Hakeem vs Jordan (We would have beat them in the finals)

When does a win prove that the losing team is better than the winning one?

 

It's not like Jordan has ever came out and said, "If I would have been in the league, the Rockets wouldn't have 2 championships."

Jordan doesn't, so why would Hakeem? And I myself, personally, have never heard someone tell me that the Rockets chips were invalid because Jordan wasn't playing. I think it's a phantom insecurity on clutchfans. There was one dude that bet me $20 one time thought that Jordan played bad in 95 during a Jordan discussion...haha, I won $20.

 

It's not for the clutchfans who actually witnessed these games and were Rockets fans during that era, and also the Bulls fans of that era.

This is what pisses off the older Rockets fans who saw these games, the newer fans are prey to marketing and assumptions. Basketball is about matchups, that's why we see the Lakers lose to the Pistons in the finals, the Mavs get bounced by Golden State in the 1st round. etc

It's like people saying years from now that when Yao and Dwight play, Dwight would whip Yao. Not exactly the best analogy but I can't think of any right now.

Clutch even wrote an article where MICHAEL JORDAN tells of the of the 'what if scenario. So if you don't value Clutch and Michael Jordan's opinion, that makes you a fake Rockets and fake Bulls fan

http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1549/rudy_t_reflects_on_rockets/

On the Rockets vs. Bulls debate

I finally got a chance to talk to Michael Jordan years [later] over at Barkley's house and he thought that the best matchup they would have had during that era was against us because of the way Max used to play him and how our big guys used to dominate their inside.


Clutch puts out these articles like the current one Sampson to help educate Rockets fans on the great tradition of the Rockets.

 

Check out the move starting at 2:10. Hakeem with a sick crossover!

 

I wish we saw this match up in the 1993 playoffs. That's the closest they ever came to matching up and I firmly believe the Rockets could've won given the match ups.

But, there's a massive asterisk attached next to the 1993 playoffs. To give a quick summary as to why:

- The previous year, the Dream Team had been assembled (a Dream team without the Dream???) and as you all would know, they absolutely ravaged through their competition.

- Charles Barkley was getting hype as the second best player in the world since he played like the absolute best on the Dream Team and Chuck Daly said he was the closest to MJ in terms of impact. Barkley was also traded to the Suns and he was finally on championship-contending team.

- Stern knew pitting Suns-Bulls in the finals would be an absolute ratings bonanza. Charles vs MJ. Ridiculous hype and it lived up to the hype when the finals became the highest rated series ever at that time.

What I'm here to tell you is that the Suns absolutely didn't deserve or earn that finals appearance. The Suns were down to 2-0 to the 8th seeded Lakers, they made a comeback to tie the series and looked to be in control headed to the decisive game 5. However, game 5 proved to be a resilient battle and the Lakers would not give up. IIRC, the score tied with around two minutes left. Thunder Dan Majerle took a bailout jumpshot at the buzzer that caught nothing but air. Right at the buzzer expired, Barkley caught the ball and tipped it in despite the clock expiring and it being offensive interference. To make it worse, the ref on the sideline was in perfection position to make the call. Here's the video if anyone wants to see it:
Here's the link and right around the 5 minute mark

Another game that blatantly officiated in favor of Phoenix was game 7 of the Seattle-Suns series where Barkley and KJ made a living at the line and the Suns as a team shot an unprecedented 64 free throws.

I haven't even gone over what the refs did to the Rockets. First, there was the call that gave away HCA against Seattle. Last game of the season, Rockets @ Spurs, Robinson tips in a shot at the buzzer to force OT despite the fact that it was clearly after the buzzer went off and thus should not have counted.

Despite all that, the Rockets gave it all against Seattle forcing a game 7 @ the old Seattle coliseum. In that game, there were three terrible calls, one in the 4th quarter, the other two in overtime, which proved to be momentum killers. Here’s the link if anyone wants to watch:
3 bad calls Seattle vs Houston game 7

Those calls were the reason the Rockets didn’t advance, never mind the fact they should have had home court that series and that series proved to be all about controlling home court.

If I could change one call in history, it’d be that David Robinson tip-in.

The real WCF that year should’ve been Houston and the winner of the Lakers-Spurs series. Even if Houston beat Seattle and went on to face Phoenix, I have no doubt Hakeem would have led the Rockets to the win. Dream was pissed he didn’t win MVP that year and he admitted it the year he won it. He thought his contributions were ignored and he felt slighted. I think we all know how Dream played when he was on a mission.

Moving on to the Bulls, the Rockets had their number in the early 90s. They had a 5-1 record against them in the Bulls first 3-peat including 2-0 in ’93.

Phil said the reason the Rockets had their number was cause MJ would try to prove a point to Dream since the fact that Dream was picked ahead of him ate him alive. Hence, he’d play a bit out of control and not within the flow of the offense. MadMax was one of the best defenders you could find to play MJ. He couldn’t shut him down or anything but he was quick, strong, tenacious and aggressive. Didn’t back down from any challenge. He also had Dream waiting at the back so if MJ would drive by him, Dream would be there to contest and alter the shot. OT could dominate on occasion although him and Grant were very similar players with similar roles. OT had massive hands that helped in delivering those outlet passes. Horry and Pippen was always an intriguing match up since Horry used to get Pippen comparisons at the time due to his defensive ability, athleticism and slashing ability. Horry frustrated Pippen to some bad shooting nights that year I think. But, the biggest reason, I feel the Rockets could’ve beaten the Bulls in ’93 is Dream. Ain’t no way nobody was going to stop him. Nobody.

I know I just went on a rant, some of you won’t read it and some of you will probably think I’m crazy for all the conspiracy theories but I firmly believe this way. Justice was served when the Rockets took the Suns out twice enroute to their 2 championships (even better that Barkley had the chance to win game 5 in '95 yet he CHOKED at the line). Clutch City all day!

/rant.

 

Hey guys, check these quotes out.....

Link

Jan 2 1996 - Daily Herald

^Michael Jordan - October 1995.
Link

Link
^Phil on why the Bulls were property of the Rockets in the early 90s.

 

Damn look at the Rockets run!! Something that i have'nt been used to these days with Yao....