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What was the most memorable shot in Rocket's history???

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by codell, Jun 19, 2003.

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What was the most memorable shot in Rocket's history?

  1. Ralph Sampson's twisting miracle vs. Lakers 1986

    134 vote(s)
    31.6%

  2. Mario Elie's "Kiss of Death" vs. Suns 1995

    181 vote(s)
    42.7%

  3. Eddie Johnson's 27 footer vs. Jazz 1997

    38 vote(s)
    9.0%

  4. Sam Cassell proves he is no rookie vs. Knicks 1994

    4 vote(s)
    0.9%

  5. Maxwell's clutch 3 seals the deal vs. Knicks 1994

    14 vote(s)
    3.3%

  6. Hakeem's tip in wins it vs. Orlando 1995

    16 vote(s)
    3.8%

  7. Kenny Smith sends it to OT vs. Orlando 1995

    14 vote(s)
    3.3%

  8. Robert Horry's game winner vs. Spurs 1995

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. Yao Ming's first shot as a Rocket

    16 vote(s)
    3.8%

  10. Other - Please Specify

    7 vote(s)
    1.7%
Page 5 of 5
  1. codell

    codell Member

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    Freak,

    I am sorry. But you are wrong.

    Rockets 115, Suns 114/UNBELIEVABLE/Relentless Rockets completecomeback

    By EDDIE SEFKO
    Staff

    PHOENIX -- The butt-kicking franchise here was bought out Saturday by the world's No. 1 bottom-booting conglomerate. And the Rockets ' hostile takeover probably means the end of the line for a certain bald-headed CEO.

    Joining an elite cluster of five teams that successfully have navigated out of a 3 -1 deficit, the Rockets used a spectacularly played second half to spark them to a 115-114 victory and eliminate the Phoenix Suns in what amounted to a thrilling, Game 7 test of wills at America West Arena.

    Is everybody ready for a Texas Showdown? The Rockets ' 4-3 win in the Phoenix series set up an all-Texas, best-of-seven Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs starting Monday night at the Alamodome.

    Can it possibly top the seven-game battle the Rockets just survived? They put together a second half that ranks as the best 24 minutes of the season, shooting 73 percent from the field and playing quality defense against the Suns , to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit.

    After the Rockets had put Charles Barkley and the Suns on the playoff sideline in the second round for the second year in a row, Barkley -- the author of the Suns ' Butt Kicking Inc. slogan -- said he probably had played his last NBA game .

    That's what these Rockets are capable of doing to an opponent, even one as strong as Barkley. After Saturday, he and the Suns are out of business.

    "It's Chapter 11 for them," said Clyde Drexler. "They're bankrupt."

    And the Rockets ' stock is on the rise after they became the first NBA team to successfully rally from 2-0 and 3 -1 deficits. They were relentless on Saturday, just as they were in the last three games of the series, when they won by margins of six, 13 and 1. Even after a sluggish first half when they fell behind by 15 points. They rallied behind Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, both of whom pumped in 29 points, and a gutsy effort off the bench by Sam Cassell and Mario Elie to offset a 46-point performance by Kevin Johnson.

    It was Elie who nailed an all-or-nothing 3 -pointer from the left corner with 7 .1 seconds left that put the Rockets ahead 113-110. The shot came after Kenny Smith had been trapped in the backcourt and whipped a pass to Robert Horry on the right side near midcourt. Horry spotted Elie wide-open in the corner, fed him and then all the Rockets watched as the shot of the season swished through the net.

    "Don't ever question that guy's guts," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "That's probably the biggest shot of his life. I was just hoping it would hit net."

    When it did, the Rockets had the hammer, but not yet the victory.

    The Suns couldn't second-guess their defensive strategy on the play.

    "We didn't want them to let the clock run down and get the last shot," said coach Paul Westphal, explaining why they forced the ball out of Smith's hands with the quick double-team. "We wanted them to rush out of their play and take a quick shot. Even if they scored, we would have had enough time."

    Obviously, they didn't want to surrender a 3 -pointer, however.

    With the 3 -point lead, the Rockets decided to keep the Suns from trying a potential-tying 3 -point shot by fouling Dan Majerle before he could shoot. His free throws with 4.7 seconds to go were offset when Drexler made a pair with 3 .5 ticks showing.

    Again, the Rockets fouled. This time, Danny Ainge went to the line with 2.1 seconds showing. He made the first, then tried to intentionally miss the second shot, but made it anyway off the backboard.

    The Rockets had to somehow kill 2.1 seconds. Horry tried to inbound the ball, but Ainge intercepted near the Rockets ' free-throw line. He took a few dribbles, then let fly with a 60-foot prayer that went unanswered.

    And so, the Rockets became the first road team to win a Game 7 since 1982. The home team had gone 20-0 since then in decisive games.

    "It's just amazing what these guys can do," Tomjanovich said. "I believe in them. We know what a great team Phoenix has.

    "This is as big as it gets. A lesser team with less character could have just folded up, especially when we got behind."

    But then, that's what the Rockets have been about all along. They showed the grit only a defending champion can have when they survived the first half. They fell behind 46-31 late in the second quarter and made a mild push just before halftime to knock the lead down to 51-41.

    What changed the game was the first 3 :15 of the third period. The Rockets hit their first six shots of the quarter and outscored the Suns 15-8 to close the deficit to 59-56. The game was on.

    "I'm not going to say the dam didn't have some cracks in it," Tomjanovich said. "But we pulled together. We played a terrible first half. We felt very fortunate to be down only by 10. Clyde and Sam gave us the big spark in the second half."

    Surprisingly, it was when Olajuwon went out with his fourth foul that the Rockets forged ahead.

    "When I was out of the game , it gave me a chance to rest," said Olajuwon, who had missed seven of his first eight shots, but rebounded to hit nine of his last 13. "My teammates stuck in there and took over for me."

    Olajuwon left the game with 5:51 to go in the period and the Suns up 68-59. Drexler, who had 14 points in the quarter, scored on a layup to start the Rockets on a 22-11 sprint that put them ahead 81-79 going into the fourth frame. Cassell, who had 12 points in the period, scored on three slashing drives to the basket, giving Johnson a dose of his own medicine.

    The Rockets increased their lead to six points early in the final period, but Ainge hit a pair of 3 -pointers, the second of which put Phoenix up 97-96 with 6:11 to go.

    Olajuwon had three consecutive buckets to finish off a 10-4 Rockets ' run, but Johnson kept the Suns within range down the stretch. He had two free throws after Cassell's sixth foul and hit a short shot with 1:36 to play that cut Houston's lead to 108-107.

    After Johnson stole a pass from Olajuwon, Ainge hit two free throws with 1:05 to go, putting Phoenix ahead for the last time.

    Smith was fouled by Johnson and his two free throws with 45.3 seconds showing made it Rockets 110, Suns 109.

    Johnson was fouled with 21.6 seconds to go. Considering he had made all 20 of his free throws to that point, it seemed like a sure thing the Suns would regain the lead. But he missed his second try, setting up Elie 's clutch heave.
     
    #81 codell, Jun 22, 2003
  2. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    Nothing to be sorry about codell, looks like you're right.

    It only diminishes the shot mildly in my eyes though. There was still no reason to take a 3 in that situation. He misses that and Phoenix gets the last shot with little pressure. Elie could have still been a serious goat.
     
    #82 TheFreak, Jun 22, 2003
  3. driver8

    driver8 Member

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    Tie between Mario's Kiss and Eddie vs. Utah.

    I loved Eddie's shot, simply because I broke my couch as I jumped up and down in celebration. It was also the first season I watched outside the state of Texas, making it that much more interesting, personally.

    However, I give slighter deference to Mario's shot, as he personifies 'humble and hungry.' Except, in one brief moment, he gave the finger to the Suns (and Sir Charles, the enemy at the time). Greatness!
     
    #83 driver8, Jun 23, 2003
  4. Cato=Bum

    Cato=Bum Member

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    Hakeem was wide open for a lay-in on the Elie 3 if you have the game on tape. Schayes leaves Hakeem to contest the shot and Elie STILL wants to drill the 3...cold-blooded!

    I have to say Hakeem's shot over Schayes to tie game 5 as the most important, Sampson's as the most memorable. If he doesn't hit that, there is no kiss of death and the rockets would be considered a big ol fluke. Spurs probably have 3 titles to our 1 if we didn't win that series!

    What could be cool is a poll about the most memorable PLAY in rockets history. I'd vote for the Hakeem block against Strickland in Game 2 of the 94 first round. Most amazing bball play I ever saw.
     
    #84 Cato=Bum, Jun 23, 2003
  5. krocket

    krocket Member

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    Good post codell. I enjoy your posts, they are sometime intuitive, sometime informative, sometime stimulating, and sometimes amusing. This one was informative and stimulating.

    Like someone said earlier, if you were old enough to have been around to see it, there is no doubt which shot would win, Sampson's. He caught the ball with less than a second, spun and 'threw' it up from just inside the free throw line. It bounced and went in. We weren't supposed to beat the Lakers, no one was. The Celtics handed our head to us in the finals to prove it.

    Good post, I'm senile and remember it like yesterday.
     
    #85 krocket, Jun 23, 2003
  6. SA Rocket

    SA Rocket Member

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    Actually, I believe it was CBS at the time.
     
    #86 SA Rocket, Jun 23, 2003
  7. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Member

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    Just wanted to hit this cause no one else did. That Drexler shot, I believe was against Denver (in Denver) if I'm thinking of the same one you are.

    I voted for Sampson. clearly should be the winner here. But one I think deserves to be on the list (esp. ahead of Yao's first shot)...is Maxwell's shot (or pair of shots) against San Antonio in '93. Was it game #23 of the season? I remember it kept the streak alive to start the season... it was when the Rockets had to shoot 3 3's (Horry and Elie I think missed?) in one possession, with the last offensive rebound being tipped out by OT to Max. Then the Rockets got it back with about 3ish seconds left and Max nailed that fadeaway from 20 at the buzzer. It's memorable...cause I can picture OT falling under the goal as the ball went through the net, Cassell tripping and falling as he was running to congratulate Maxwell, and Rudy running with his arm in the air, hair flopping all over. Gotta love it
     
    #87 kaleidosky, Jun 23, 2003
  8. dmenacela

    dmenacela Member

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    man, its good to see all these hardcore rocket fans.

    my vote went to Ralph Sampson's unbelievable shot against LA.

    I loved Vernon's 3 pointer from hakeem as well, that one got me yelling out of my seat.

    How sweet it is!! Good ol glory days.
     
    #88 dmenacela, Jun 23, 2003
  9. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

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    for clarification:


    maxwell hit the shot when we were up 5. but that made it over, which is why it was so big.

    i told y'all ainge got a shot off in game 7 and i even called that it was 60 feet. if that had gone in the kiss of death would've meant nothing.

    drexler's shot was against denver, banked it in with calvin screaming "there it is" like 3 times before the shot, both bill and calvin screaming "ohhhhhhhhhh" when it went in and then calvin continuing to say "there it is" afterwards.

    and on maxwell's 3 against SA, have no idea which game of the season it was, but i believe the sequence was maxwell bricked a 3, hakeem grabbed the rebound, pass to smith, he misses, thorpe grabs the rebound, pass to maxwell, he makes it. and then yeah we made them miss and maxwell barely got off his 20 footer at the buzzer. i may have reversed which rebound hakeem and thorpe got but they got the reb's and maxwell and smith did the missing.

    my favorite buzzer shot ever had to be max against golden state. down by 2, horry inbounding. supposed to go to hakeem, but horry throws it way over his head. it would've gone out of bounds, but it clipped the corner of the backboard and was headed out on the other side. maxwell races over, catches it, plants one foot, jumps in the air going out of bounds, heaves it to the basket. it actually went so high and the camera shot was close enough that you couldn't see the ball for a while. and then it just came flying into the picture and swished through. and actually the clock didn't start the second maxwell caught it and thus there was 1.6 left after he made it which gave gsw a chance they shouldn't have had to tie it. but man that shot was awesome. did vernon ever miss a buzzer shot?
     
    #89 francis 4 prez, Jun 23, 2003
  10. sonique15

    sonique15 Member

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    Eddie Johnson's game-winning 3 against the jazz, and Mario Elie's kiss of death 3 have to be the most memorable shots in Rockets history. The feeling I had when those 2 shots went in were amazing!! Ahhhh......Memories......:)

    Raplh Sampson, wow.....what a waste of great talent. His shot beat LA, that gives that shot a vote. ;)

    [​IMG]
     
    #90 sonique15, Jun 23, 2003
  11. tigereye

    tigereye Member

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    I voted for Ralph Sampson' "shot heard round the world" as it was called back then because many at the time believed it would help usher in the Rockets as the next NBA dynasty and show the Lakers the door. So much for that, we couldnt even show the Celts the door that year. And the next season, we couldnt show anyone the door, either. But just because that shot beat the DAMNED Lakers, I voted for it as the greatest shot in NBA history and I am sure alot of "Laker-haters" would agree with me. It was like the Texans sticking it to the Cowboys or the Stro's no-hitting those damned Yanks. Just one of those terrific moments in sports history.
     
    #91 tigereye, Jun 24, 2003
  12. JLOBABYDADDY

    JLOBABYDADDY Member

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    DOES ANYONE REMEMBER HORRY'S THREE POINTER AGAINST ORLANDO IN GAME THREE OF THE FINALS? I VOTED FOR MARIO ELIE'S SHOT, BUT HORRY'S 3 IN GAME THREE AND DREAM'S 3 IN GAME FOUR STAND OUT TO ME. ESPECIALLY BEING THAT I WATCH DOUBLE CLUTCH AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.
     
    #92 JLOBABYDADDY, Jun 24, 2003
  13. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    TheFreak, you're wrong.

    The Elie shot created a round of fouling, just like I explained. I am so positive about that. I was screaming at the TV demanding the Rockets to start fouling.

    What I meant by those shots happen all the time in the playoffs is true too. Jason Kidd had one this year. Horry last year. Bibby had one last year. Reggie Miller had scores of them. Jordan...etc.

    Not to take anything away from them at all, but the Sampson shot is a prayer shot. Not quite the same, imo. But it's just a poll.
     
    #93 heypartner, Jun 24, 2003
  14. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Yeah, I think this was cleared up a couple of days ago.
     
    #94 Rocketman95, Jun 24, 2003
  15. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    so, who made the more useless post. me or you. ;)
     
    #95 heypartner, Jun 24, 2003
  16. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Me, of course.
     
    #96 Rocketman95, Jun 24, 2003
  17. RHU525

    RHU525 Member
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    THE MOST MEMORABLE SHOT.. From a Rocket has to go to Vernon Maxwell. Does anyone remember the game against Golden State. Rockets down by 1 due to Tim Hardaways floater over Hakeem... So the Rockets Try an alley oop to Hakeem.. that Bounces off the glass and MAXWELL catches it with one hand falling out of bounds tosses up a tunraround FADEAWAY that goes in.. It wasn't worth anything because it was in the regular season. But it was the most amazing memorable shot i've ever seen anyone make.
     
    #97 RHU525, Jun 24, 2003
  18. RocketManJosh

    RocketManJosh Member

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    I don't know how big it is so it might not be memorable to most people, but the shot that came to mind for me was Mad Max's shot against the Warriors in a game on national TV just prior to Christmas in the early ninties.

    The Rocks were down by 2 with a second to go, and they tried to ally-oop it to Horry underneath, but the bad pass deflected off the backboard and Mad Max grabbed the ball and jacked it up while falling out of bounds for the game winning shot.

    Definitely not the most important shot, but it was very memorable for me.
     
    #98 RocketManJosh, Jun 25, 2003
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