![]() The only major departure is Josh Smith, who arrived in Houston and rejuvenated his career after a horrendous run in Detroit. The Rockets gave up next to nothing to pick up Lawson this summer. OUT: Joey Dorsey, Francisco Garcia, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, Josh Smith IN: Ty Lawson, Sam Dekker, Marcus Thornton, Montrezl Harrell Bickerstaff, Chris Finch, Greg Buckner OFFSEASON CHANGES PLAYOFFS: Lost 4-1 to Golden State in the Western Conference FinalsĭEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY: 100.5 (6th) ROSTER No.Īssistant coaches: J.B. RECORD: 56-26 (2nd in Western Conference) The top of the West improved once again and a repeat trip to the Conference Finals is anything but guaranteed, but the Rockets are certainly in position to label themselves as contenders once again. The Rockets can also hope for a full season out of Terrence Jones and expect Donatas Motiejunas and Patrick Beverley to be healthy for a playoff run. He's not a perfect fit given his ball dominance and mediocre defense, but if he's mentally ready for the season, then he can give Houston the secondary ballhandler they were missing last year. For an almost-nonexistent price tag, Lawson is a small risk that makes a lot of sense if he's healthy. ![]() The one big move - a gamble, no doubt, given his off-court issues - was bringing in Ty Lawson in trade from the Nuggets. Although that run included an unlikely seven-game comeback against the Clippers in the second round, it's no real surprise that the Rockets mainly stayed the same this offseason, choosing to bolster their roster without losing any key pieces. ![]() The fact that this team swept the Orlando Magic solidified their status as a great team - a great team that persevered through the hardships in playoff basketball, and beat out a tough team led by Shaquille O' Neal.The Houston Rockets made it to the Western Conference Finals without two key contributors. Without Clyde, The Rockets would NOT have won their second championship, nor would they have been necessarily in the playoffs either. He was traded for Otis Thorpe, and Drexler helped lead the team to playoff excellence. One interesting fact about this season is that Clyde Drexler did not become a Rocket until February of 1995. This team was as good as the players performed, as is any. Though there were hall of fame caliber players on this team, there were also bench warmers. The big question is, where are these standout athletes today? You will be surprised to hear what some of these legends are up to nowadays, and in what endeavors they are involved. This Houston team is widely considered one of the greatest in NBA history, as the roster in both years was very skillful. At least Shaq put up a great fight for the Magic, and averaged 28.0 PPG. The finals series score was 4-0, with the Magic enduring an embarrassing sweep. The Rockets were a deep team, who were willing to dig deep and they eventually beat the Orlando Magic in the finals. Also, Clyde Drexler was an outstanding forward. The 1994-95 team was led by the great Hakeem Olajuwon, who towered over defenders in the NBA. This was perhaps a championship hangover, as they had finished with a 58-24 record the year before and had a grueling run to the championship, which ended in a seven game series win over the New York Knicks. They placed third in their division, and 6th overall in the Western Conference. Though they did not finish so hot in the regular season, they still had a winning record of 47-35. The team was successful in capitalizing on their championship caliber talent, and was led by the great head coach, Rudy Tomjanovich. The 1994-95 Houston Rockets were truly a legendary team, with both chemistry and determination. ![]()
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