asterisk...... Anybody know the historical record of the Rockets' finishes over the decade of the 90s? Any regular season first place finishes? Or was it mostly fourths and sixths? That the Rockets won championship was more a tribute to Olajuwon and his teammates than to Rudy. That's all I'm saying. Dare I? With another coach, we might have won more.....
I did a little research at CC.NET History and found the following details: 1990-91 52-30 3rd in MW Round 1 Elimination 1991-92 42-40 3rd in MW No Playoffs 1992-93 55-27 1st in MW Round 2 Elimination 1993-94 58-24 1st in MW NBA champs 1994-95 47-35 3rd in MW NBA champs 1995-96 48-34 3rd in MW Round 2 Elimination 1996-97 57-25 2nd in MW Lost in WC Finals 1997-98 41-41 4th in MW Round 1 Elimination 1998-99 31-19 3rd in MW Round 1 Elimination 1999-00 34-48 6th in MW No Playoffs What year did Rudy become head coach. I know it was most of this decade. We had the most dominant big man in the league and only won our division twice. To me that's a problem. Yes, it's wonderful that we won two championships, but why were we not perennially more dominating? Your diagnosis, please?
rich -- you're being extremely unfair if you're putting asterisks next to championship years...so it isn't good enough he won the title?? come on!!! that's absurd. how many other coaches won titles in the 90's?? try 3, to the best of my recollection! damn, I'd hate to work for you!! if you're not red auerbach, you suck!
Don Chaney got fired midway through the 91/92 season, and Rudy took over as interim coach then. Hakeem was no longer the most dominant big man in the league by 1997/98. During Rudy's five full seasons in which Hakeem was truly dominant, we made the WCF three times and won two titles. I don't know how much more you expected, but that's an impressive run.
<b>MadMax</b>: Squirm if you will, but answer my question: is this enough production for a franchise which had the most dominant big man of the decade? I celeberate the championships. I haven't said once that we should have won more championships. I am critical of the regular season performance: won/loss and division placement. What say you (all) to that observation?
RickRocket, I agree with your assessment, as Dream's performance dropped and we added older pieces, Clyde and Barkely, while trading away, Horry and Cassell who are very productive we dropped. Remember the plays from Hakeem's day, through into the post, force the other team to double and Hakeem kicks it outside for wide open 3's. It took Elie 8 years to get off his 3 point shot, that's why he was effective with the Spurs. If the teams did not double Dream, he scored at will. A bunch of players standing around waiting for a handout. Shaq and Kobe's game has improved by implementing an offense that requires movement and screens.
