Watching the rockets lose to illegal defense. I hated the Sonics and own brother happened to be the biggest GP and Shawn Kemp fan.
Actually, I'll tell you what was the most painful, albeit short-lived. Losing Game 2 to Phoenix at home in 1994. I thought for sure we had a clear path to the Finals after Denver had knocked out Seattle. So to lose that 2nd game was devastating. We went on a 2-day drinking binge that ended up with one of my friends getting arrested and another breaking his arm. To top it off, my girlfriend breaks up with me the day before game 3. So it was all those things rolled up into one. When Tinman goes on and on about Maxwell, you have to understand while that it seems like hyperbole, I really, truly believe Maxwell, with his 3rd quarter in Game 3 after we were down by 12 at halftime, saved our season. The model we used wasn't working up until that point, so we just decided to let loose the crazy man. And it worked- after that, we couldn't be stopped. So, for that brief 2-day period, it was the lowest of the lows. And then magic.
It wasn't the Stockton shot, it was the bearhug shown so clearly on the television set, that the refs didn't have the kahonas to call. Malone completely wrapped Clyde up. If that is called, we win the series. If Malone doesn't lock Clyde up, Clyde either blocks the shot or forces Stockton into and awkward fadeaway with "NOCHANCE". That has to be one of the worst NO CALLS in the history of the NBA. Especially in light of how the officials call the game nowadays, with guys falling down and getting the whistle. Just sick, sick, sick! Can you imagine a MJ/Hakeem finals? We would have given Chicago a whole lot more than Utah did. Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick!
who were the refs in that game??!!!...please don't let them be Derosa or Spooner (guys officiating tonights game)
It was only mentioned once, but I have to agree. At the time it happened everyone was down, waaayyy down. Not just for the Rockets but for Yao's career in general. It hit us from left field and the shock made it worse. Time and a 22 game winstreak has definitely healed some of that but try and remember how you felt right after you found out.
Game 7 blowout vs the Mavs. Growing up in Saudi I didn't get to see many Rockets games. only the Finals games when we won the championship.
I'm pretty young so i could be wrong but I remember that being a noon game. I probably have it mixed up with another Rockets game. That's the worst Rockets moment for me. 2nd would have to be last years loss in Game 7.
That horrible elimination series after double clutch was the end of something great. Horry and Sam were traded the year after. Hakeem got bulkier, and Clyde wasn't really the same.
Word. Seeing Hakeem leave was pretty painful... but a part of me knew it was his time. Losing Game 7's sting the most, honestly.
Still my worst Rockets moment to this day. That was a complete travesty and robbery. How that call isn't made, I'll never know.
Stockton. There is not a close second. However, I was mentally paralyzed before the Knicks last possession in game 6 of the 94 Finals. I was not happy when Hakeem blocked Starks, I was relieved.
Mine are the same as everyone else, especially Stockton's BS at the buzzer. Didn't enjoy the Game 7 loss at Seattle, especially since I don't like George Karl, and the post-'86 conference championship team's fall from grace due to injury and suspensions. Last season is a strong #4. I'll also add the introduction of the pinstripe uni's with the snarling, full-tooth Rocket on the side.
Game 6 of the 1997 WCF when Stockton hit that damn shot. I remember stumbling out of the Summit in a daze. It came right on the heels of Game 4 ("Eddie! Eddie!"), which is the best game I've ever been to. It was also the next series after we took care of the Sonics in 7 after they had owned us for years. If we could've beat the Jazz, we would have the answer to who wins a Dream-MJ series. That shot officially closed the window of opportunity for the Rockets. We've been trying to reach the upper echelon of the NBA for the last 10 years ever since. I hate the Jazz!
