Another stretch (I think) I remember is Yao's first game, an exhibition, against Shaq in China and, as I recall, Yao blocked Shaq's shot 3 times in the first minute or so...
If you think about what defines greatness - it's something that is memorable for both a level of impressiveness and for being extremely rare. With that, I'd put these as the top greatest moments in Rockets History. 20. Yao plays Shaq for first time 19. Rockets score 50 points in a quarter in a playoff game 18. Harden breaks Wes Johnson ankles 17. Deke the older player in NBA to get 15 or 20+ rebs in a game 16. T-mac Posterizes Bradley 15. 22 game win streak 14. Eddie Johnson's buzzer beater 13. Harden's 60 point triple double 12. Moses Malone 21 offensive rebounds in a game 11. Rockets draft Hakeem after winning coin flip 10. Hakeem tip-in in Game 1 of 95 finals 9. Hakeem's Quadruple double with 29 pts, 18 rebs, 11 blks, 10 assists, 5 stl and 0 TO - arguably one of the greatest statistical performances ever 8. Yao Ming comes back from injury to beat Lakers in playoff game 7. Hakeem's block on Starks 6. Ellie's Kiss of Death 5. Ralph Sampson's shot to beat Lakers in '86 4. Hakeem bamboozles David Robinson in the 95' WCF 3. Maxwell hits 3 to secure Rockets 1st NBA Title 2. T-mac's 13 points in 33 seconds (one of the greatest 33 sec in NBA history, not just Rocket's history) 1. Rudy T Heart of a Champion Speech to cap off the most improbable championship run in NBA history
Sleeper pick, Yao dropping Blazers in the 09 Playoffs. I should add, late 2009 season up until the injury was the best Yao ever played. We got a glimpse of what he could of become. Some of these moves are down right Dream.
- Hakeem blocks Starks game 6 '94 (leads to title) - Ralph Sampson flip shot - Tmac 13 in 33 - Kiss of Death '95 - Smith 3/Hakeem tip G1 vs Orlando '95 (leads to title) - Eddie Johnson for the win G5 '97 - Hakeem vs Robinson '95 - Hakeem/Clyde 40 & 42 vs Jazz '95 - Rockets 22-game win streak from 10-to-1 vs. #1 seed Lakers - Yao's comeback Lakers G1 semi-finals '09, take homecourt Those are my top moments. There are many others, but those are the big ones.
Easily it was winning both of our championships. Man, that seems like 50 years ago!!!!! Nothing but disappointments after that. Hopes up, dreams shattered, over and over and over again. I hope all the Rockets fans get to feel that exhilaration of winning the championship again before we all kick the bucket.
That was a great year we figured out addition by subtraction Yao was never the problem for our playoff failures
I'll say it every time someone starts this thread: The moment when Max hit the late 3-pointer in game 7, everyone knew the Rockets were actually going to win the championship. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I don't think anything in sports will come close to that feeling. Sure, the post-game celebration after the final buzzer was great. The 2nd championship was awesome in its own unique way. Mario's Kiss of Death probably comes in 4th. But the greatest Rockets "moment" belongs to Maxwell's 3. I broke down and lost my strength for a second.
Another what would have been championship lost by injuries. We beat the Lakers with Yao that year, IDGAF what others say.
I saw the Chicken Man put up his career high, like 43...46 some insane #..can't remember now, but he was in the zone and it was a thing to behold.The Summit was going CRAZY...one of so many memorable nights there.
Game 6 against the Spurs on our way to repeating..Most of us knew when we were finishing them that we were on our way.to another title. The tears were flowing and the Summit was shaking.
When we were served crow (any way we wanted) by Plowman, after he waited to determine whether or not the time was right.
22 wins was special to me because I was at game 22, and Kobe desperately wanted to end the streak but couldn't. But also, that team was mediocre, worn down, and had no business winning 22. They played some beautiful team ball. Multiple players stepped up.
The big ones were hit on but for me this is one of my favorite moments. Becoming a Rocket fan after Drexler was traded to the Rockets this was the moment that made me love the Rockets.