From Choke City to Clutch City, the Houston Rocket of the mid-nineties were so cool. They took the ’94 title and everyone was like “that’s just cuz Jordan switched sports!” So, they clawed their way up from the 6th seed to win it all again in 1995.
The only trouble? When you rise so high, you have farther to fall.
A short-sighted desire to capitalize on aging stars quickly (that’d be Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler), and worry about the future later, led to injuries decimating seasons (poor Charles Barkley), backcourt weakness (prob shouldn’t have traded away Sam Cassell), bruised egos (looking at you Scottie Pippen) and the end of an era. The Clutch City Rockets couldn’t last forever.
Written and produced by: Clara Morris
Directed and edited by: Jiazhen Zhang
Motion graphics by: Mike Das
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31 Comments
this is therapeutic. i was so sad when they traded sam and rob
Elie, Cassell, Horry all went on to win at least one other championship while making clutch baskets for their respective teams during the championship run. We had a SPECIAL supporting cast
I appreciate the story telling and documentary style but what the heck is the point of bashing the legacy of some all time greats of the game? They aged, the Rockets’ front office made some moves and the rest is history. Did you really expect them to dominate for the next 10 years with the same players? This video was a lazy and simply repeated newspaper headlines.
Why on earth they didn’t run Scotty as a Point-Forward is mind boggling…!
In 1999 when Barkley Hakeem and pippen played together all three were past their primes and that team was flawed it wasn't a championship team and Barkley has said this repeatedly on TNT that all three of them were past their primes.
They lost their way when they traded for Barkley. It became clear and remained clear to this day that the office had no clue what made the championship teams what they were: athleticism and having the legs for long range jump-shooting. Horry was the piece that made it all happen; being the most mobile, highest-flying, 3-balling swing man ever.
Yeah that pick MY GOD! If there was ever an ILLEGAL PICK that was it. I mean ultimately it wouldn’t have mattered. In the finals NOBODY was gonna beat the Bulls. But had they gotten to the finals then the Barkley thing wouldn’t get so bad mouthed. Barkley still outplayed Pippen. So there’s that.
damn
Those 90s jerseys. Man, the basketball court their 1st season when they changed unis and logo was too much cartoon
It's time for a collapse of Texas football episode. Their fall from 2005 to now was shocking.
The Sonic and Jazz were stacked with young back court talent. We had Kenny Smith 😂and Gary Payton was a beast.
it was actually 16 years not 15 where they missed the playoffs only twice. also never heard anyone say 2 peat, maybe repeat?
Those 2:18 jerseys are actually cool
The Bulls beat the teams that regularly beat the Rockets. Enough said.
Father Time is always undefeated. I can appreciate Houston trying but it’s not a video game. Players get old and just can’t do the same things. Olajuwon and Drexler really timed it perfect in ‘95 and were at their peak before that peak started a steep decline.
Pippen isn't the best Bull ever. He is the best cry baby in the 90's and the early 2000's.
Channel just trying to be relevant, but knows nothing about Basketball.
Do the 2018 rockets
This is 2023 talking. It's time to give the Rockets another "Collapse" video
"Don"t ever underestimate the heart of a champion". That's definitely one of the greatest quotes in basketball history. Well except it was replaced the following year by a quote like from Jerry Reinsdorf "If you had to give credit to one man, the guy that put them all here: Jerry Krause."
Btw please make a "Collapse" video about the 2018 Rockets and I want to Seth to narrate that. The same for the 1996 Sonics too.
This chick narrating sucks
How is it that SecretBase hates the classic Rockets uniform AND the classic Raptors one? IMPOSSIBLE!
Thats was really good. But I think this video is gonna be used to defend load management. Daaaaaaaannnggg!!!!
Not really a collapse
Max wasn't waived..
He is a two time champ
because rockets got rid of their red and gold logo
4:27😂😂 Kevin Willis has always been old to my knowledge. I started watching NBA 2001😂😂😂
Did she say that Shaq held Hakeem Olajuwon to eight points and then five points Bruh! I’m 💀 10:20
In all honesty they were all great for over a decade , by 1996 they were all well in their 30’s with a lot of wear and tear. They deserve no shade.
Yeah that Malone pick was definitely a foul. Looked like he was trying to slown dance with Clyde
They only won cause Jordan was gone