Houston Rockets: A Look Back at the 94′-95′ Season

The 1994-1995 Houston Rockets season was like a dream. Nearly twenty years ago the Houston Rockets won the second NBA title in franchise history. LEts take a look back

The Houston Rockets entered the 1994-95 season looking to join the ranks of the last four champions, who were all able to repeat as back-to-back NBA champions. Yet by midseason, Houston hardly looked like a serious contender and was in dire need of a spark to their transition game.

The Rockets fixed what ailed them in Februrary at the trade deadline, shipping rugged power forward Otis Thorpe to Portland in a deal that put Hall-of-Fame guard Clyde Drexler back in Houston. It didn’t take long for Drexler and Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon — a teammate during their college days at the University of Houston — to pick up where they left off so many years ago.

The 1994-95 season also saw two major records fall. Atlanta coach Lenny Wilkens passed the legendary Red Auerbach on the list of all-time coaching victories, while Utah’s John Stockton replaced Magic Johnson as the NBA’s all-time assists leader.

The Drexler-Olajuwon combo was working wonders at the right time for Houston. Though they trailed the Jazz 2-1 in the first round, the Rockets rallied to claim that series in Game 5. In the West semis, they fell behind again — this time it was a 3-1 hole to the Suns. But once again, the Rockets pushed the series to the brink and advanced in Game 7. In the West finals, Olajuwon’s trademark footwork and quickness was too much for MVP David Robinson and the Spurs as the Rockets reached their second straight Finals.

The 1995 NBA Finals came down to youth versus experience as Olajuwon squared off against the Magic’s budding star center, Shaquille O’Neal. Olajuwon claimed a second straight Finals MVP and the Rockets forever etched their name in playoff lore. They became the first team to win four series without homecourt advantage, the first No. 6 seed to win the title and the first team to defeat four 50-win teams en route to a title. It was also only the sixth Finals sweep in history.

The champion remained the same, but the season was marked by many changes. The league introduced new rules, including a shorter 3-point line designed to invite more scoring and reduce the defensive and physical mentality that had crept into the game and slowed the pace. And exciting new stars were born, led by Detroit’s Grant Hill and Dallas’ Jason Kidd, the league’s first co-rookie of the year winners since 1970-71, when Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie shared the honor.

PLAYOFFS

Western Conference first round

San Antonio defeated Denver (3-0)
Phoenix defeated Portland (3-0)
Houston defeated Utah (3-2)
L.A. Lakers defeated Seattle (3-1)

Western Conference semifinals

San Antonio defeated L.A. Lakers (4-2)
Houston defeated Phoenix (4-3)

Western Conference finals

Houston defeated San Antonio (4-2)

NBA Finals

Houston defeated Orlando (4-0)

Season leaders

PPG — Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic (29.3)
FG % — Chris Gatling, Golden State Warriors (.633)
FT % — Spud Webb, Sacramento Kings (.934)
3PT % — Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls (.523)
Assists — John Stockton, Utah Jazz (12.3)
Rebounds — Dennis Rodman, San Antonio Spurs (16.8)
Steals — Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls (2.9)
Blocked Shots — Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets (3.9)

Award winners

Most Valuable Player — David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
Rookie of the Year — Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons & Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player of the Year — Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
Most Improved Player — Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers
Sixth Man of the Year — Anthony Mason, New York Knicks
Coach of the Year — Del Harris, L.A. Lakers
All-Star Game MVP — Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
NBA Finals MVP — Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets