1994-95 Houston Rockets: Double Clutch Part 1/4

The Orlando Magic were the only team left to prevent the Rockets from collecting back-to-back championships. In Game One of the Finals, the Magic raced out to a 20-point lead in the second quarter. Houston worked the deficit down to 11 at halftime and had a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Magic fought back to take a three-point lead with a little over a minute left in the game. An Olajuwon turnover should have spelled doom for the Rockets, but they fouled the right Orlando player. Magic guard Nick Anderson missed four straight free throws with 10.5 seconds left in the game to give the Rockets a chance. With 1.6 seconds left, Rockets guard Kenny Smith faked the Magic's Anfernee Hardaway out of his way and calmly sank his Finals-record seventh three-pointer to tie the game at 110.

The two teams played to an overtime score of 118-118 with mere seconds left on the clock. Drexler drove the lane for the final shot, but had to change it at the last moment to keep from being blocked by Shaquille O'Neal. Olajuwon simply tipped in the Drexler miss to give the Rockets a 120-118 win.

In Game Two, Olajuwon scored 34 points and Sam Cassell poured in 31 points to give the Rockets a 117-106 victory and their seventh consecutive road playoff victory.

The Rockets locked up their second straight NBA title with a 106-103 win in Game Three and a 113-101 victory in Game Four. Olajuwon was named the Finals MVP for the second consecutive year and the 1995 Rockets became the first team to ever win four playoff series against opponents with 50 wins or more.

"Nobody has ever done what this team has done ... come from the sixth seed ... down in the series," Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said on the platform as the Rockets were presented with their second straight Larry O'Brien Trophy. "We had nonbelievers all along the way. I have one thing to say to those nonbelievers: Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michael
• Jordan
• Kareem
• Abdul-Jabbar
• Earvin
• Magic
• Johnson
• Larry
• Bird
• Bill
• Russell
• Wilt
• Chamberlain
• Shaquille
• O'Neal
• Tim
• Hakeem
• Olajuwon
• Kobe
• Bryant
• LeBron
• James
• Derrick
• Rose
• Dwyane
• Wade
• Phil
• Jackson
• Red
• Auerbach
• Gregg
• Popovich
• Chuck
• Daly
• Holzman
• Lakers
• Bulls
• Celtics
• Spurs
• Pistons
• Knicks
• All-Star
• Game
• All-NBA
• All-Defensive
• MVP
• USA
• Basketall
• Dream
• Team
• Buzzer
• Beaters
• Dunks
• Blocks
• Clutch
• Teamwork
• Assists
• Hustle
• Moves
• Steals
• Alley-Oops
• 1995
• NBA
• Finals

[regg58]

@LuigiLaker lmao ikr

[roo7227]

Y'all can say what you want about Jordan winning 8 in a row.. I just wanna know what Olajuwon would have done to the Bulls front line?.. That woulda been U-G-L-Y!..

[LuigiLaker]

Why the Rockets stopped using a badass mascot like "Turbo" for a gay-ass fat cartoon bear is beyond comprehension..this was the last season that Houston would be somewhat cool..some genius thought it would be a good idea to give the Rockets pin-striped uniforms and a Rocket with a mean face..everything went to hell from there LOL.

[FuShengAlex]

lol@MrSlik25

Jordan to Hakeem....thank you for showing me how to beat the Magic. 

[BigTheNoodlez]

This guy has the greatest voice in the world

[gluserty]

I love this team: whatever it took, this team made it happen.. I was glad for Clyde; this team was the right spot for him:-)

[zig2101]

dang, i've been looking all over for this! thanks for posting

[omegaray08]

LMAO @ 9.00 turbo

[poorboysdream]

Bunch of Haters... Let the Rockets Shine... Back 2 Back... Champions... and you can't take that away... So fk all y'all... Suck the rockets NBA finals trophy... bitches

[MrSlik25]

@jeffie2381 Yeah he came back half way through the season...the team wasnt there...you cant blame Mike..That Magic team gelled all year...The bulls were a little out of Wack..Picture Hakeem taking 18 months off and coming back and winning it all...it wouldnt have happened for him either in thay situation..but what happened the very next three years...Mike simply said.."Gimme my fuckin belt back you pussies!!!" And sadly the Rockets havnt been heard from since...No Yao, Tracey, could help..ever.