HOUSTON ROCKETS ROSTER (* PER = Player Efficiency Rating) |
POS |
PLAYER |
HT |
YEAR |
AGE |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
PER* |
G |
CALVIN MURPHY |
5-9 |
1978 |
29 |
25.6 |
2.2 |
3.4 |
19.5 |
Comment: One of the game's great little guys, more of a scorer than point guard -- was 5th in scoring in '78
|
G |
KENNY SMITH |
6-3 |
1991 |
25 |
17.7 |
2.1 |
7.1 |
18.3 |
Comment: Key member of Houston's back-to-back title teams in '94 and '95, he'll handle the rock on this team
|
G |
SAM CASSELL |
6-3 |
1996 |
26 |
14.5 |
3.1 |
4.6 |
16.8 |
Comment: He's been a winner on several different teams, but he won two titles in Houston
|
G |
MIKE NEWLIN |
6-4 |
1976 |
27 |
18.6 |
4.1 |
5.6 |
17.4 |
Comment: Not only could he hit the jump shot, he had that great '70s beard
|
F |
TRACY MCGRADY |
6-8 |
2005 |
25 |
25.7 |
6.2 |
5.7 |
22.9 |
Comment: Didn't reach his All-NBA 1st-team status of '02 and '03, but was still 6th in scoring
|
F |
ELVIN HAYES |
6-9 |
1971 |
25 |
28.7 |
16.6 |
2.3 |
19.4 |
Comment:
Rembered as a Bullet, but spent first four seasons with San Diego/Houston Rockets; an absolute monster in his early days
|
F |
RUDY TOMJANOVICH |
6-8 |
1974 |
25 |
24.5 |
9.0 |
3.1 |
20.5 |
Comment: Began stretch of five All-Star seasons in '74; hoping for matchup against Kareem and Lakers in conference finals
|
F/C |
RALPH SAMPSON |
7-4 |
1985 |
24 |
22.1 |
10.4 |
2.7 |
27.4 |
Comment: Before injury problems, he was good enough to be 2nd-team All-NBA in '85
|
C |
HAKEEM OLAJUWON |
7-0 |
1995 |
32 |
27.8 |
10.8 |
3.5 |
26.0 |
Comment: Had one of the all-time great playoff perfomances in '95, averaging 33 per game in winning title
|
C |
MOSES MALONE |
6-10 |
1982 |
26 |
31.1 |
14.7 |
1.8 |
26.8 |
Comment: Three-time MVP was never more dominating than in '82; arguably the greatest rebounder in game's history
|
SCOUTING REPORT: Four keys for the Rockets against the Lakers: (1) Feed the big men; play Olajuwon/Malone/Hayes and pound it inside; if Lakers counter with Kareem and Shaq together, that slows down their fast break; (2) Get McGrady going on offense; must force Kobe/Magic to play defense; (3) Can McGrady slow down Magic? (4) Pound the boards; this is L.A.'s potential weakness.