Utah couldn't beat us back then. We won the regular season series, too (discounting the last game when Hakeem sat to rest for the playoffs). They didn't have a good enough fastbreak yet. They still needed Byron Russell to emerge as a starter and to draft Shandon. Remember, in the first round Pete Chilcutt was guarding Malone (Rudy hadn't switched Horry to PF, yet) and we still won. Drexler did wake up in Game 4 and 5, and played a huge role. But, that series needed Thorpe the most out of all of them.
if the drexler trade doesn't happen everything in the space time continuum would be disrupted! who knows some of younger posters wouldn't exist if your parents hadn't gotten in on because of it being june and celebrating a championship! don't mess with the past!
I misunderstood the question and voted wrong. Oh well. I'd keep the championship but man I want Calvin back.
I didn't say Hakeem "would" underachieve. I said the team WAS underachieving during the regular season. It was eerily similar to what the heat were last season to start off. Yes, they were winning game but the fervor was not there and it was a doldrum to be out there on the floor from what I saw. I was also not saying that we got better in terms of our winning but more so in the way that we were seemingly more emotionally charged. My previous post was not in any way shape or form a slight on Hakeem who always brings it and elevates his game come playoff time.
OK Now it is they were seemingly more emotionally charged? Maybe to you but I never seemingly saw what you seem to have seen. We went in and came out with a Championship.We did it with outstanding play from Thorpe also. Afterwards I saw Hakeem have to go to extreme heights to overcome the loss of Thorpe.
I'm just checking in for my compulsory defending of Clyde's commentary; though, it's nice to see others chime in! I was beginning to think I was the only one with a sense of humor around here...