The team of the mid 90s did it with the greatest stable of players and the highest level of overall NBA talent and profile that has ever existed in the history of basketball. Yes, that Walton-esque comment is real. Olajuwon, Drexler, O'Neal, Ewing, Barkley, Robinson, Childrapist, Stockton -- Every one of these players is on the NBA's 50th Anniversary team, and the Rockets beat every one of them in 1994 and 1995. If the season ended today (as things currently stand), there wouldn't be that many players in the PLAYOFFS that would make that team. You have to include maybes to get it. Kobe, Duncan, Paul, Garnett, Lebron (probably), Howard (probably), Wade (maybe), Melo (maybe), Roy (maybe), Iverson (maybe). That is it.
I think you need to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakeem_Olajuwon#Championship_years Yes, it would be great of the team to do it this year but Hakeem did it against Barkley, Ewing, Oneal, Robinson. All HOFers. And he did it without a second star.
no... it's the cook... brian cook goes for his 15th 3pter (an nba all-time record) at the buzzer in triple overtime in game 7 of the finals and the rockets won by 1...
It's true. But we were a known force that year. The 2nd one was historic and probably the most improbable in NBA history. If this team got on a roll and never got down more than a game in a series I think it could beat anyone. But I can't see them replicating the feats of the '95 team (no one has) so just the championship wouldn't be the same to me intellectually. Emotionally, I'd be as happy for the team (and myself) as ever, but '94 & '95 are just too precious to me to be able to compare.
For me it would since Im not old enough to appreciate the 90s championships, I was like 4 when the 1st was won.
Are you kidding? Beating Starks and Ewing and Shaq and Penny is one thing, but if you beat Jordan and Pippen, you've beaten the best of that era, and talent up there with the all-timers.
If we win it all this year? Depends how it happens, who we beat, how good the games are, etc. Do we beat injury-depleted teams, or teams with all their best players. Do we come from behind in each game. Do we sweep or go to game 7's. Do we want drama, or do we just want to win? We'll have to see it to know.
IIRC, the 94-95 team was worse off than we are now and had to scratch and claw their way to the 6th seed once they got Drexler. So no, it wouldn't even be the biggest surprise championship in Rockets history. I suppose it would be a bigger surprise in that no one on this roster has a history of postseason success.
dude you realize people here think we're going to win it every year? memory serves me correct, the signing of steve francis made people we were going to win 82 games.
NEWBNEWBNEWBNEWBNEWB <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iupd8SOQWUQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iupd8SOQWUQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1BLjWjc_eII&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1BLjWjc_eII&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFEOHStETNk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFEOHStETNk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
The 2 titles we won in the 90s we had dream at his peak. He was a league MVP and defensive player of the year quality guy. The 2nd title also had a HOF in Clyde as well as Dream. Winning a title was kind of expected or at least wasn't a huge shock. This team isn't expected to even make the playoffs with Tracy so winning it all would be more unexpected than the other 2 titles. Is it the greatest? I'm not sure but definitely the biggest shock.
that was a great run... but then that was the best Houston team ever... no way I would even try to compare today's starting lineup to the 1995 lineup...
Yes, that is my point. This team is not going to win it all. If it is going to win, Yao may need put the 50 points in each game, and Brooks has to have 20 As per game, is this the greatest? It is not going to be happen before I win a $million lottery.
I was a Seattle fan back then.... but even to this day I can remember the Sonics having somthing like a 4-0 and 3-1 record against the Rockets 1994 and 1995 I remembered because even as a Sonic fan.... I knew that Rockets team was one of the best teams in the league...
I think it's a fair question considering the circumstances. To go from potential mid-season disaster to a championship all the while carrying a $21-million dollar disadvantage would undoubtedly be remarkable. No, probably not as great as the '95 run but this scenario would make plenty of history in it's own right.
