The 94-95 Rockets. The reason I'm making this thread is, because last night while listening to a sports radio station, the host was talking about some of the greatest NBA teams in history, and he mentioned the 80's Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons and the 90's Bulls. All of the aforementioned teams were great, but I've always wondered why the Rockets (particulary the 94-95 team) doesn't get any respect any of the time. I mean you could make an argument of "they didn't have a dynasty"....well neither did the Pistons. They won back to back titles just like the Rockets and one of them was against a banged up Lakers team (if I'm not mistaken). Then there's always the argument of "that's when Jordan wasn't there." To be honest I think those Bulls teams would've beat the 93-94 team, but I honestly think if given the chance the 94-95 roster could've beat Michael and the Bulls. Why? For one we had the best center of that era (and probably the best player in that era during a 3 to 4 year span) in Hakeem Olajuwon, along with his running mate Clyde Drexler. Secondly we had a great supporting cast, of good shooters, good defenders, and clutch players (Robert Horry, Mario Elie, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown). And thirdly in all my years of watching basketball I've never seen one team have to beat so many "great" teams to win the NBA title. I mean usually on the road to a championship you have a round off everynow and then, but not that year. EVERY team we beat could've won the title. We beat 3 60 win teams, 1 50 + win team, all on the road....and if I recall correctly we were an underdog in all of the series (at least on a national basis). So why doesn't that 94-95 Rockets team get any credit, so many "experts" will be so quick to overlook them, when in reality I think they were better than a lot of the teams that always get praised. Leave your thoughts.
Nice post THE DREAM, lot of good points on why Houston was one of the greatest teams ever in the NBA. Truth told, the Rockets had as perfect a team as you could possibly get without going overboard with egos. It was also the team that got me into the Rockets and basketball as a whole. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler could take over games at any point, and both played well off each other without taking shots away from each other; role players like Robert Horry, Mario Elie and Kenny Smith who all made clutch plays and provided energy when the team lacked it. Our track record in that season was splendid against top teams and in the playoffs we had to get over some of the toughest competition possible. The 94-95 Houston Rockets team definitely ranks up there with the likes of the great Celtics, Lakers, Sixers and Bulls teams.
Yeah great post man and I 100% agree with ya. My guess is that they are not taken as seriously though becuase those were the 2 years Jordan was out of the game.
^^^Word. I'm glad you brought up the point of the duo of Hakeem and Clyde. How come we never hear those 2 mentioned when "greatest duos" come up (Michael, Scottie and Shaq, Kobe). To be honest if the two would've had longer to play together, they could've possibly been the greatest duo to ever play the game, and I don't think I'm being biased by saying that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SebP?:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah great post man and I 100% agree with ya. My guess is that they are not taken as seriously though becuase those were the 2 years Jordan was out of the game.</div> Everyone who brings that up forget that Jordan came back in 95. Lost to the Magic in the 2nd round. And Jordan was averaging 31.5ppg - 6.5rpg - 4.5apg in the Playoffs. So it's not like he came back and wasn't on top of his game.
Here's another thing people forget about that playoff run. Top regular season records that season: <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/><font color=""Navy"">TeamRecord</font><br/>SAS62-20<br/>UTA60-22<br/>PHO59-23<br/>ORL57-25<br/>SEA57-27<br/>NYK55-27<br/>IND52-30<br/>CHA50-32<br/>LAL48-34<br/></div> I might be wrong, but I don't think a team has ever beaten 4 teams with an average of 59.5 regular season wins en route to the championship.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">Everyone who brings that up forget that Jordan came back in 95. Lost to the Magic in the 2nd round. And Jordan was averaging 31.5ppg - 6.5rpg - 4.5apg in the Playoffs. So it's not like he came back and wasn't on top of his game.</div> Very good point, I would just like to add this isn't my point, I think this Rockets team is olverlooked a lot. But I do believe Jordan came back in the middle of the season, hell he wasn't even rocking 23.
Well I love that team, prolly my favorite. but let's be honest, we had a subpar regular season that year and shouldve been alot better. Plus, we got Drexler at midseason so we technically didn't have a full season together.
^^^^that's my point.....imagine if we did have a full season together.....our record would've been a lot better.......our post season run was one of the greatest in NBA history.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">^^^^that's my point.....imagine if we did have a full season together.....our record would've been a lot better.......our post season run was one of the greatest in NBA history.</div> but maybe that team is overlooked because we never had that opportunity that year. You can make a better argument saying they were one of the best "playoff teams" of all time. but i don't know about of all time period. what about the team before that one, with Otis Thorpe & Pete Chilcut (alwayz loved his last name)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">but maybe that team is overlooked because we never had that opportunity that year. You can make a better argument saying they were one of the best "playoff teams" of all time. but i don't know about of all time period. what about the team before that one, with Otis Thorpe & Pete Chilcut (alwayz loved his last name)</div> Chili Pete wasn't around for the first championship.
He might be thinking of Chris Jent....but yeah Chilli Pete was another good role player (along with Charles Jones) on that 2nd championship team.............and as far as being the best "playoff team", I think when we talk of the "great teams" we talk of the great "playoff teams"......the Pistons had a fantastic reg. season, but they won't go down as one the best teams ever, because they didn't win a title.........if the '96 Bulls (who won 72 games) would've lost in the playoffs they wouldn't be known as a great team either.....to me playing great in the playoffs = a great team, for the simple fact you come through when it counts the most.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Chili Pete wasn't around for the first championship.</div> Ur right, my bad. I get him, Bullard & Jent mixed up. but Chilcut is still a cool last name
LOL, do you guys remember Chilli Pete always using the backboard when he shot....hahaha.....I swear I don't think I ever remember a player shooting a straight away jumper using the backboard half the time.
