Every so often, I go back and watch a game or highlights. This is a good compilation and an excellent reminder of just how brutal and physical the game was back then. Bonus for including the lead-ins to each game. The Knicks were bigger and stronger, but we had the athletic advantage, especially with Dream. Still, we do not win this series without Otis Thorpe doing man's work down low and Amigo giving good minutes in the paint as well. And thank the Lord for Sam Cassell's Game 3.
Also, Sam Cassell went on a scorching heater in Game 7 to maintain our lead in the 3rd and 4th quarter while Kenny was on the bench. Definition of clutch!
Game 7 was recently on NBA TV. My favorite part was 32-year-old Jeff Van Gundy. No leg clutching, but with a full head of hair.
I would hit the Dream Shake in pickup games as a kid for years after watching this and the '95 run Became a pretty decent Big/Wing combo lol.
IIRC, Game 7 was Kenny’s only good game of the series. He was manhandled by Derek Harper. Thank Goodness for Sam Cassell!
Conversely, young PG me trying it never seemed to work out, no matter how much I tried, how hard I practised or who was guarding me lmao.
Throwback interview and retrospective with Rockets Legend Hannah Storm. You can tell she really enjoyed the run and perhaps talked trash to her NYC coworkers lol. We need Vanessa to do one of these after we win a chip(s) Mad Max interview as well
Baseline in my driveway, I tried to shoot like Dream did. Didn't work. Also tried multiple many times to do the Purvis Short massive arc jumpshot. Also didn't work.
It was a different game played with size and strength. One spent a portion of the game getting up off the ground. Smaller players didn’t go to the rim without a physical response. Hard picks and moving screens were the norm. This is the way the pickup game was played, too. Blood usually happened.
I was very much a drive and dish PG and I only had accurate jump shots out to around the FT line (which I was money from.) Used to drive me crazy tbh, I could dunk but I couldn't hit any kind of post hook/fade/anything, I could just never get those mechanics down at all, felt really awkward. My "dream shakes" were like when kids would shout "Kobe" over and over whilst continuously bricking every shot haha. I wasn't allowed to even try them in a proper organised game, I would've got crucified haha.
I've never liked the way this series was described as "ugly" by many (who weren't fans of the Rockets). I thought it was beautiful at the time, and still do. Two great teams, both with great coaches, locked in a war that was beautiful, and brutal, but played within the rules. A different league that I miss. What a time to be a Rockets fan.
