Olajuwon Thorpe Horry Vernon Kenny vs Yao Howard TMac Sura Wesley In a 7 game series & zone defenses allowed. With all the close games that we have been winning lately, it made me think back to the old days. I think the old guys would have a huge advantage at center, but this year's team would have the big edge on the perimeter. This year's team is probably a better shooting and passing team, but would get destroyed on the boards. Rebounding might be the key that puts the old guys over the top, but I think it would be tough nip-and-tuck kind of series. Thoughts?
Hakeem destroys Yao, but wouldn't Tracy do the same against whomever they threw out there. John Starks played pretty well against our back court (for about 5 and 3/4 games)
Old 4 New 0 Hakeem was a monster on offense AND defense. Right now we are still getting our sea legs. That team had speed and quickness and ability all over it. Give Yao and Tmac time, though I doubt the surrounding cast will remain the same. DD
I don't like threads like these because the "old" team no longer exists, so one can never know what would really happen. I think that the championship Rockets would sweep the current team; however, if games were actually possible, we might all be surprised.
Only position where the new team would have a clear edge is at 3. One factor to consider is that the old team was together for years, the new lineup hasn't even been together for months.
Outside of Hakeem, was anyone else on that old team really that good. I don't remember alot of quickness and athleticism out there. Toughness and heart, definitely, but not necessarily speed and ability. Dream made everyone else better by commanding so much attention on offense. OT couldn't hit anything outside of a dunk. Vernon could defend, but was S-T-R-E-A-K-Y on offense. Bob Horry only hit threes at the end of games. Kenny was scared to drive the paint, and I think we know about his defense. I say 4-3 old guys.
No center can destroy Yao because of his height...even shaq...even Dream... "destroy" is a word tooo serious..
They would kill the present Rockets in 4 games, or possibly less. That was a championship team with the best player in the world at the time at Center. This is a High-40's win playoff team. Hakeem wouldn't just destroy Yao, he would murder and pillage him first. That's the worst possible matchup for Yao. A super quick center with a low center of gravity who makes devestating fakes? Yao would foul out after the first minute - and please, nobody bring up Mark Eaton, not only is Yao not in his league as a shotblocker, but in his rookie season, Hakeem averaged 21.2 ppg against Eaton in the playoffs - not awesome, but not exactly shutdown, and better than his regular season average. The mature Hakeem? No chance. That team is so much better and deeper it's not even funny. Look at it this way: No less than 3 bench players for the 94 Rockets (Elie, Cassell, Herrera) would probably be starters on the 2005 Rockets.
all I know is the past would kill the present on the boards, but the present is a very good passing and shooting team........ ....well, so was the past, I guess this really isn't a contest (unless the presents wins it all, then we have a discusion!)
The past team had some great chemistry. Dream was machine then and Yao would be spinning left and right trying to chase him down. As much as I love T-mac I can see it now... Bill : Tmac drives to the hoop! Cavin: Blocked by Dream ! Blocked by Hakeem the dream!!! That's what I'm talkin' about! I could also see... Bill: Yao Ming with the ball...Backs in... Calvin: Steal by Hakeem...! Gosh these Brownies are great! Bill: Hakeem running with the ball... Coast to Cast...and Dunk!!! Man what a play! Calvin: (muffled with brownie in mouth) Gweat Mwove! Ah Have buhn sein dis all game long! (gulp and swallow) Hakeem is the man!
Agreed that the old would win. But Elie a starter over Wesley at the 2? At least a thought, but I'd go with Wesley. Quicker, can get a shot off screens, better passer. Elie the size, better straight up defense (but can't chase like Wesley)...but wouldn't fit in this offense as well as Wesley. fit better with Dream. Cassell as a rookie over current Sura? No thanks. I absolutely loved Sam. But Sura is more consistent than a young Sam was, and of course a better rebounder and defender. At least the young Sam didn't need so many shots like he does now.. Herrera..please. He had his moments on the team. But no way he should start even over Howard. He's as undersized as Juwan and didn't really have much of a shot. He had his running hooks and his jump hooks, but our PF needs to be able to hit an open J from 15. Herrera couldn't do that consistently at all. Better rebounder, but not by *that* much over what JH has shown of late.
I dont know if I would put Yao on Hakeem.. maybe JHoward would be a better matchup than Yao. Hakeem is still too fast for any rocket but height wise they are about the same. Jhoward 6 foot 9 Hakeem 6 foot 10 then put Yao on Thorpe.. the new Rox would probably lose but to say killed? I dont know about that. I would say they had a chance, probably not good but a chance. J
Not sure why anybody thinks the present team has an advantage at shooting w/the exception of Mad Max's occasional brickfest: Hakeem 52% Thorpe 56% Horry 46% Maxwell 38% Smith 48% Yao 54% Howard 44% McGrady 42% Wesley 38% Sura 42%
Herrera would definitely start over Howard. He is exactly what the 2005 Rockets lack, defense and rebounding. Without Herrera, we don't beat the Knicks in the finals.
It would be NO CONTEST. Tmac would make some plays, but Horry and Max (and Elie off the bench) would make him work for everything. Everywhere else the new team would pretty much get manhandled. Put it this way, Cassell or Elie, off the bench on that team, would start for the current team. No bench player on the current team would see the light of day on the former team. Hakeem would be by far the best player on the floor and the old team was deeper and better most everywhere else. You put Jordan in his prime instead of Tmac, and I still think the 94 team wins over the current squad. Of course the 94 squad would tear apart the current Spurs, Suns, Heat or Pistons teams too.
