*Originally published on Suite101.com in 2010; minor revisions made pertaining to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
While Robert Horry remained in 1994, Clyde Drexler joined in 1995. The result was back-to-back Houston Rockets NBA Championships in 1994 & 1995.
Heading into the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets had made two unsuccessful NBA Finals appearances in 1981 and 1986. Aside from this, the team could not reach the Finals. While seeds were planted in these first two Finals appearances, two trades—one rescinded, one completed—set the tone for two more Finals appearances in the 1990s, which resulted in two Rockets championships.
1994 NBA Champions & the Rescinded Robert Horry Trade
A player on the 1981 Rockets, Rudy Tomjanovich was now the Head Coach. Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon—the #1 overall draft pick of the 1984 Draft, formerly paired with 7’4” Ralph Sampson as the “Twin Towers”, and nicknamed “The Dream”—was now an established veteran, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and soon to be named NBA MVP. The team had assembled a solid team of semi-stars and role players, including Otis Thorpe, Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, Mario Elie, and rookie Sam Cassell. However, it was second-year forward Robert Horry who found himself at the heart of a team-changing trade by a team that had started the season 15-0 and 22-1.
Having leveled off during the season, the Rockets looked to make a move to push themselves up a level in contending for the NBA Championship. As such, Horry and Matt Bullard had been packaged in a trade to the Detroit Pistons for swingman Sean Elliott. The former All-Star Elliott was struggling in Detroit following a trade from San Antonio for Dennis Rodman; another change of scenery seemed to be in order. However, Elliott failed his physical with the Rockets and Horry and Bullard returned to Houston. The rescinded trade served as an early career wakeup call and motivator for Horry, who would begin building a playoff clutch-shooting legacy as “Big Shot Bob”.
Horry would become the team’s third-leading scorer in the 1994 Playoffs. He would post 15 points in the Game 7 clincher versus the Phoenix Suns and 22 points in the Game 5 clincher versus the Utah Jazz. Eventually, the Rockets would take on the New York Knicks in the 1994 Finals. The series would be one of the closest (if not the closest) in NBA history. Olajuwon led the Rockets to the championship with a game-saving block in Game 6; he was eventually named Finals MVP. Maxwell, Smith, and Cassell had clutch Game 7 performances. Overall, the team earned the moniker “Clutch City” en route to their first NBA Championship.
1995 NBA Champions & the Clyde Drexler Trade
The 1994-1995 NBA season proved to be a difficult campaign for the defending champions. While the team started 9-0, they struggled along the way, battling injuries en route to a 47-35 record. This was 11 wins fewer than the previous season, earning them a #6 seed as opposed to their #2 seed from the previous season.
The midseason problems culminated in the suspension of Maxwell for an altercation with a fan. This left the Rockets vulnerable at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Making a tough decision, the team traded its second best post player, Otis Thorpe. However, the team got superstar guard Clyde Drexler in return. Drexler reunited with Olajuwon, with whom he had starred at the University of Houston as a part of “Phi Slamma Jamma”.
While Olajuwon averaged a staggering 33.0 points per game during the 1995 Playoffs, Drexler became the only player in the last 20 years (maybe more) to be acquired midseason and then become the NBA Champions’ second leading scorer, as he averaged 20.5 points per game for the 1995 Rockets playoff team. In three wins versus Utah in a hard-fought 3-2 series, Drexler contributed 34.0 points per game. Drexler added 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in a Game 7 clincher versus Phoenix, in which Houston came from behind 3-1 in the series. In the next two rounds, Drexler contributed no less than 12 points in every game. He posted double-doubles in Games 1 and 6 versus San Antonio and Games 1 and 3 versus Orlando.
Horry again ranked as the Rockets’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 13.1 points per game, including 17.8 points per game in the 1995 Finals. He proved his versatility in playing both forward positions, averaging 10.0 rebounds in the Finals. Horry continued his clutch ways in the 1995 Western Conference Finals, when he hit the game-winning basket in Game 1 versus Spurs. He scored 21 points in the Game 2 victory. After two team losses, Horry put up a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double in Game 5 and 22 points in the clinching Game 6 victory. He also hit a game-clinching shot in Game 3 of the Finals versus the Magic.
Overall, the 1995 Rockets overcame the odds, knocking out the top 3 seeds in the Western Conference, then sweeping the #1 seed from the Eastern Conference in the Finals. “The Dream”, combined with Horry, Drexler, and a number of other clutch shooters, re-established the “Clutch City” nickname for the NBA Champion Houston Rockets.
As one of the favorites in 1994, the team almost completed a trade that would have lost them a player who would become one of the best clutch shooters in NBA Playoffs history. Then, as underdog defending champions, the Rockets took a risk, reunited two of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, then repeated as NBA Champions. Two trades—one rescinded, one completed—defined two NBA Championship runs as the Houston Rockets completed their franchise’s—and the city’s—quest for its first professional sports championships.
Sources:
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Brockway, Kevin. “For Vernon Maxwell, A Legacy Tarnished.” New York Times Regional Newspapers. May 26, 2004. From TheLedger.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Brown, Tim. “Trade Not Made Was Best for Him.” Los Angeles Times. May 28, 2002. From LATimes.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Clyde Drexler Bio.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Harrington, Justin. “Robert Horry NBA’s Role Player.” June 24, 2007. Suite101.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Houston Rockets History.” Rockets.com (NBA.com). Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Houston’s Championship: Dream Come True.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Monroe, Mike. “In NBA, it’s often Deal or No Deal.” February 21, 2010. MySanAntonio.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Pro Basketball; Maxwell Suspended And Is Fined $20,000.” The New York Times. February 9, 1995. From NYTimes.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Sean Elliott Bio.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Taylor, Phil. “‘Hey, Call Anytime.’” Sports Illustrated. July 4, 1994. From SI.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players.” NBA.com. Accessed July 6, 2010.
While Robert Horry remained in 1994, Clyde Drexler joined in 1995. The result was back-to-back Houston Rockets NBA Championships in 1994 & 1995.
Heading into the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets had made two unsuccessful NBA Finals appearances in 1981 and 1986. Aside from this, the team could not reach the Finals. While seeds were planted in these first two Finals appearances, two trades—one rescinded, one completed—set the tone for two more Finals appearances in the 1990s, which resulted in two Rockets championships.
1994 NBA Champions & the Rescinded Robert Horry Trade
A player on the 1981 Rockets, Rudy Tomjanovich was now the Head Coach. Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon—the #1 overall draft pick of the 1984 Draft, formerly paired with 7’4” Ralph Sampson as the “Twin Towers”, and nicknamed “The Dream”—was now an established veteran, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and soon to be named NBA MVP. The team had assembled a solid team of semi-stars and role players, including Otis Thorpe, Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, Mario Elie, and rookie Sam Cassell. However, it was second-year forward Robert Horry who found himself at the heart of a team-changing trade by a team that had started the season 15-0 and 22-1.
Having leveled off during the season, the Rockets looked to make a move to push themselves up a level in contending for the NBA Championship. As such, Horry and Matt Bullard had been packaged in a trade to the Detroit Pistons for swingman Sean Elliott. The former All-Star Elliott was struggling in Detroit following a trade from San Antonio for Dennis Rodman; another change of scenery seemed to be in order. However, Elliott failed his physical with the Rockets and Horry and Bullard returned to Houston. The rescinded trade served as an early career wakeup call and motivator for Horry, who would begin building a playoff clutch-shooting legacy as “Big Shot Bob”.
Horry would become the team’s third-leading scorer in the 1994 Playoffs. He would post 15 points in the Game 7 clincher versus the Phoenix Suns and 22 points in the Game 5 clincher versus the Utah Jazz. Eventually, the Rockets would take on the New York Knicks in the 1994 Finals. The series would be one of the closest (if not the closest) in NBA history. Olajuwon led the Rockets to the championship with a game-saving block in Game 6; he was eventually named Finals MVP. Maxwell, Smith, and Cassell had clutch Game 7 performances. Overall, the team earned the moniker “Clutch City” en route to their first NBA Championship.
1995 NBA Champions & the Clyde Drexler Trade
The 1994-1995 NBA season proved to be a difficult campaign for the defending champions. While the team started 9-0, they struggled along the way, battling injuries en route to a 47-35 record. This was 11 wins fewer than the previous season, earning them a #6 seed as opposed to their #2 seed from the previous season.
The midseason problems culminated in the suspension of Maxwell for an altercation with a fan. This left the Rockets vulnerable at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Making a tough decision, the team traded its second best post player, Otis Thorpe. However, the team got superstar guard Clyde Drexler in return. Drexler reunited with Olajuwon, with whom he had starred at the University of Houston as a part of “Phi Slamma Jamma”.
While Olajuwon averaged a staggering 33.0 points per game during the 1995 Playoffs, Drexler became the only player in the last 20 years (maybe more) to be acquired midseason and then become the NBA Champions’ second leading scorer, as he averaged 20.5 points per game for the 1995 Rockets playoff team. In three wins versus Utah in a hard-fought 3-2 series, Drexler contributed 34.0 points per game. Drexler added 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in a Game 7 clincher versus Phoenix, in which Houston came from behind 3-1 in the series. In the next two rounds, Drexler contributed no less than 12 points in every game. He posted double-doubles in Games 1 and 6 versus San Antonio and Games 1 and 3 versus Orlando.
Horry again ranked as the Rockets’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 13.1 points per game, including 17.8 points per game in the 1995 Finals. He proved his versatility in playing both forward positions, averaging 10.0 rebounds in the Finals. Horry continued his clutch ways in the 1995 Western Conference Finals, when he hit the game-winning basket in Game 1 versus Spurs. He scored 21 points in the Game 2 victory. After two team losses, Horry put up a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double in Game 5 and 22 points in the clinching Game 6 victory. He also hit a game-clinching shot in Game 3 of the Finals versus the Magic.
Overall, the 1995 Rockets overcame the odds, knocking out the top 3 seeds in the Western Conference, then sweeping the #1 seed from the Eastern Conference in the Finals. “The Dream”, combined with Horry, Drexler, and a number of other clutch shooters, re-established the “Clutch City” nickname for the NBA Champion Houston Rockets.
As one of the favorites in 1994, the team almost completed a trade that would have lost them a player who would become one of the best clutch shooters in NBA Playoffs history. Then, as underdog defending champions, the Rockets took a risk, reunited two of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, then repeated as NBA Champions. Two trades—one rescinded, one completed—defined two NBA Championship runs as the Houston Rockets completed their franchise’s—and the city’s—quest for its first professional sports championships.
Sources:
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Brockway, Kevin. “For Vernon Maxwell, A Legacy Tarnished.” New York Times Regional Newspapers. May 26, 2004. From TheLedger.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Brown, Tim. “Trade Not Made Was Best for Him.” Los Angeles Times. May 28, 2002. From LATimes.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Clyde Drexler Bio.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Harrington, Justin. “Robert Horry NBA’s Role Player.” June 24, 2007. Suite101.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Houston Rockets History.” Rockets.com (NBA.com). Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Houston’s Championship: Dream Come True.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Monroe, Mike. “In NBA, it’s often Deal or No Deal.” February 21, 2010. MySanAntonio.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Pro Basketball; Maxwell Suspended And Is Fined $20,000.” The New York Times. February 9, 1995. From NYTimes.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“Sean Elliott Bio.” NBA.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
Taylor, Phil. “‘Hey, Call Anytime.’” Sports Illustrated. July 4, 1994. From SI.com. Accessed July 5, 2010.
“The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players.” NBA.com. Accessed July 6, 2010.