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If you could picture this Rocket's season right now...

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by chris845, Jan 11, 2006.

  1. chris845

    chris845 Member

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    This has been quite a bad year for injuries for our team I'm telling ya. This team ever since 1996 has had at least one star or decent player out with injury for an extended period of time other than the years of 99 and 2003. Even in 1995, the reason the Rockets were the #6 seed because it was a bunch of injuries. We traded for Drexler and everybody healed in time to make that magically playoff run and win the championship. We started that season 9-0. In the 95-96 season, we started that season 10-1 all set for a three-peat, then we had injuries one player after another, and we went into the playoffs as a #5 seed and got swept by the Sonics in the second round. In 1997, we started that season out with our trio (Drexler, Barkley, Hakeem) and our record was a smoking 21-2. Middle of that season, two of them players as well as another player went down and we staggered to a 32-16 record at that point. We pulled it together and almost made it to the NBA finals. That was one of our last good seasons. We all knew what happened in 2002 when Francis went down?? We lost 15 straight. I know every team has its share of injuries, but this team takes the cake year in & year out. No matter who the players are. We lost two players in the same time in the last game (Stro & T-mac).

    This season to me is like trying to put together parts of a bike with crazy glue but it keeps breaking down. We still have a chance at the playoffs, but what else crazy can happen?
     
  2. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    The 21-2 start (thanks to a V-Max miracle in SA) was 93-94 - I don't think we repeated it in 96-97 or maybe I'm wrong
     
  3. anitasri

    anitasri Member

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    I am not sure if it is just me- it seems there are helluva lot of teams hamstrung with injuries. I agree it was not this acute! What is going on!!!
     
  4. Kerfeld

    Kerfeld Member

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    The v-max miracle shot was in the 93-94 season and that put our record at 23-1.
     
  5. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Believe it or not, we did start 21-2 that season. One of our losses was to Toronto, and our <I>third</I> loss was to the Grizzlies. Man, that was still the most thrilling regular season ride for me ... first year for ClutchFans (as "Clutch City '97"), first year for Barkley and we were looking poised to take that crown back.

    http://www.clutchfans.net/games_box_listings.cfm?BoxSeason=1997
     
  6. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    That was a heck of a year and a heck of a ride, no question about it.

    That Stockton shot still haunts me to this day, I am still indifferent to a certain player on the Rockets for leaving Stockton open, I won't say his name. :mad:
     
  7. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    my bad.

    what about 93? Was it 22-1 that year?

    Anyway, the 97 and 86 teams were both great great teams. It's too bad 97 choked to the Jazz who we had previously owned. I bet Dick Ebersol must still be crying over losing out on a potential Jordan/Pippen vs. Barkley/Drexler/Dream match-up.
     
  8. mmesser

    mmesser Member

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    i always argue with my friend on who would have won if we had played Michael Jordan's squad had he not retired. Rockets were on a roll that year, and it would have been one hell of a finals. Especially that second clutch city team, they were on fire in the playoffs.
     
  9. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Member

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    Yes it was. the Rockets were 22-1, and then Denver came to town two days before christmas and beat up the Rockets pretty good.
     
  10. RocketForever

    RocketForever Member

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    Mutombo must have been a big part of it.
     
    #10 RocketForever, Jan 11, 2006
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2006
  11. YaosArmy

    YaosArmy Member

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    Vmax on Jordan.... max was a great defender too. I think it woulda been a close series. But that was definately our year.
     
  12. YaosArmy

    YaosArmy Member

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    My fav by far was Olajuwon just straight up OWNING shaq i mean making him look terrible! hah loved the sweep =)
     
  13. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Here's some trivia. Who was the '1' in the 22-1 that year?
     
  14. jeremy99

    jeremy99 Member

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    I think it was the Bullets. They either beat them for their 15th win or it was their first loss.
     
  15. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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  16. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    ATL had the best record in the East that year I think. Kind of a weird team lead by Steve Smith I believe.
     
  17. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Man, that box score is funny. I remember Mookie ABUSING Kenny Smith that night and Charlie Pallilo declaring on the post game show that the Rockets would never win a championship with Kenny Smith and Vernon Maxwell as our starting backcourt. Nice call, Charlie.
     
  18. MLittle577

    MLittle577 Member

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    If I recall that series Shaq held his own pretty well in that series. Hakeem owned David Robinson the previous series.
     
  19. Xerobull

    Xerobull ...and I'm all out of bubblegum
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    At this point, I usually take the bike back to Wal-Mart or just put it away so I can give it a go later with a fresh perspective. But the Rox don't have this luxury.

    I agree, the injuries this year have been a horrible comedy of errors. But it ain't over yet, and a low seed in the playoffs is entirely doable.

    As for '97- man, that was a nice ride, except the bump at the end which was the illegal pick by Malone. Ugh. :mad:
     
  20. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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