The Critics are going to think they're Right

[CardNots]

I thought maybe mario ellie(spelling) or hakeem may have had something to do with those victories, but that's how many rings now if it wern't for injuries? come on.

Don't forget Horry and Cassell.

 

[green machine]

I thought maybe mario ellie(spelling) or hakeem may have had something to do with those victories, but that's how many rings now if it wern't for injuries? come on.

Barkley was hurt due to his own laziness and poor conditioning. KJ was hurt during the year but I don't think he was during the playoffs. Those years were two of the Suns' best chances at a title though.


Oh, and please never mention Mario Elie's name again. Ever.

 

[Lorenzo]

Don't forget Horry and Cassell.

oh i'm not. they had clyde drexler that second year also. I just remember ellie hit some game winning shots in the 7th game(was it both 7th games). I know hakeem was at an mvp level both years and won it one of those years. He lost the other year to david robinson, and clearly outplayed him in the WCF.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't believe it was they had us figured out. We suffered injuries to both KJ and Barkley. That is the reason we lost. It wasn't just 1995. Two years we met Houston in the playoffs only to lose the series. Houston went on to win the NBA championship both times.

We always talk about losing the NBA championship to Chicago but I still believe barring injuries in those Houston series we win the two NBA championships.

does anyone else recall injuries to KJ in those series? I sure don't. The first series is the one where he dunked on Hakeem in Game 4, right? And in the second series, wasn't it KJ who had 48 points and 10 dimes in Game 7 when we blew a 15 point lead to lose again? Those years were so horrific.

I definitely remember Barkley hobbling up and down the court after Game 3 of the first series - anyone who watched basketball knew EXACTLY when that series was over - 4th quarter, game 4, still holding a 2-1 lead, down 90-88 (don't ask how I remember this score, but I'm pretty sure it's right) and KJ drove dishing off to Charles right in the middle of the lane and Charles went up for the weakest dunk attempt I've ever seen by him and just got the ball shoved down his throat by Hakeem - everyone remembers that picture and it was right there that I knew the series was over.

as far as the second year - yeah, we blew that Game 5 when Barkley missed two FTs to ice the game and then went to OT and that sinking feeling came back, but what everyone forgets is that in Game 6 in Houston, Barkley was going absolutely nutso in the first half, driving and dunking on everyone on the way to 27 points before he came down on Mario Ellie's foot, screwing up his knee. We were up by 10 at half and cruising but Charles wasn't the same and we got taken apart in the second half, then looked horrible in Game 7 where KJ had to carry us.

man, those games will live on in my memory forever - those were our title teams and injuries/choking just completely killed both of them.

hell, even in Game 7 - remember KJ was like 21 of 21 shooting FTs and then at the end of the game, down one in the last seconds he had a chance to give us the lead and inextricably missed one of two, which led to Mario's kiss... ugh.

good lord - anyone else realize just how bad the Suns have historically been in big games at home since 1992-3? 0-3 in the Finals to the Bulls, 2-6 against the Rockets (94/95), 0-3 against the Spurs(2005) and 1-2 against the Mavs(2006), while only really holding homecourt twice in last year's Clippers series (3-1) and 2-1 against the Mavs in 2005? what the hell is up with that?! that's an aggregate 8-16 in Finals/Conference Finals/Semi-Finals. Hell, maybe getting the 3 seed ain't so bad in that case!

end rant!

 

[Lorenzo]

does anyone else recall injuries to KJ in those series? I sure don't. The first series is the one where he dunked on Hakeem in Game 4, right? And in the second series, wasn't it KJ who had 48 points and 10 dimes in Game 7 when we blew a 15 point lead to lose again? Those years were so horrific.

I definitely remember Barkley hobbling up and down the court after Game 3 of the first series - anyone who watched basketball knew EXACTLY when that series was over - 4th quarter, game 4, still holding a 2-1 lead, down 90-88 (don't ask how I remember this score, but I'm pretty sure it's right) and KJ drove dishing off to Charles right in the middle of the lane and Charles went up for the weakest dunk attempt I've ever seen by him and just got the ball shoved down his throat by Hakeem - everyone remembers that picture and it was right there that I knew the series was over.

as far as the second year - yeah, we blew that Game 5 when Barkley missed two FTs to ice the game and then went to OT and that sinking feeling came back, but what everyone forgets is that in Game 6 in Houston, Barkley was going absolutely nutso in the first half, driving and dunking on everyone on the way to 27 points before he came down on Mario Ellie's foot, screwing up his knee. We were up by 10 at half and cruising but Charles wasn't the same and we got taken apart in the second half, then looked horrible in Game 7 where KJ had to carry us.

man, those games will live on in my memory forever - those were our title teams and injuries/choking just completely killed both of them.

hell, even in Game 7 - remember KJ was like 21 of 21 shooting FTs and then at the end of the game, down one in the last seconds he had a chance to give us the lead and inextricably missed one of two, which led to Mario's kiss... ugh.

good lord - anyone else realize just how bad the Suns have historically been in big games at home since 1992-3? 0-3 in the Finals to the Bulls, 2-6 against the Rockets (94/95), 0-3 against the Spurs(2005) and 1-2 against the Mavs(2006), while only really holding homecourt twice in last year's Clippers series (3-1) and 2-1 against the Mavs in 2005? what the hell is up with that?! that's an aggregate 8-16 in Finals/Conference Finals/Semi-Finals. Hell, maybe getting the 3 seed ain't so bad in that case!

end rant!

I don't remember those playoff games to that extent because i wasn't watching at least early in the series. I remember those game 7 ones. Phoenix,NY knicks, and the Utah Jazz, were the best teams that played against houston those years.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't remember those playoff games to that extent because i wasn't watching at least early in the series. I remember those game 7 ones. Phoenix,NY knicks, and the Utah Jazz, were the best teams that played against houston those years.

you gotta hand it to the second Rockets team - what they did was nothing short of absolutely amazing. No homecourt in ANY round and then went through the number 2 seed in the west (60 game winner), the number 3 seed in the west (59 game winner), the number one seed in the west (62 GAME winner) and then the number one seed in the East (57 game winner?). Seriously, has any team, ever beaten teams with such an aggregate win total on the way to a title?

the only time/sport I can even think of doing likewise was the miraculous run Arizona made beating 3 #1 seeds (and not to mention, three of the most stories programs in NCAA history) Kansas, UNC and Kentucky on the way to an NCAA title.

 

[Lorenzo]

you gotta hand it to the second Rockets team - what they did was nothing short of absolutely amazing. No homecourt in ANY round and then went through the number 2 seed in the west (60 game winner), the number 3 seed in the west (59 game winner), the number one seed in the west (62 GAME winner) and then the number one seed in the East (57 game winner?). Seriously, has any team, ever beaten teams with such an aggregate win total on the way to a title?

the only time/sport I can even think of doing likewise was the miraculous run Arizona made beating 3 #1 seeds (and not to mention, three of the most stories programs in NCAA history) Kansas, UNC and Kentucky on the way to an NCAA title.

I didn't think about that. I know during the regular season it appeared houston wasn't going to repeat. every playoff round was supposed to be the one they lost.