If Jordan did not retire those two years, would Houston have won?

i may get banned for this but who the *** are you kidding? rockets would have their 2 (more legitimate championships). in fact, we would have won so bad that some of the bulls championships would be transfered to us bc Hakeem is so God-like in his dominance of that 2nd rate dynasty.

 

Well thats fine, then I dont want to see anyone disparage any of the following threads especially if they're asked by someone new to the fanbase.

"Yao should have won ROY"
"Yao's rebounding sucks"
"TMac is not a winner because he has never been out of the first round"
"Bobby Sura doesn't pass enough to Yao"
"JVG's offense is too predictable"
"CD should have traded Yao for Odom and Butler"

 

I can't stand this 'debate', but I will chime in. Hakeem was hands-down dominant those two years, and yes, we would have beaten the front-line soft Bulls. The first year, the year Otis Thorpe was an all-star, we would have creamed them, and it wouldn't have even gone to 7 games like it did with the Knicks. The second year, Orlando was clearly better anyway, and the Bulls STILL wouldn't have made it out of the East. It's also good to note that Jordan WAS back the second year, regardless of the games.

Also, if we hadn't been cheated out of the Finals in '97, I believe we would have won then, too.

 

That's what I meant My English is just getting worse everyday. Maybe I spent way too much time here.

 

If I get testy when these types of "debates" come up it's because I'm tired tired tired of having to defend our 2 championships. I've had to hear aobut it ever since we won them in the 90s. How would you like it if for 10 years you had to hear how your wife only married you because the guy she really wanted was out of town for a couple of years. And then when the issue finally dies down for a bit, some new guy in the neighborhood suddenly asks you while you're mowing your lawn if your wife woulda married you if the guy she really wanted was still in town.

 

Better question: what would've happened had Houston agreed to Portland's trade offer of Clyde Drexler and their 1984 1st round pick for Ralph Sampson? Granted, we probably wouldn't have taken Jordan if we had Drexler, but I bet we could've done better than Sam Bowie (stockton, or barkley)

 

Dream was playing at a Jordan level during that time. He was the best player in basketball.

Man, do I wish I could have seen a Rockets/Bulls series those years.

 

Do you really think so?? For one you're saying Jordan with the players Hakeem had is greater than Dream--I don't think so...Jordan went plenty of years without winning squat until Pippen/Phil Jax came along.

Also, Portland would've gotten Dream instead of Sam Bowie and paired him with Drexler for their whole careers! PORTLAND 10PEAT!!!

 

We likely would have won in 1995, but definitely not 1994...the Bulls would have beat us in no more than 6 in 1994.

 

that's hilarious!!!

 

For the most part, I agreed with your assessment on the Bulls if Jordan stayed. In fact, I don't see the Knicks giving the Bulls much trouble just based on how Jordan seemingly goes nuts when playing against the Knicks. The 94' Bulls team would've been one of the great ones with Horace Grant still within the Mix. The only major difference with that team compared to the '93 team would've been the improvement of B.J. Armstrong's game, the addition of Toni Kukoc (it's funny that the Bulls recruited him with the intention of playing PG), and the departure of John Paxson. (I believe...) The Rockets has always matched up favorably against the Bulls, but Jordan seemingly goes to a whole different level once the playoff comes, so I'm not sure if we would've handled them as easily as the people here suggested. Don't get me wrong, I'm as hardcore a Rockets fan as it comes, but I don't know if it would still happen the same way. But then again, the seedings would have all been a jumbled mess if the Bulls win a game here, lose one there, etc... so it's all subjective.

In 1995, the Rockets were desperate of a repeat. They were hanging around .500 and decided that a trade was necessary. Assuming the teams were the same as before, it would be hard to access what would've happened. Drexler has had trouble guarding MJ back in the days, and assuming Vernon left the team in the early portions of the playoffs, I dont' know how it would go. The loss of Horace Grant might cause a lot of problems for the Bulls. Honestly, I personally thought that the Magic might come out to the finals anyways, so the Rockets win that year.

I think the Rockets have a chance to win both years, but if MJ didn't "retire", I think the Rockets come back and win their first in '95, and the Bulls wouldn't win more than 1 championship after '95 based on the stunted development of Scottie Pippen as a leader and other possibilities. Also, Jordan must have burnt out by then.

 

Stupid Question.

The Rockets took care of the Bulls during the regular season when Jordan played.

 

I agree that many people are being hard on him. It is a very sensitive subject to us rockets fans and we dont like to bring it up since it has been discussed ever since we won those 2 championships, over a decade now BUT...

There's a search button right...you know, where you search threads about subjects that may or may not have been discussed earlier. Its just those that have been around a long time dont like to keep defending ourselves and our team over and over and over and over. I know you havnt been a fan that long, but we defend the rocks til death. Thats why we have such a great board, one of the best fan sites ever made. Just some friendly advice that you search and feel out the board before posting on subjects such as this.

While you're at it, you might as well bring up the Stockton three pointer...oh crap, why did i do that...that was just dumb doboyz...dumb

 

Yeah even when Jordan came back, his bulls lost to Orlando. Granted he came back half the season, they still lost to the #1 of the east magic, who we swept. Those two years really were great and the Rockets showed for it, especially with Glide being a great but old SG, and rising stars like Elie, Horry and Cassell.

The year the Bulls lost only 10 games...I believe Houston contributed to both of those losses. Be nice if someone could verify that.

 

Actually, we lost both games that year, I believe. The year after is the year that we acquired Barkley, and we split the games; although the game in which we won was played without Rodman or Barkley. We were up by a lot, and the Bulls came back, including a VERY QUESTIONABLE defensive foul on Sam Mack when it seemed as if Jordan has obviously committed an offensive charging foul. But we came back and won in a "blowout." The game we lost to the Bulls that year was the 5th game in 7 days for the Rockets.

 

I'm glad this turned into more of a discussion than a "bash-the-poster-I-don't-agree-with" thread. No, threads don't get locked because one or two people are tired of people asking the same question, and no, people don't get banned for asking questions that may have been asked before. A lot of people here are new and don't know that every question about the Rockets has already been asked or answered. If this guy was a troll, he'll eventually be banned, but in the meantime, type your response, cut and past them into a text file and the next time it's asked cut and paste it into the thread again. You guys act like the guy just tried shooting you.

 

yea, i would expect a bash, but in reality, it is a Rockets board and of course everybody would be bias and saw we would cake walk our way through no problem.

as for my opinion, didn't Jordan admitted that he was "glad" that he didn't have to face us cause they had NO ANSWER for Hakeem? Even when he was asked who would be in his starting lineup and he said he wanted Hakeem as his center. He picked Dream over the likes of Kareem, Wilt, Russel, and Shaq.

Besides, as stated already, we OWNED the Bulls during the regular season. Even their 69-13 season (96-97), we beat them pretty bad.

 

We have Mad Max (94') and Clyde the glide (95) to check on Jordan!!Still 2x Champs on the Rocks!!

 

Though young, i remember our 2 championship runs. the dream was the main reason the bulls allways had a problem with us. be it pre-jordan ret or after. i'm 100% sure no team on this planet could have combat the Dream Glyde 2 nds championship parternership. any real rockets fan would know the answer. sorry, but tis chinesetaco idiot is a bandwagon fan.

 

The Bulls record was 72-10. But you're right, we crushed them in houston that year. the dream and barkely went off in that game.