80's Rockets

[DJHUFF2000]

Do you think the Rockets could have won titles if Ralph Sampson's career was not cut short due injury and not traded in 88' to G.State

[JasonJohnHorn]

Yes. Ralph Sampson proved in his rookie year that he was a very talented player and could compete with the best bigs in the game, and he had a height advantage being 7'4. But inguies obvioulsy prevented the Rockets from reaching their full potential. But they ended up winning with Hakeem anyways... two rings are more rings than most teams had. Still... it would have been nice to see what Sampson and Hakeem could have done playing alongside each other.

[Hawkeye15]

ugh, this is a tough one. I mean, if we are going to call this, why not Bias healthy, or Walton's career not cut short? Fact is, the Lakers/Celtics owned the 80's, and its tough to imagine many other teams invading that dominance.

[bagwell368]

No. The Hakeem/Sampson team couldn't do it. Look at the next best 5 players they had. In today's NBA they might have a shot. Back in say '86 the Celts had 5 HOF's and several other good players. They would be the western conference Bucks - close but no cigar. bTW I'm watching game 3 of the 86 finals right now and Sampson has had some great sequences, but McHale and Parish both are better.

[Chronz]

ugh, this is a tough one. I mean, if we are going to call this, why not Bias healthy, or Walton's career not cut short? Fact is, the Lakers/Celtics owned the 80's, and its tough to imagine many other teams invading that dominance.

Why would you have trouble imagining a team that had the Lakers number when it came to mismatches, dominating them year in year out? It seemed to be an absolute certainty but one that doesnt just hinge on Sampson, they need Lucas healthy and coke free.

[Chronz]

No. The Hakeem/Sampson team couldn't do it. Look at the next best 5 players they had. In today's NBA they might have a shot. Back in say '86 the Celts had 5 HOF's and several other good players. They would be the western conference Bucks - close but no cigar. bTW I'm watching game 3 of the 86 finals right now and Sampson has had some great sequences, but McHale and Parish both are better.

Celtics were at their apex and the young Rockets played without John Lucas. The Celtics wound up returning to the Finals but aside from that year they never run into the Celtics in the Finals again.

[bagwell368]

Celtics were at their apex and the young Rockets played without John Lucas. The Celtics wound up returning to the Finals but aside from that year they never run into the Celtics in the Finals again.

Surely. But the argument forks one of two ways.

1. If Sampson develops instead of regressing, why doesn't Bias come back from the dead?

2. OK as the Celts fade the Pistons one of the deepest teams ever rises from the East, the Lakers remain, and the Bulls ascend not that much later. Would the Rockets snag a title between '86 and the first Hakeem title? Maybe, but the Hakeem teams that won, would have been constructed in an alternate fashion, and maybe not won (or Jordan doesn't leave the NBA)?

[abe_froman]

god no,them beating the lakers to get to the finals was more of a fluke than rule,besides if we're playing what if game for sampson why not play it for others?(walton and birds health issues,bias being alive)

sampson is a good what if talent ,but hof weekend has really pumped up what he is abit too much