Robert Horry has made some of the biggest shots in the NBA playoffs. Despite his 7 rings, in my opinion I don't regard him as a superstar or hall of fame type of player. I don't know, maybe this topic should be in a thread.
I don't think he gets in just cause he has 7 rings. I am sure there are some guys that rode the coat tails of Bill Russell and have some rings but they aren't going to be Hall of Famers. Horry was a big part in our championships, but in my opinion not that big of a part of the rest that he got. Yes he has hit big shots down the stretch but that alone doesn't make him a hall of famer in my eyes. Of course that's up for debate and worth a thread on it's own.
Biggest example of how great Hakeem was, every other hall of fame center or SG has won a championship with great caliber PG or great SF, if we had good PG you can add at least 2 or 3 mire rings to Hakeem's resume.
it's just sad that we're so used to being relevant and we aren't likely to make the playoffs this year. you're right, it's not sad to talk about clutch city but it's sad that it's all we can smile about as opposed to being excited about making the playoffs.
by the way, you do realize we're still crutch city right? or is yao ming suiting up against the mavs tomorrow?
Funny you bring this up as I've recently been watching the tapes of the 93-94 championship series against the Knicks. Your answer is probably not, no, I don't think anyone else from the 93-94 will make the hall. Outside of Hakeem, that team did not have a whole lot of talent. Back then the guard play was at best streaky and at worst below average. The number of times those guards (Cassell, Smith, Maxwell, Elie) turned the ball over, made bad passes or drove the lane out of control was mind boggling. They also were powerless to stop Starks and Harper. As for the forwards, the Rockets did have some quality. Horry and Thorpe brought size, power, finesse and shooting to the forwards and were a great complement to Hakeem. But they were not really all-star caliber players in their own right. If Horry makes it to the Hall, it will not be based on talent, but the sheer outrageousness of his journeyman career that has seen him take home so much hardware.
Horry - Never failed to make the second round of the playoffs his whole career. He is the Anti-TMac. Rocket River
I think the Rockets team was underrated. What they did was play with chemistry, believe in the system, believe in one another, were mentally tough and played for each other. A perfect blend of veterans and young players. A perfect blend of personalities. A perfect coach.
I know Championships are a big deal, but you have to do more than hit a shot at the end of the game. I still think Rudy T has a small chance. I dunno how. I just seem to think he contributed a lot to the game of basketball. Five time all star, two time champion as a coach, Gold medalist, Bronze medalist with some scrubs. Not too shabby. Anyway, I see this thread had good intentions, but we all know where it's now heading.
Horry was noted for his defense back then too. Wasn't he? He might make the hall without actually being a hof talent, so does that count?
Since there are two of everybody on the team, I think it's safe to say that the Rockets organization has secretly perfected the art of cloning.
Funny Thing, I couldn't sleep last night so I spent midnight to 4am watching the Dream own Robinson, the Magic & Knicks... then Dream's top 10 all time, Rockets best and so on. Olajuwon is the greatest player that I ever saw play, his passion, commitment, class & humility will never be equalled. Make me wonder what would have been if Yao's feet were stronger. I wish I still had my spaldings!
I absolutely agree. My assessment before was based on the individual talents of each of the players. But as a team? That was an awesome team. They fitted together exceedingly well, plus they absolutely worked their tails off for each other. They had a similar feel in some ways to the Jon Barry/Sura/Wesley team in terms of their unity and togetherness and that really took them a long way further than the sum of their individual talents. Of course, they also had a lot of toughness and wouldn't back down from anyone - especially guys like Mad Max, Thorpe and Horry. Hakeem wasn't a talker, but he had the toughness and the unspoken "don't mess with me" attitude that people really respected. As an aside, I just love seeing clips of the bench when they show Scotty Brooks jumping out of his seat with both arms raised when the Rockets would make a tough shot. Classic! This was a guy who never played, yet he was an absolute leader for the team. When you think about these things, its a bit bitter sweet. It is nice to reminisce, but it also shows you how many ways the current team is deficient in both togetherness and talent.
Ha! I wish I still had my Olajuwon jersey... of course I had it when I was a kid so it probably won't fit now any way.
Hakeem would dominate these centers today so thoroughly that you could say the Cleveland Cavs are 1 Hakeem away from a championship.
