win it because our chemistry was ridiculous," he said. "We played 48 minutes. Hakeem (Olajuwon) was spectacular. Just get the ball to him or Clyde (Drexler) and get out of the way. Spot up for the shot and watch them work. And we were tough, too. Guys like Mario Elie were tough."

    The Timberwolves, however, have a version of Olajuwon. Kevin Garnett offered a pretty good display of that with his 35-point, 23-rebound exhibition at Sacramento on Friday, adding two clutch 3s in the last minute to force overtime.

    "He reminds me of Dream," Cassell said. "His tenacity and his will to win is unbelievable."
     
    #1 JBIIRockets, Dec 7, 2003
  2. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Member

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    headline should read 94...not 19 :eek:
     
    #2 JBIIRockets, Dec 7, 2003
  3. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    I've felt that way about KG too. He is the only player in the NBA today who could become a player like Dream was.
     
    #3 robbie380, Dec 7, 2003
  4. JPM0016

    JPM0016 Member

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    i won't argue with it. Those 2 rocket teams were underrated.
     
    #4 JPM0016, Dec 7, 2003
  5. danjojo

    danjojo Member

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    they were certainly a lot better then last year's champion, that's for sure...
     
    #5 danjojo, Dec 7, 2003
  6. ttboy

    ttboy Member

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    Has there ever been a thread here on ClutchCity discussing the possible outcomes if Jordan had never gone on hiatus and the Rockets of 94 and 95 met up with the Bulls in the finals? Would Dream have been able to wrest at least one title, if not two, from MJ? Or would Jordan have reeled off 8 straight? What do people here think?
     
    #6 ttboy, Dec 7, 2003
  7. Drexlerfan22

    Drexlerfan22 Member

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    Oh yes, there have been many threads like that... and I'm getting a headache just thinking about doing it again ;)
     
    #7 Drexlerfan22, Dec 7, 2003
  8. ttboy

    ttboy Member

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    Hey, what the hell, let's do it again! You telling me these Yao-vs-Francis threads don't give you a headache?
     
    #8 ttboy, Dec 7, 2003
  9. danjojo

    danjojo Member

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    I just watched the Clippers against the TimerPuppies...damn i'd love to have Cassell back in a Rocket uniform....He single handedly brought his team back from 15 down in the 4th...and then KG hits the game ending buzzer beater...

    Sammy, come back !!!
     
    #9 danjojo, Dec 7, 2003
  10. Nick

    Nick Member

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    I'll always feel really bad for Sam Cassell.

    Even though I supported the Barkley trade, and I knew Cassell was the KEY to getting that deal to go thru (Phoenix probably rejected any other offer the Rox thru at them), I never wanted to see him go.

    Hell... people don't realize that he only played here THREE years... but winning championships in his first two definitley gives him a greater 'presence' in Rockets history than most guys who have been here longer.

    But you can tell... despite the short amount of time he was here... he will ALWAYS be a Rocket at heart. Not many players, once they're traded or leave a team, remain that way.

    Sam always used to say had the Rox not 'given up' in 97 and dismantled the team, they would have had a few more shots at the title w/ that nucleus... you knew right there that he was heartbroken to be traded.

    Looks like he'll never recover from it... but you were amazing Sam.

    (btw - Sam was the LAST true draft pick in Steve Patterson's regime... nobody ever gave the guy much credit for drafting guys like Horry and Cassell, and signing Mario Elie. He'll probably turn it around in Portland now.)
     
    #10 Nick, Dec 7, 2003
  11. Baqui99

    Baqui99 Member

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    Bringing Cassell back home would do wonders for our attendance. But dealing Mobley for Sam could have some awful defensive repercussions.
     
    #11 Baqui99, Dec 7, 2003
  12. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    good God yes.

    there's been very epic debates concerning this in the past.

    those were fun.
     
    #12 SWTsig, Dec 7, 2003
  13. Aceshigh7

    Aceshigh7 Member

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    Bring him back! He was one of my favorites!

    He's still got game too. Id rather see him at our 1 and SF at the 2. But vice versa would be fine too.
     
    #13 Aceshigh7, Dec 7, 2003
  14. SamCassell

    SamCassell Member

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    That 95 team was special, and the chemistry was unbelievable. Great role players, and unselfish superstars. I like what the T Wolves have built, but KG is no Dream. They could easily lose in the first round again this season, a run that started back in 1997 against the Rox.
     
    #14 SamCassell, Dec 8, 2003
  15. Lobo

    Lobo Member

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    How did the T Wolves build this team? Didn't they lose something like five first round picks in the whole contract scandal with Joe Smith?
     
    #15 Lobo, Dec 8, 2003
  16. goldfishboy

    goldfishboy Member

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    I like the alien also....
    i always thought that it was a shame that he didnt make it to the all star game in his career. There were always a couple of years where he put up all star numbers and was not even chosen as a replacement...the guy deserves to be on atleast one all star team,,,,, Go sam....
     
    #16 goldfishboy, Dec 8, 2003
  17. Toast

    Toast Member

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    Sammy rules.
     
    #17 Toast, Dec 8, 2003
  18. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Member

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    Yes, but they built through free agency. They get a first round pick in the next draft as their punishment is over.
     
    #18 GladiatoRowdy, Dec 8, 2003
  19. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    Cassell turned out a lot better player than I thought he would be. Amazing what championships do for your image, imagine if Francis complained about not getting the ball right after a victory in the playoffs like Cassell did last year.

    I like Garnett, but he isn't strong enough to be considered in Dream's category. The only big man that ever had an absolute strength adavantage over Hakeem is Shaq. Garnett has problems guarding physical big men.
     
    #19 pgabriel, Dec 8, 2003
  20. stra

    stra Member

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    Actually both Cassell and Spreewell are better players right now on the Timberwolves team than I thought they would be. I guess there is something nice to watch players who are fundamentally sound sometimes... But I still love the rockets:)
     
    #20 stra, Dec 8, 2003
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