Kind of in the alternate universe spirit, which of these teams, that actually were highly likely contenders if some things had gone the right way, would you wish had won a trophy?
2018, that team would've beaten the 2nd greatest team in nba history (2017 warriors being 1st obviously), and would be the greatest playoff achievement in basketball history (as it is, taking them to 7 is up there with 2011 dirk and 2016 lebron, though they did it against VASTLY inferior competition).
1980-81 is the answer. Would have been great for Moses, Rudy T, Calvin, and Bobby Joe to win one here.
96-97. I think we matched up a lot better with the Bulls than the Jazz. We could’ve finally seen the Bulls vs Rockets matchup and had a lot of questions answered. Winning 3 Championships out of 4 years would’ve been dope. It would’ve been nice to get Hakeem a 3rd, Clyde a 2nd and Chuck his 1st ring. Could have been a lot of redemption considering Clyde lost to MJ in 92, Chuck lost to MJ in 93 and MFs easily dismiss our 94 and 95 rings.
If the pain of that 96-97 team losing to Utah don't sting til this very day, you're either under 40 or over 70 lol ..
The back to back championships got me into basketball as a kid so that 96-97 loss to Utah hurt. I wanted the Yao teams to win 1 but understandable that it didn’t happen with the injuries. But by 17-18— I’ve gone through the Francis/Mobley rebuild years; I’ve been hit with bad news after bad news during the McGrady/Yao years; experienced a scrappy but middling Kyle Lowry/Goran Dragic lead teams; saw the potential and eventual drama of Harden and Howard. To get that close to beating one of the most historic teams and have it taken away by an injury and worst of all the refs—that was pain. 27 missed 3s…blah blah…the refs took away points on the Klay fouls on Harden and killed the momentum. Every time I see that game 7 video posted my blood boils.
18 no question. 97 hurt like hell at the time, but Dream had his titles. Winning the title in 2018 would had cemented Hardens legacy and it would have hit much harder after waiting so long and going through the unbeatable team. 2018 is far, far greater what if in my book.
Yup. The two clear choice here. Yao in that tunnel fighting through the pain was inspiring. Harden and Paul were going to take down the most overpowered team of all time.
Outside of the championship squads this Yao one is the one I loved the most. Also Harden deserved one as well.
Yao and Harden both deserved it, but if I had to choose I'd go with Yao. That story was just mindblowing from the day it started with putting Shaq on his a$$ and making Chuck kiss an a$$. Then he grows till he's this monstrous big body that Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard and Shaq are struggling with? Hell of a story it would have been with just how much doubt there was about his potential. Harden 2018 even when you watch it today looks like a video game where you edited his ratings to make him the best player in the game. It took an equivalent player in Curry PLUS an equivalent player in Durant PLUS a top 5 shooter in NBA history PLUS a DPOY candidate to stop him and they had all the championship experience. Harden's sidekicks were 19.8ppg/4asst CP3 and 19ppg Gordon. Still can't believe most of you blamed Harden for that one. Outside of Hakeem's 2 titles, that's the most herculean shot at a title in Rockets history.
You had Carroll Dawson bringing in not only Hakeem, also Stevie, Yao and Mac. Now people are gushing over Rafael Stone whom the owner gave like 98 percent liberty.
