What is the best Rockets front line ever? 81-82 Malone, Hayes, Reid w/ Willoughby and Jones off the bench 85-86 Hakeem, Ralph, Rodney w/ Petersen and Reid off the bench 93-94 Hakeem, OT, Elie w/ Horry and Herrera off the bench 96-97 Hakeem, Barkley, Elie w/ Willis and Eddie Johnson off the bench 98-99 Hakeem, Barkley, Pippen w/ Harrington and Bullard off the bench 05-06 Yao, Swift, Tmac w/ Mutumbo and Howard off the bench
What about 92-93? Dream, Horry, OT as the starters? Otis Thorpe was the best PF the Rocket will EVER HAVE. Charles a close 2nd. But as for defense, rebounding, outlet passes, being a good citizen, an unsung hero. NO ONE BEATS OT!
Normally, in polls pitting the unaccomplished present stars vs. the accomplished ones of the past, I'd always pick the '93-'95 Rockets who won titles, but I think the current ones have the chance to accomplish the most. I went with the '05-'06 squad.
93/94 will probably win for obvious reasons, but I voted for the 86 team. Hakeem was still Akeem and raw, Ralph still had good knees, and McCray filling up that lane made us forget about passing over Drexler in the draft, at least for a few seasons. Reid ran like a gazelle and Peterson did all the dirty work off the bench. They were the perfect role players off the bench. That was a SOLID 5 man rotation. That team would have won the Championship had it not gone up against the 86 Celtics, IMO the best team ever. EDIT: I will be happy to vote for the 05/06 team about 9 months from now.
I'll vote later on when I get home from work. It's between the 81-82, 85-86 and our current front line. T-Mac is sooooo much better than Reid or McCray I'm almost ready to vote for this year's team. And yes, I remember how good Rodney was.
On pure talent, it's gotta be 85 -86 #1, #1, #3, and two solid guys off the bench. Of course, 93-94 won us a championship, so I've gotta go with them. I'd say it was actually the least talented group one of the lines mentioned, though.
Hakeem>Yao Swift=Thorpe (He'll prove it) T-Mac>>Elie On talent alone, I would pick this year's frontline. This years frontline is as talented and versatile as any other in NBA history. But there's more to it than talent. Hakeem was a warrior and that frontline had a lot of heart. Can't underestimate the heart of a Champion
I trully think that our 86 squad was better than any of our championship teams. We just ran into one of the best teams ever assembled in the finals.
I'm gonna go with the squad who won a championship. Now if you could put "Dream in his prime" with "Charles in his prime" and things like that, I'd vote differently. But you can't argue with results, right?
i think you forgot a few ">" signs in the hakeem-yao comparison somthing like this: hakeem >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>yao
Swift has loads of talent, and I hope he turns out to be awesome. But he hasn't accomplished a damn thing. No way you can vote for him at this point.
I know ya'll will hate this but. . . . Hakeem >> Yao - Hakeem had COMPLETE GAME and Yao is not their yet Yao's Defense will NEVER be as great at Hakeems . .but he maybe EQUAL on offense THORPE > Swift - what the FRICK has Swift Done? OT could score, Defend and was the ultimate Rebounder/Outlet passer. and he would KNOCK YOU ON YOUR FRICKIN *SS T-Mac > Horry . . . I know u want me to put more > but . . .this is what ya'll will hate. . . UNTIL T-MAC BECOMES CLUTCH . . . HORRY'S CLUTCHINESS ERASES ALOT OF THE > in T-MAC's Favor . . . Horry's defense, offense and PRESENCEs are highly underrated Rocket River
Dude, how are you going to compare a bench/role player with a franchise player/playmaker? I applaud Horry for standing in the corner and hitting wide open threes that Hakeem would provide, but pretty much all he would do. Steve Kerr looked great next to Michael Jordan. Horry was a standstill shooter. T-Mac is the best and most complete player in the NBA.
Now this is a thread - thanks. I am with the Hakeem / OT / Horry frontline. That was a seriously effective group. Although wait - Twin Towers and the Freight Train R. McCray? Dude, life gets no better than that. Screw it, i am changing my vote. Ralph, i am coming home to mama. I wll be thinking of this all weekend.