[Chron] Rockets became a lost dynasty after promising run 20 years ago

Awesome Article!

 

By the way, I can't freaking believe that was 20 years ago...

 

I know Wiggins made comeback a attempt with the Rockets, I don't remember if Lloyd did. Wiggins became a bench player for a short time. I think averaged nearly 15 points a game after his comeback, but I don't remember what happened to him then, maybe Europe or something.

 

the rockets were taylor made to beat that L.A. team and most teams in the western conference mostly known for high octane offenses. everyone in the starting lineup could get up and down, except maybe when robert reid was starting.

but they were too young against boston. plus the 86 celtics are considered one of the greatest teams ever.

 

Bingo thats why Sign Ben Wallace when he becomes a free agent this offseason....

Can you imagine Big Ben ( the actual pro-typical power forward. Defense,Blocks,Rebounds and can run ) next to Yao. We would be title contenders for sure for at least 4 years in a row.

 

I've always thought that was THE greatest team ever. When is the last time 1 team had 4 Hall of Famers (Bird, McHale, Parrish, Walton) on the roster. Granted Walton was past his prime, but he was a great 6th man for that team. I don't think any of Jordan's Bulls teams would have won a single game in Boston Garden in 1986.

BTW, for those of you who have never heard Geno's play by play of "the shot heard round the world" (Sampson's miracle against the Lakers), Clutch has it posted right cheer.

I still remember where I was and what I was doing on that fateful night. I was upstairs in my room and I started screaming so loud that my parents thought someone was trying to break into our house. They were seriously ready to call 911!

 

I agree. I have hammered Fran on several occasions, in large part because he wrote off the Rockets before the playoffs (something he fails to mention here, of course), which really pissed me off at the time, but this column was superb. It is totally accurate, and I remember every bit of it.

Just reading it brought back chills. Some of you have no idea what the Rockets future looked like back then, or how they played. Now, maybe you do.

 

Yes, it was the greatest team in NBA history, in my opinion. I still think we had a shot at beating them, if we'd had Lucas. heypartner has described that Celtics team the same way before.

 

I've always said that we had Lucas, we might have beaten Boston. When he left, they put Reid at the point. We managed w/Robert at the point in the West playoffs but against Boston's pressure, we could have used a true point like Lucas to break down the defense and give our guys easy baskets.

 

I remember reading articles in the Sporting News in 86 and 87 about the Rockets becoming the next great dynasty. Sadly, the wheels fell off. Which is why it was so intensely satisfying for me to see Hakeem get those rings in 94 and 95.

 

I remember one game that year, Ralph gave the Rockets TV announcer (was it Barry Warner?) a slip of paper before the opening tip of a game on the road. If I remember right, Hakeem....er, Akeem was hurt so Ralph was playing center instead of power forward.

The paper just said someting like "30/15". Barry said "well I guess that means Ralph is going to score 30 points and grab 15 rebounds tonight". Which is exactly what he did.

I've never known anyone else who remembers that, but I SWEAR it happened.

 

Wow, both awesome and poignant to read. Good job Fran.

 

jordan dropped 63 on that team in Game 2 of the eastern conference first round in the Gahden.

 

Ralph Sampson is one of themost underrated players in NBA history. The man was amazing. In one of the games against Boston, in the finals, he was unbelievable.

 

that's funny, a lot of people thought he was overrated. probably somewhere in between.

 

Yeah, but the Bulls still didn't win that game, and ended up getting swept.

 

that was the 86 bulls who also only won something like 34 games because jordan missed most of that season. that was a second year MJ. so going forward, I think the ninties bulls which drummer was referring to probably would have fared pretty well.

 

I remember it. Not sure if it happened in 1986, but it definitely happened.

It might even have been something more ridiculous like 30/20, but I"m not sure.

 

Oh THANK GOD someone else remembers it!! Now I know I'm not crazy.

 

this article actually brought tears to my eyes. just last month when it turned 2006, it dawned on me that this is my 20 year anniversary as a Rockets fan. i became a fan in first grade watching this team in the playoffs that year. 1986...never forget it. I also will always thank my dad for being a fan and getting me interested. I've been glued to it and it's been part of my life ever since those days Fran wrote about. It's very touching to me.

I also feel old.

sniff sniff