Hardest thing about the Rockets is the East was down after Jordan left the first time. Teams like the Knicks, Pacers, and the Magic had their chance and didn't take advantage. Since I really like Hakeem, I rescind my Rockets as lesser championship teams. All I can really think of are those Bullets teams from the late 70's and the SuperSonics, who ironically played each other in back-to-back finals.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kimchee:
The Rockets teams weren't all That despite winning back to back .<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
How soon we forgot how good the Rockets were in those back to back championships...
The 1993-94 Rockets had proved that they could win the war of the trenches and outgrind the New York Knicks, averaging 86 points per game in the NBA Finals en route to their first championship. The 1994-95 Rockets, faced with more athletic rivals playing a faster brand of ball, rose to the challenge and again did what they had to do to win, this time scoring 114 points per contest against the Orlando Magic.
Indeed, no team had ever stopped four 50-win teams en route to the title, as Houston did in overcoming the Utah Jazz (60-22), Phoenix Suns (59-23), San Antonio Spurs (62-20) and Orlando (57-25). No team ever beat the clubs with the four best regular-season records in the league in order to win the championship. No team ever won as many as nine road games in one year's playoffs, and no team ever won seven road games in a row. Houston did it all.
In becoming the first team ever to defend a title with a sweep, the Rockets achieved a new measure of respect among basketball fans everywhere. That's what Houston's 1995 title chase was all about. Respect.
The Rockets, seeded sixth among Western Conference teams, become the lowest-seeded team ever to win the title. (The 1969 Celtics were seeded fourth in the East.)
The Rockets also became the team with the lowest-ranking regular-season record to win a championship. Houston's 47-35 mark was only tied for 10th best during the 1994-95 regular season; the 1978 Washington Bullets' 44-38 record was eighth best in the league that year.
Houston set NBA playoff records by winning seven consecutive road games and nine road games overall. The Rockets became the first team to win an NBA championship without having the home-court advantage in any of its four playoff rounds. (Boston never had the home-court advantage in 1969 but only had to play three rounds).
***1994 NBA Finals: Houston 4, New York 3
Houston's Championship: Dream Come True
It was a dream season for Hakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets: Olajuwon was named league MVP, NBA Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team as the Rockets captured the first professional sports championship in Houston's history. ***
http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19941995.html
The Rockets teams weren't all That despite winning back to back .<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
How soon we forgot how good the Rockets were in those back to back championships...
The 1993-94 Rockets had proved that they could win the war of the trenches and outgrind the New York Knicks, averaging 86 points per game in the NBA Finals en route to their first championship. The 1994-95 Rockets, faced with more athletic rivals playing a faster brand of ball, rose to the challenge and again did what they had to do to win, this time scoring 114 points per contest against the Orlando Magic.
Indeed, no team had ever stopped four 50-win teams en route to the title, as Houston did in overcoming the Utah Jazz (60-22), Phoenix Suns (59-23), San Antonio Spurs (62-20) and Orlando (57-25). No team ever beat the clubs with the four best regular-season records in the league in order to win the championship. No team ever won as many as nine road games in one year's playoffs, and no team ever won seven road games in a row. Houston did it all.
In becoming the first team ever to defend a title with a sweep, the Rockets achieved a new measure of respect among basketball fans everywhere. That's what Houston's 1995 title chase was all about. Respect.
The Rockets, seeded sixth among Western Conference teams, become the lowest-seeded team ever to win the title. (The 1969 Celtics were seeded fourth in the East.)
The Rockets also became the team with the lowest-ranking regular-season record to win a championship. Houston's 47-35 mark was only tied for 10th best during the 1994-95 regular season; the 1978 Washington Bullets' 44-38 record was eighth best in the league that year.
Houston set NBA playoff records by winning seven consecutive road games and nine road games overall. The Rockets became the first team to win an NBA championship without having the home-court advantage in any of its four playoff rounds. (Boston never had the home-court advantage in 1969 but only had to play three rounds).
***1994 NBA Finals: Houston 4, New York 3
Houston's Championship: Dream Come True
It was a dream season for Hakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets: Olajuwon was named league MVP, NBA Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team as the Rockets captured the first professional sports championship in Houston's history. ***
http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19941995.html
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FairWarning:
Bottom line JimFeist is - Why don't the Lakers do it more. The champion Bulls brought it every night in the playoffs. I can't say that about the Lakers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Seems like the level of competition has dropped off so much, and LA is so much better than most teams..they seem to just coast in games..JMO
Bottom line JimFeist is - Why don't the Lakers do it more. The champion Bulls brought it every night in the playoffs. I can't say that about the Lakers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Seems like the level of competition has dropped off so much, and LA is so much better than most teams..they seem to just coast in games..JMO
Rockets teams were awesome. Rail, yes Hakeem schooled the Magic but not primarily Shaq, Horace Grant covered Hakeem much of the time.If you go back and compare the numbers, The young Oneal more than did his part and also dominated. Much of the damage in those finals games were done by guys like Mario Elie, Kenny Smith, and even a young Sam Cassell coming off the bench. Magic team had no bench at all.... You have to remember this was a very young Magic team, who, if they would of stayed together,(and Penny hadnt of blown his knee out) with Shaq, Penny, Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, & Horace Grant.......Would of won at least a couple of championships.....
[This message was edited by Hache man on June 03, 2004 at 07:20 PM.]
[This message was edited by Hache man on June 03, 2004 at 07:20 PM.]
I'm new here and just saw this post about the Lakers not having it.
MaxDemo. The Bulls brought it because they had to. The Lakers bring it when they have to. If the Lakers won all their games, the talk would not be about how good they are. It would be about how bad the other teams are or how everything is stacked in their favor. Do you really think the Lakers are not that good? In fact, I would venture further to say that this Lakers team could beat any of the Bulls championship teams in a 7-game series.
MaxDemo. The Bulls brought it because they had to. The Lakers bring it when they have to. If the Lakers won all their games, the talk would not be about how good they are. It would be about how bad the other teams are or how everything is stacked in their favor. Do you really think the Lakers are not that good? In fact, I would venture further to say that this Lakers team could beat any of the Bulls championship teams in a 7-game series.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by maxdemo:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Judge:
I'm new here and just saw this post about the Lakers not having it.
MaxDemo. The Bulls brought it because they had to. The Lakers bring it when they have to. If the Lakers won all their games, the talk would not be about how good they are. It would be about how bad the other teams are or how everything is stacked in their favor. Do you really think the Lakers are not that good? In fact, I would venture further to say that this Lakers team could beat any of the Bulls championship teams in a 7-game series.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I never said that Lakers were not that good..I was stating that level of play has gone down so much that it's just not right to compare todays Lakers to those past Champions of the 80's and 90's...No way the Lakers of Today would even get past the Bulls or even the Rockets...JMO<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Judge:
I'm new here and just saw this post about the Lakers not having it.
MaxDemo. The Bulls brought it because they had to. The Lakers bring it when they have to. If the Lakers won all their games, the talk would not be about how good they are. It would be about how bad the other teams are or how everything is stacked in their favor. Do you really think the Lakers are not that good? In fact, I would venture further to say that this Lakers team could beat any of the Bulls championship teams in a 7-game series.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I never said that Lakers were not that good..I was stating that level of play has gone down so much that it's just not right to compare todays Lakers to those past Champions of the 80's and 90's...No way the Lakers of Today would even get past the Bulls or even the Rockets...JMO<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
