Rockets Stats:
NBA championships: 2
Last year in Finals: 1995
Playoffs since 1980: 19
Moses Malone
Hakeem Olajuwon
| 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.