If the Rockets win the title will this go down as a greater run than 95?

Based on "expectations," yes; based on "drama," no. That run won't be topped, it stands alone in Rocket's lore, but, if the Rockets ran the table this year, it would be utterly shocking. I expected big things everytime Hakeem took the court. This team doesn't quite inspire the same confidence. They don't have the supporting casts the 94 or 95 teams did.

 

It would be incredible, but I don't think it would top '95. Mainly because it was the Rockets winning a BACK-TO-BACK title. But it's an interesting comparison. The Rockets would have had to overcome:

-Having no backup point guard
-TMac's back
-Yao missing a stupid amount of time
-Bonzi and Kirk Snyder essentially not playing at all
-JVG not having a contract

That's not even taking into account the quality of teams they'd have to beat. It'd be special, that's for ******* sure.

 

I'm really surprised by the voting so far being mostly "yes".

In 95, we were a 6th seed that had to win on the road in every series. I believe 3 series against teams with 60+ wins.

 

Just to give you a brush up on Rockets history, in 1995, we beat teams who won 60, 59, 62 & 57 games after we only won 47 during the regular season. Except for the Finals, we were very strong underdogs in each series. The top teams in the west were just as good that year as now, which is what made it such an incredible run. This year, we will be favored to beat the Jazz in the 1st round. In 1995, we lost our last 3 regular season games, 2 to the same team, the Jazz. One of them was a blowout where Karl Malone destroyed us when we had a sulking Vernon Maxwell on our team. The drama was great. The Bonzi nonsense this season doesn't compare.

For you to say this season would be "by far greater" probably means you were too young too appreciate 1995 for what it was.

 

the 95 team supporting cast was all world.
Can Battier be Horry? Can he hit all these big 3pointers to win games in the playoffs?

Can Rafer pull a Kenny and actually have a good shooting night.

If this year's team takes it, its all on Tmac's shoulders. He's the only Rocket capable of going on some insane scoring spree.

 

You mean can Luther be Horry?

 

If he does, please buy him all the Red Bull he can drink!

 

School the youngsta

 

Haha, Red Bull, coming right up! I've seen this picture before, but it's still funny. Of all the things Luther could've been drinking...then again, it might have been the night before a game or something. It's also somewhat strange seeing him hang out w/ Daddy Deke, who's at least 15 years his senior. Oh well. It's nice seeing Deke partying like the wild thing he is.

 

It has to be the Yao fans.

 

The only way this title goes down as a bigger feat than the 95 run is if we break some records along the way. That 95 run broke records. We beat 4 teams with over 50 wins. We beat the team with the MVP and set the record for series with the most road wins. We became one of the few teams to come back 3-1 in a playoff series and the only one to do it without homecourt advantage. And we were the underdog in all 4 playoff series.

In this run, we aren't the underdogs to Utah. We won't be underdogs to whoever makes it to the finals other than maybe the Heat.

 

16-0

thats just to get mentioned in the same breathe as 95

 

It's an interesting question because most of us thought the season was over when Yao went down and who knew whether we'd ever be able to rely on T-Mac's back but things have come together quite nicely!

But put yourself back in those 12 year old shoes...the champagne hadn't even stopped flowing and all we heard was that Hou v NY was an ugly defensive series (which everyone--SI anyone??--thought NY would win) and they all just wanted Houston to go away. Injuries, dissension and "the trade" left us with only 47 wins and everyone wrote us off. Robinson's the MVP, Shaq and Penny are the new powers, JORDAN'S BACK...no one NO ONE gave the Rockets a passing thought...

and then we showed the world why you don't EVER underestimate the HEART of a CHAMPION! Unless this team wins it all, goes through the same and wins it AGAIN--nothing they could do compares.

 

60% yes????

Unbelievable. It'd take some ridiculous things happening to be better. Gotta be down big in at least 1 series (2-0 going on the road or 3-1 or even 3-0 I guess)..

but regardless.. the top 4 teams in the NBA. We already can't do that. No chance at playing both PHX and SA. I think that makes it less impressive already, right?

 

good point. that could make it close, too

 

Just some points to think about.....

95 team faced ELIMINATION 5 times and came out on top!

They came back from 1-3 deficit in Best of 7 series.

They came back from 1-2 deficit in a best of 5 series.

They won Game 7 on road, probably the hadest thing to do (If you dont belive it, remind yourself of the recent 40 point embarasment in Dallas). 95 Rockets were down by double digits in 3rd quarter and had to fight a rough Phoenix crowd.

They won Game 5 on road in Utah (equivalent to Game 7 - 1st round was best of 5 back then). They were down by 7 points with couple minutes left in game and made a comeback.

They won 9 Games on the road!

Hakeem secured his name among legends by completely obliterating David Robinson, league MVP of that season.

 

So far, 87 people (roughly 60%) have yet to hit puberty.

Get off your baby crib, unhook that bib, spit out the pacifier, and pop in your dad's old VCR tapes people!!!!

 

There's just no way this Rockets could top that run. If that run had been made by Jordan or the Knicks or the Lakers, it would go down in history as a legend. The sheer improbability of it made it quite possibly the most amazing championship run in NBA history, beating the top 4 teams in the NBA in succession.

I'm think the people who voted "yes" weren't Rockets fans for that long. Because there shouldn't even be a discussion in this thread... unless people feel we can sweep our way into a championship.

 

They would be equally as great. I will cherish this one more because I'm actually a Rockets fan now. I didn't become a true Rockets fan till 1995-96 season, after all the good stuff.

 

I don't think a title run this year would top the 95 run. While we're not the top team we are among the elite teams in 95 we were written off at every step as old, broken down and slow. Most NBA people know that this team has potential and we will likely be favored over the Jazz. If we get passed the Jazz we won't be written off against the other teams in the West even the Mavs.