As a Rockets fan spanning 4 decades, there are 4 series I can remember having the national spotlight and thinking - this will be remembered by history. 1. Rockets - Magic Finals 1995 2. Lakers - Rockets WCF 1986 3. Jazz - Rockets WCF 1996 4. Rockets - Suns WCS 1995 None of those will compare with the one that begin's tonight if this series lives up to close to its billing. I've not seen a series more widely anticipated on the national stage involving a Rockets team EVER. The Warriors are trying to make the case for the greatest NBA team in history, and people either hate them or love them. And there is only one team that stands in their way of being anointed a dynasty greater than the Spurs, Lakers, and perhaps even the Bulls and Lakers. Your Houston Rockets. Golden State wins this series in 5 games, and no one will remember it. GS will win its 3rd ring in 4 years, and back to back with the claim that it is the greatest team in NBA history. But if Houston wins this in 7, it will be considered one of if not the greatest upsets in NBA history. It will knock the Warriors down a rung, and it will make this team part of an NBA lore that will likely outlive many of us. There's a lot of people rooting for the Rockets, and a lot of people who just want to see great basketball. I think everyone sees the potential of how special this series could be. I certainly do, and man, is it an exciting moment to be a Rockets fan or what?
This year's Rockets have done almost everything we could have ever hoped from a team in any era. Very few missteps, and those were mostly due to injuries. Another way to look at it: If KD hadn't signed with the Dubs, we would likely be the prohibitive favorite to take it all this year. So yeah, great time to be a Rockets fan. I'd have to add that '94 finals against the Knicks to Sweet Lou's list. I was living in Manhattan at the time and that series was huge: the immovable Knicks against the unstoppable Rockets. First things first, of course, but a rematch of the 1986 finals against the Celts would be pretty sweet, too.
Because while it was huge from a Rockets fans perspective (and mine), it wasn't from a national stage other than the fact that it involved the Knicks. I mean, they cut away from it to cover OJ riding in the back of an SUV.
The anticipation of this Warriors series has been grand. Some posters have been antsy past few days, understandably so. I'm just chillin. Let's see what happens.
