Did anybody catch what the guys were talking about at 6:37 this evening? They mentioned that Hakeem couldn't do anything against Seattle. They asked one another the reason why, and they both came out and said "Illegal defense". They ranted on how Seattle got away with playing a man in front of and behind Hakeem, without the ball, and he was unable to do squat about it. They commented on "how were they even to get him the ball..." and how Hakeem just couldn't figure it out. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what Yao has had to deal with a lot since the rules are different now? I almost get the impression that they were intentionally throwing those comments out there, either because they weren't true, OR they were trying to get you to think of Yao's situation in todays game...... BUT nothing else was said of it...... Nobody caught this at all? Discuss.
Not much to discuss. It's pretty much common knowledge to those who followed the team back then. The Rockets offense were always out of sync against the Sonics. Very badly at times, because the passing lanes tend to get clogged up by the "zone" Seattle employed back then. Yes, it is similar to what Yao and every other post player face in recent years. Part of the reason why you just don't see post players at the top of the scoring chart anymore.
Seattle had really good primeter defender like Payton, MaCmillian and snow. and they had kemp and ervin johnson in the paint. they used the Zone D perfectly.
Yah, we always had problems with the Sonics because of the way they used to take Hakeem out of his game with their annoying defense on him. The Rockets (after winning the championship in 1995) came back the next year and got swept (yes, SWEPT) by the Sonics! It was an embarassing moment for me as a Rockets fan, but they just knew how to shut us down, they had finally figured it out how to do it.
I remember Shawn Kemp too. They played a zone when zoning was illegal. I also heard it on 610 with Matt and Adam.
I too remember the "Rain Man" (or was it "Regin Man?")....... Unfortunatley for baskeball fans everywhere, and for Shawn Kemp himself, after the lock out ended, he turned into the basketball equivelent of the Pilsbur Dough Boy. He gained like 300lbs. and couldn't jump anymore, which ment no more high light reel dunks (all though it didn't help he played in Cleveland (when they had those UGLY black unis) and with GP). The we learned of Kemp (and Grandmama's) like 13 kids with 8 women gig. That was akward. ....you know what, I kind of hope Amare is the next Shawn Kemp
You know, it is funny you say that, because I was telling an acquaintance once that Amare's game reminds me sooo much of Kemp's during his hey days, except for the fact that Amare has no jumper yet. They both are exciting, powerful dunkers/posterizers. I am sure Amare has modeled his game a bit after Kemp's. Man, when Kemp was in Seattle, I was damn sure that he would probably finish up his career being one of the top 3 power forwards of all time, he was just absolutely amazing and breathtaking, I kinda feel bad his career ended the way it did, because clearly he was a mentally disturbed person and that affected his life on and off the court. He HAS to be the most disappointing player in NBA history, bar none.
I love 610 (mainly because Houston FM Radio BLOWS)... but for the love of God PLEASE don't ponder or read into anything that is said on that station. With their new format they just pull topics out of their asses to fill time. The only real saving grace with their new 4 hour shows is the fact that John and Lance are hilarious with one another... However, Mark and Rich continue to amaze me with the meaningless drivel they unintelligently blabber on about for hours.
It was George Karl's famous North Carolina 1-3-1 zone.How they got away with it is still one of pro sports great mysteries.
I thought we picked up 1 game maybe not but I do remember some of that series and it was UGLY at times especially At Seattle their crowd and we just never could get dream the ball, and that was our only play to run a play we had to throw it down.
Seattle never missed a shot in that series, it seemed. They shot unbelievably well. It should be noted, we made a trade in the offseason and came back to knock them out of the playoffs the next season.
He got away with it because they couldn't (or wouldn't) call it on every play. The Sonics did it every time. The refs and the league pussed. Karl called them out and they didn't respond. The NBA decided it wasn't worth it. He just plain got over on them and everyone else.
Actually, the more I think about it, I think it was a conspiracy. The NBA wanted MJ back on top so they had to find a way to make the Rockets lose. Therefore they turned the other way on the illegal defense that took Hakeem out of his game. They never would of allowed that to happen to all mighty Jordan.
The zone does hurt center play. As such, dead-eye outside shooters and good ball movement around the perimeter are essential to bust the zone. Yao would average 5-6 ppg more if he was facing the 1995 defenses and defensive rules.
the problem was.....seattle was perfect at defending dream. BUT we had no penetrating point guard to counteract that zone. all seattle had to worry about was kenny friggin smith. i often salivated at the thought of having strickland on the rockets back then. we would kick anyone's but seriously. we needed a second play maker on the rockets in particular from the point guard position but we didn't have it.
That series in which Seattle dominated the Rockets - a few things to keep in mind. Olajuwon was in decline...it wasn't the same Hakeem the previous year. We'd never see the same Hakeem again. Drexler (ankle) and Cassell (elbow) were both playing with significant injuries that affected their play. Houston didn't have a power forward. Seattle knew how to beat Houston, but they really couldn't beat anyone else besides Utah. If we had a healthy Drexler and Cassell for all 4 games, I think Houston would have prevailed in the end. We almost did pull out game 4...
I'm pretty sure we're not just talking about 1996 (though it does count); the Sonics whalloped us pre-championships, and both years that we won, we did not play Seattle. Seattle w/Kemp had our number for a good long time. Evan
