1. Losing to Utah following Stockton's shot. 2. Hakeem's deterioration. 3. Losing to Seattle...again...and again.
I was at the infamous Game 6 as well. During the timeout, I kept telling my friend "Don't let Stockton shoot the three!" Somehow, I had a feeling... That night I drank Crown and Cokes from a Big Gulp Cup. Possibly my life's most painful memory and not just a Rockets fan's.
1. The stockton shot 2. The Hakeem trade 3. The past 4 years 4. Sampson leaving 5. Rudy T leaving 6. THe trade of Eduardo Najera for Dan Langhi, i would stay with Najera For all this moments
Rasselas, I felt the same way...I hated those looses! The Rockets during the 94-95 season were never a good regular season team. Especially before we got Drelxer. The grand explanation was that they would "turn it on" in the play-offs (an excuse for not being very deep). And since the role players were not particular recognized in the media (and they knew it), they shied away from the spot light (nationally televised regular season games on NBC). I mean, Hakeem wasn't going to step up and give interviews when the media wanted sound bites. So, Smith, Thorpe, Maxwell, would take up the offer. At the time the media would look at those guys and say, "Why are THEY giving interviews? Who are they? Where's Hakeem?" So, you have a media shy Hakeem, a media shy Rudy, and what do you have left? Role players that no one outside of Houston knew about (some, but not much). This had an effect on their confidence, I'm sure. If you remember, after the Rockets won the title in 94, the following season was a "prove it year." And the national audience wanted to see what was "so special" about the Rox. IMO, the Rox couldn't handle the media spotlight. They just weren't a good regular season team. They didn't have the talent (once the rest of the league caught on how to defend our game plan) until we brought in Drexler. Until then, we had lack of depth, lack confidence in the spotlight, closer 3-point line, every team attacking us, our opponents knowing our game plan...those were just a few reasons for these dreadful losses. It was too much for the team to handle. Rudy and friends needed everyone to doubt them. Because if you believed in them they didn't fight back. They needed the "no respect" to energize them to prove people wrong. So, it was overachievement to the max during the playoffs. Overmatched during the regular season (they did not give it their all during the regular season). The 1996-1997 team was probably the most talent we had ever on one team. And we were very good during the regular season too. The 1993-94 season was an aberration (perfect timing). They gave it their all for every game! They played great D. They had the 3-point line at the original distance (24-ft; great spacing). And they snuck up on the rest of the league. Note: The current Rox team has major depth! This is a change from the past were we had one or two real stars (Samson career was shortened). Most of the time Hakeem had to do it alone. Same with M. Malone. Francis, Yao, Cat, JJ, Griffin, MoT, Pike, Moochie, Cato, Nachbar, A. Griff... The talent is gradual and deep. I like! Now if we could ever learn how to play as a team, offensively and defensively, we would kick-butt like never before!
No... Game 5 of Rockets vs. Lakers "aka the last playoff appearance" ______________________ With just seconds left in the game, with the Rockets up by 1 point, Scottie Quitten turns the ball over @ mid-court to a 15 year old Kobe Bryant and then he fouled him. And and guess who takes the last shot for the Rockets season...No not one of the All-Star Hall of Famers, in which we had three, it was the rookie, Cuttino that took the last shot And that was the most painful moment in Rockets history.
Every time we had to play Seattle for the playoffs. Wait, no, forget it... it is when DREAM signed with the Raptors. Then, it became a happy moment when I heard he would retire.
The day "Mad Max" went AWOL and he wasnt going to be on the playoff roster. Second the day we signed Matt Maloney to a 21 million$ extention.
No one has mentioned the "Choke City" game? That had to be one of the most painful losses I've ever experienced as a fan. Blowing a 20-point lead in the 4th quarter. Are you kidding me? I gave up on the team after that loss and went to Mexico.
1. Stocktons shot. The Rockets had control of that game and let it slip away 2. The Day Rudy stepped down (or whatever you wanna call it) 3. Loss to seattle in 7 games. The Jets shot was just short 4. Rockets 14 game losing streak in 01-02. 5. Passing on Rashard Lewis ....again.......and again
Same here. Also, when Barkley went down when we were up 2-1 on Utah in '98 was extremely painful. I thought we were going to go on another storybook run to the title that year and send Sir Charles and Clyde out in style.
AntiSonic, Dale Ellis and Nate McMillan were the Achilles heal of the Rox in the playoffs. Those two guys, arrrgh! They'd only score 6 or 9 points. But they would come in the 4th quarter during the last few minutes of a game and drain those threes. They drove me crazy!
The day they traded in the red (winners) uniforms and logo for the pin stripes and cartoon rocket. Sad day, bad decision.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the 1987 Western Cconference Semi-Finals, game 6.....when the Rockets were up and Dirk Freakin' Minniefield did that ridiculous dribble between the legs, had the ball stolen and allowed Seattle to force OT. We then lost the game in OT, despite Hakeem's 56, was it not?
I don't find that Stockton shot so bad, they never won a championship afterward. I find great pleasure seeing Stockton without a ring. Malone, well, he's gonna ride someone else's coattails.
