I love that video...i also hate the fact watching how good sampson was. We were really going to be great. Damn that fall on his back against the Celtics...he was never the same after that....
Amazing. I cant believe we were so fortunate to have him. Its incredible how often the so called "experts" overlook the Dream as one of the greatest of all time. Thanks for the video..brings back memories...just wish they included the nest seasons series highlights against the admiral
Man almost forgot what Akeem was all about coming out of College. For those of you who didnt know, Akeem was an absolute terror. He was a dunk in your face, block your shot across the arena, want to fight, terror. Back when Akeem was pimpin the LA Gears with the "fire sides"...LOL. Now quick someone repost the Akeem the Dream Rap song.
I'm asking this because I was very young at the time. During the 94-95 season, Originally were the Rockets expected or even considered to compete to defend their Championship? Or were they just written off after playing average for half the season? On an even earlier note, on the 1986 Team that reached the Finals, did many consider them to have a shot to win? Or were they considered a cinderella team that would be overrun and in over their heads?
I remember those days like it was yesterday. During the Rockets run to the 1995 championship, they were definetly long shots according to all the so-called experts. But after the run in 1994, there was a very different sort of buzz in Houston. Despite a mediocre record (I think they were 47-35?) the fans in Houston were going crazy. I was in College Station at the time and it was unbelievable over there. Every bar, apartment, and dorm room were tuned into the games. It was like there was no doubt! In the 1986 Finals, I remember getting the impression that Boston was very heavily favored especially with Bird and McHale in their prime. Houston was seen as an upstart team with the young Twin Towers. The announcers seemed to think even with the Rockets losing that they would be back for a long time with the Twin Towers.
this mix is all based on this hakeem the dream video the nba sells, that's why it ends after the first title ... i'd like to see a more complete video collection that includes the second championship and the 5 seasons after that
Watching the 95 Spurs series reminded me. Weren't Dream's #'s something in the area of 35-15-5-5 for that series?
Thanks to whomever compiled those Hakeem Clips--just amazing. Watching this makes me kind of sad that he is not an active part of the Houston Community. I wish he was involved with the Rockets in some capacity--that would be awesome. My first post--Don't know how I never came across this site before. I saw it in the credits of a YouTube clip about Hakeem vs. Robinson that was posted on Texanstalk forum. http://www.texanstalk.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1138210662/0 Anyway, hello and November can't come any sooner.
You're right ! Now that I think about it, I don't believe I would have been as big of a BB fan if Dream hadn't come along. Growing up in CT, I was a big Celtic fan thru both the Russell and Bird dynasties. Kinda lost interest shortly after (during the NBA's version of the 'Me' generation. too many players out for themselves, not enough team ball). Later moving to TX, I became a fair-weather fan under Del Harris' Rockets (had played ball against Calvin in HS) and in '80's got caught up in Phi Slamma Jamma excitement and followed Hakeem back to the NBA. Been a huge Rocket fan ever since.
One of the things I realized watching that video is that it's rare you see an NBA highlight reel of 1 person nowadays, especially that long, where you see them dominate on both sides of the court. Hakeem had some nasty nasty dunks on people back then... wow. You also see how his rejections of opposing players went from posterizations where the ball ended up in the bleachers to just tipping the ball back into play. It's cool watching him progress in that video. He's the dude Amare wishes he could be...
