(April 29, 1995) The Rockets turned the Delta Center into a bomb shelter for Game 2 of the First Round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs. Houston hit an NBA playoff-record 19 three-pointers to destroy Utah 140-126 and even up the series. Kenny Smith finished the game with seven three-pointers, one short of the NBA playoff record. The Rockets finished the night 19-of-28 from way downtown and set NBA playoff marks for three-pointers in one half (11) and in a quarter (seven).
We all acknowledge that Kenny had a few nice moments in those playoff runs. But he was not that great of a player. He could be completely intimidated when he faced an aggressive point (i.e. Derek Harper). He was made useful by a dominating presence inside by Olajuwon. He could hit an open three. Still he had many weaknesses and they were at time infuriating. He couldn't finish well, couldn't guard, and if his shot disappeared, then he was totally useless. Futhermore, Rudy's loyalty to him caused him to play a superior player from the bench (Sam).
Question: why are people complaining about the Rockets championships? I dont care that Kenny got beat by Harper, I cared he showed up in game 7 and I care he showed up in Utah and I care he showed up in Orlando. I care he doesn't turn the ball over. That team was special and to criticize the faults is absolutely r****ded cause you NEW ROCKET FANS don't know what it was like to experience those years of the Cheney/Rudy T years. You don't know about how the team was built and how it gelled. Its not like throwing people together with Yao/Tmac and championships come. its not that easy people. Wake up and smell the coffee, the championship Rocket team wasn't based on stats and individual players, it was based on HEART. That's what Rudy T said. he was right.
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1991_773486 ITS TIME TO TEACH, SCHOOL IS IN SESSION Kenny Smith didn't only play for 2 years for the Rockets, you NEWBs. aper: HOUSTON CHRONICLE Date: SUN 02/10/1991 Section: Sports Page: 12 Edition: 2 STAR Rockets week in review/Akeem-less victories become habit Staff Sunday, Feb. 3 Rockets 143, Golden State 135 On a night when there were remarkable offensive displays all over the court, it took a blocked shot that would have made Akeem Olajuwon envious to earn the Rockets a tantalizing victory. Kennard Winchester rose above the rim to a hero's pedestal at The Summit, slapping away a Mitch Richmond shot that set in motion the fast break that pumped the Rockets to a thrilling double-overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. For all the highlight-reel offensive plays, the Rockets were saved by the 6-foot-5 Winchester's rejection. With the game tied at 131, Richmond was posting up Sleepy Floyd. He wheeled for a 12-foot jumper from the wing and as the ball neared its apex, Winchester came from nowhere to slap it against the backboard. Buck Johnson rebounded and fed Kenny Smith, who was fouled as he made a layup at the other end. The free throw put the Rockets up three and they held off the Warriors the rest of the way. It was the Rockets' fifth win in their last six games and boosted them to 8-8 without Olajuwon. "This team is learning how to win, and that's a gigantic statement considering the heartbreaking losses we've had over the past two years," coach Don Chaney said. "They absolutely refused to lose." The Rockets overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, then sweated out the two extra periods after having gone one overtime to beat San Antonio just 24 hours earlier. Larry Smith had an NBA season-high 25 rebounds, and five players had 20 or more points, only the second time in club history that has happened. And, when it was done, the Rockets had proved that five big guns can beat three, but just barely. Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Richmond combined for 99 Golden State points. But Johnson, Otis Thorpe, Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith and Floyd had 125 among them for the Rockets. But without Winchester, this might have been a loss. "The tables are turned," said Maxwell, who tied Floyd for high-point honors with 30. "We were losing these one-pointers and overtime games earlier. Now, we're winning them." Floyd, who had been fighting a horrid slump, had 27 points after the start of the fourth quarter. He set club records for free throws shot (27) and made (22). And the Rockets needed every one of them. After Winchester had allowed the Rockets to move ahead with 1:34 to go in the second OT, Rod Higgins hit one of two free throws for Golden State. Floyd was fouled and hit two for a five-point lead with a minute to go. The Rockets then played solid defense to close out an exhausting win. When the second overtime commenced, the Rockets moved ahead 131-128, but Mullin, who was throwing in shots from the Galleria to downtown all night, hit a falling-down three-pointer with 2:09 to go, knotting the game. The Rockets, who had not played a double-overtime game since Dec. 15, 1988, (also vs. Golden State), then suffered a turnover when Johnson was whistled for an offensive foul. That set up Winchester's big play. It was even more thrilling than the first 56 minutes. After Richmond's three-pointer with 7.4 seconds forced overtime with the score tied at 118, the two clubs traded baskets twice. It seemed it would take something magnificent to top Richmond's shot. But by the end of the night, it seemed almost trivial. When Johnson's layup put the Rockets ahead 124-122, the Warriors fell in arrears as Higgins made just one of two free throws with 2:21 to play in the bonus frame. David Wood was fouled with 2:09 to go, but he missed both of his free throws. The Warriors couldn't convert, but still they weren't hurt badly as Floyd made only one of two free throws with 1:22 to go for a 125-123 lead. Richmond tied the score with two freebies at 1:06. Floyd put the Rockets back in front when he made two free shots, but Tom Tolbert drove the lane and scored with 26.2 seconds left, tying it again at 127. The Rockets couldn't win it at the end of the first overtime, as Floyd missed on an off-balance drive. The Warriors couldn't win it either, and it was beginning to look like this thing might drag on into the wee hours. Saturday, Feb. 2 Rockets 100, Spurs 94 In a game that had much in common with a Las Vegas fight night, the Rockets won at San Antonio in overtime. Strange, isn't it, that the Rockets' second win in five days over the Spurs would have all the elements of a Mike Tyson show. The evening started with news that Spurs guard Rod Strickland had lost a bout on the undercard a few nights earlier at a nightspot, suffering a broken hand. Then, Vernon Maxwell - who has a belligerent history in these parts and seemed to be throwing a jab for old times' sake - fired a left hook at San Antonio's Sidney Green, which got Maxwell ejected. And finally, the Rockets delivered the knockout blow to the Spurs, winning at HemisFair Arena for their fourth victory in their last five games. Otis Thorpe's 30 points and 17 rebounds, including eight of the Rockets' 11 points in OT, supplied the haymaker. But just as important were the shadow boxers and the fact the Rockets had more of the real thing at the end than did the Spurs. The Spurs were missing Terry Cummings and Strickland from the start. They lost Paul Pressey to an ejection, and when David Robinson fouled out 35.1 seconds before the end of regulation, the Spurs' glass jaw was exposed. Robinson's sixth foul set up two free throws by Thorpe, which knotted the game at 89. Neither team could win it in regulation, but the Rockets improved to 24-21 with a big-time overtime surge highlighted by the way they exploited the Robinson-less Spurs' interior. The reserve troops were in charge for most of the overtime, which began with San Antonio's David Greenwood missing a jumper. The Rockets followed with five of the next seven points. Sleepy Floyd sank a free throw after an illegal-defense violation by the Spurs. Thorpe got a layup and, after Sean Elliott's jumper, slammed with 3:29 to go for a 94-91 Rockets lead. Thorpe was fouled on the slam but missed the free throw. Both teams were showing signs of fatigue. Each club had two missed opportunities before Willie Anderson's follow shot made it a one-point game. More errors followed, but the Rockets rode Thorpe's shoulders to a 98-93 lead. He had consecutive layups, the second after Larry Smith got a key offensive rebound with 1:10 to go. The end of regulation was nothing short of frantic. Down by two points, the Rockets called a play for Thorpe, who drove to the basket and drew the sixth foul on Robinson. Thorpe hit both free throws with 35.1 ticks to go, tying the game. Needing one defensive stand, the Rockets forced the Robinson-less Spurs to the perimeter. When Anderson couldn't get a shot off, he tried to pass inside. During the scramble for the ball, the 24-second clock expired, giving the Rockets a shot at victory in regulation. The play that had been working for the Rockets for almost the entire game didn't work this time. Kenny Smith wheeled around Thorpe's screen. He made it into the lane, but his layup bounced off the front of the rim. The Spurs called time out with 0.8 seconds left but could not get a desperation shot to fall at the buzzer. Wednesday, Feb. 6 Rockets 111, Bucks 109 In winning at Milwaukee, the Rockets piled up more arguments to support the case that they no longer are a one-man band. They had trailed since the second quarter at the Bradley Center but wiped out a seven-point Milwaukee lead in the last three minutes and won on Kenny Smith's driving layup with six-tenths of a second to play. It was an invigorating win, the Rockets' third in a row and sixth in seven games. To say the least, confidence is at an all-time high heading into tonight's 6:30 game at Cleveland. "For years, people have been saying this is Akeem's team and if Akeem (Olajuwon) goes down, there's no team," coach Don Chaney said. "But these guys are showing people that's not the case. "It's momentum. That's what it's all about. Momentum can happen in a winning or losing fashion. You start winning, and that confidence is there. "Our guys now are not afraid to play close games." And they aren't afraid to win them, either. This marked the fifth consecutive game that was decided by three points or less or in overtime. The Rockets (26-21) have won four of those games. Against the Bucks (30-19), they had to reach into their bag of tricks for the play they always reach for - the pick-and-roll - to come out with a win. Otis Thorpe, who had a monster game with 35 points and 11 rebounds, and Smith (30 points) worked the play to perfection. With the game tied, both teams suffered turnovers, then the Rockets got a break. Jay Humphries, who led Milwaukee with 30 points and nine assists, missed a jumper with 14 seconds to go. After a timeout, the Rockets ran the pick-and-roll, a play that has been almost automatic during the past two weeks. Smith worked past a solidly set screen by Thorpe, turned to the basket - and all he saw was daylight. Smith was fouled on his layup, and when he missed the free throw, the Bucks called time out with 0.3 seconds to go. That brought about the last bit of intrigue. Humphries fired up a three-pointer as the buzzer was sounding. After last season's controversial Chicago-New York game in which the Knicks won on a jumper with 0.1 seconds to play, the league ruled that the only kind of shot that can count in 0.3 ticks or less are tip-ins or catch-and-shoot plays that are done in one motion. Humphries' shot was neither - but the officials were going to count it if it went in. "I thought they weren't supposed to count shots where you catch it, then go up and shoot it," Chaney said. "But I guess it's a moot point." The way the Rockets are playing, everything seems to be coming up roses for them. The win improved the Rockets to 9-14 away from the Summit. Last season, they did not achieve their ninth road victory until April 10, winning only 10 road games all season. This one was a struggle all the way, as the Rockets trailed from the start of the second quarter until Smith's layup. They were down 84-76 going to the fourth quarter but came back behind 65 percent shooting. The Bucks - playing without injured starters Jack Sikma and Frank Brickowski and getting just 18 unproductive minutes out of flu-ridden Alvin Robertson - could not stop the Rockets. Buck Johnson, who hit nine of 14 shots and had 18 points, scored eight in the fourth quarter to keep the Rockets within striking distance. But it was Thorpe and Smith who combined for the Rockets' final 16 points. The Bucks seemed to be safe with a 106-99 lead and less than three minutes to go. But the Rockets took advantage of the weak Bucks interior. Smith hit a three-pointer, his fourth of the night without a miss. He then hit a free throw after an illegal defense was called on the Bucks, and Thorpe slammed with 2:07 to go after Vernon Maxwell delivered a nice lob pass. Suddenly, the gap was only 106-105, and after 46 minutes of viewing the Bucks' tail lights, the Rockets began entertaining thoughts of winning. Humphries hit one of two free throws, and the Rockets tied the game on Thorpe's layup. Humphries delivered an 18-foot jumper with 1:19 to go, but the pick-and-roll play worked again for the Rockets as Thorpe slammed to tie the game at 109. That set the scene for Smith. Thursday, Feb. 7 Rockets 96, Cavaliers 92 In this surprising win at Cleveland, even the officials lent an inadvertent hand. Veteran referee Dick Bavetta called Larry Smith for his sixth foul with 35 seconds to play. The Cavaliers took a one-point lead with two free throws after the foul. But the Rockets got the best of the deal. Smith's departure made room for David Wood, and it was exactly the nudge the Rockets needed to score their fourth consecutive victory, a season-best streak. Wood hit a three-point shot with 19.7 seconds to play to give the Rockets a 94-92 lead, and they survived a wide-open three-point try by Cleveland's Steve Kerr moments later. Kerr, who had hit two three-pointers earlier, is the NBA all-time percentage leader for treys. This time, however, he was off. It was just another instance of the Rockets getting a critical break when they needed it, something that has been happening with great regularity of late. "No, David wouldn't have been in there if Larry hadn't fouled out," coach Don Chaney said. "But that's the way this game goes sometimes. "The law of averages evens out. Hey, we got the short end of the stick for a long time. Now we're getting the breaks. It's to the point now where I'm almost used to it. If we're in a game late, we expect to win it." That's the way things are going for the Rockets. Throw anybody out on the court, and he's liable to fire in a buzzer-beater. They have won seven of their last eight, and seven of the games have been decided in overtime or by six points or less. If there's one down side to the Rockets' current hot streak, it's that they have to put it on hold for the next four days to accommodate the All-Star break. They don't play again until Tuesday at Utah. Then again, time to reflect on the current euphoria might not be so bad. Their third consecutive win away from The Summit gives the Rockets a 10-14 road record. Last season, they had a 10-31 record on the road. At 27-21, they are further over .500 than they have been since the end of the 1988-89 season. And they continue to do it without Akeem Olajuwon. "Everyone is sharing the wealth and it's great," said Wood, who had nine points and four rebounds in just 12 minutes Thursday. This time was Wood's to shine, after . Buck Johnson (22 points) had led five Rockets in double figures to keep them in the hunt. They were stuck in a tie at 90 with two minutes to go, but finally inched in front when Kenny Smith hit a free throw after an illegal-defense violation on Cleveland. Then came Larry Smith's foul, which set up two free throws from Brad Daugherty, putting Cleveland ahead 92-91. The Rockets tried to work a pick-and-roll play for Wood and Kenny Smith, but the play broke down. Wood had the ball at the three-point line briefly but passed to Johnson in the corner. Johnson tried to create a shot off a baseline move, but got caught out of position and whipped the ball back to Wood who was open just beyond the arc on the wing. "He set me up so well, I had plenty of time to shoot," Wood said. "You never know for sure if a shot is going in, but that's the best-feeling shot I've ever shot in my life, I think." The Rockets weren't home free. A defensive breakdown by Vernon Maxwell let Kerr get even more wide-open than Wood had been. Kerr rarely misses an open three-pointer. "As soon as I let it go, I thought it was in," Kerr said. "It was a touch short. I don't know what to say. I got wide-open, and I flat-out missed it." He should chalk it up to the Rockets living a charmed life. There were a lot of reasons why the Rockets should have been in trouble. They had spent a rugged 12 hours of travel, taking a bus from Milwaukee to Chicago late Wednesday, catching a few hours sleep, then getting delayed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Finally, they got to Richfield, which isn't exactly the sort of Shangri-La that inspires great performances. Kenny Smith (7-of-18) did not have a good shooting night. It started with him missing a three-pointer, ending his bid to get into the NBA record book. He had made 10 threes in a row; the record is 11, and it's safe for now. The Rockets were behind by nine points after one quarter and by 10 (52-42) at halftime. But a 65-percent shooting exhibition in the third quarter helped them outscore the Cavs 34-23 and gain a 76-75 lead going into the final period. Later, the game was tied at 82, 84, 86, 88 and 90 before the Rockets found a sliver of an opening, which is like leaving the barn door open for them nowadays.
I am certainly no new Rocket fan as I sat through every one of those playoff disasppoinments and triumphs. I know what it is all about. But if we might remember the context of this thread...we were talking about Smith's seeming bias (along with Charles) against the Rockets. Your response is that you can't ever say anything negative about old championship Rockets, though as was pointed out you seem to ignore that when it comes to Drexler. Kenny wasn't above reproach as a player nor as an analyst. But it was not my purpose to discuss him as a player. YOU brought that up to defend him as an analyst, though that doesn't make much sense!
I like Drexler, he signed my book. How is that negative? Drexler is way better than Sheryl Swoopes as an analyst. see. positive. but when you compare Rocket vs Rocket in different categories you can make a difference on who is better. Drexler > Kenny Smith for basketball skill Kenny Smith > Drexler in commentary Charles > Drexler in commentary Matt Bullard > Drexler in commentary Calvin > Drexler in commentary see the difference? You can't hate on Drexler's Rockets achievements, but he's fair game on everything else. PEOPLE HERE ARE HATING ON KENNY THE ROCKET TOO, SO I'M GOING NONSTOP TIL I DIE TO DEFEND HIM.
I am not hating on Kenny. I just have a problem with his view of the Rockets. I especially have a problem with dumb questions like "Can Yao and McGrady co-exist?" He's a good entertainer, but a good analyst doesn't ask such stupid questions that have been answered for three years!
It utterly amazes me that Kenny and Charles get resigned season after season. Kind of makes you wonder about the viewing audience because their ratings must be high. I find most of their commentary asinine and irrelevant. Charles babbles and never quite makes a point. Kenny has some lucid moments, but on the whole never says much of substance. I truly think they are the worst BB commentators on TV. But America loves Britney and Jessica, I guess that explains it.
once again the Kenny haters are proved to be doing that 2girls1cup thing with each other . sorry, we're not to 5 yet. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/stand...p=conference&seasontype=2&standType=standings Western Conference W L PCT GB HM RD CONF DIV PF PA DIFF STRK L10 Phoenix 10 2 .833 - 4-1 6-1 4-1 2-1 108.1 101.1 +7.0 Won 7 9-1 San Antonio 10 2 .833 - 7-0 3-2 6-2 3-2 99.8 91.0 +8.8 Won 3 8-2 Dallas 9 2 .818 ½ 6-0 3-2 6-1 4-0 103.2 95.9 +7.3 Won 5 8-2 Denver 8 3 .727 1 ½ 5-1 3-2 3-1 3-0 109.3 99.1 +10.2 Won 6 7-3 New Orleans 9 4 .692 1 ½ 3-3 6-1 6-2 1-1 98.2 91.9 +6.2 Lost 2 6-4 Utah 8 4 .667 2 5-1 3-3 5-2 1-0 106.7 99.9 +6.8 Won 1 7-3 LA Lakers 7 4 .636 2 ½ 4-2 3-2 4-3 1-0 106.6 100.3 +6.4 Lost 1 7-3 LA Clippers 5 4 .556 3 ½ 3-2 2-2 2-1 1-1 96.9 99.6 -2.7 Lost 2 5-4 Houston 6 6 .500 4 3-3 3-3 4-6 1-4 94.8 94.1 +0.8 Lost 5 4-6 so if you guys thought my theory of hating on old rockets would hurt the new rockets was wrong. look what happened. please haters respect the original clutch city crew and you will be rewarded with a win. told u beatches
Looking at the present era and not what we might become I think that Kenny Smith has ranked us too high!
Good point- I recall on Jim Rome- this thing about the gasoline. Metaphor is Kenny Smith's b**** I remember him talking about veteran players wanting to win more than young players. He was talking about Karl Malone being "hungry " for a ring while on the Lakers. Kenny Smith described the veterans as "eating soup with a fork" Is there enough land I can buy - to grow enough really good weed- to smoke and understand Kenny? I really think here is a shortage of land.....
