The 10 Most Memorable Moments in Rockets History

There's no real reason for this list. No anniversary to celebrate or any real similarity between the Rockets of yore and the Rockets of now.

Except this. They both possess "The heart of a champion."

Watching the "heart and hustle" Rockets of 2009-2010 has made me nostalgic for the never-say-die Rockets of old. The ones that went from choke city, to clutch city, to champ city.

The ones that were the lowest seed ever to win the NBA championship, staging amazing comebacks and beating the top 4 teams in the NBA (No. 3 Jazz, No. 2 Suns, No. 1 Spurs, No. 4 Magic—who were No. 1 in the East and beat Jordan's Bulls.)

So without further ado, here are the top ten moments in Rockets history.

Forgive me if I missed something from the pre-1990 era. Most of these are from my memory as a Rockets fan so I may have missed one or two moments, though I did research to see what else could be great moments for the Rockets.

Here we go...No. 10:

The Heart of a Champion

Ahh yes, the only moment that didn't happen in a game on our list.

In a speech no Houston fan will forget any time soon, Rudy Tomjanovich stuck it to all the non-believers, the doubters, the haters.

After the Rockets won their second championship, overcoming all odds, becoming the lowest seed to ever win an NBA championship, Rudy T delivered words that still resonate in the ears of all Houston sports fans.

"We've had non-believers all along the way. I have one thing to say to those non-believers. Don't EVER underestimate the heart of a champion."

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-1jgNhopNo&feature=PlayList&p=87183F5C06BEF846&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4

Moving on to No. 9...

Ralph Sampson's Game Five Buzzer-Beater Vs. the Lakers

This is the only moment on the list I am not familiar with. I was two years old when it happened, but it propelled the Rockets to their second-ever trip to the NBA finals.

In an unbelievable shot to beat the reigning NBA champs on their home floor, Sampson caught the ball and flipped up a no look, over the shoulder shot with one second left, sending the Rockets celebrating and the Lakers home for the summer.

A great win for the franchise and considered No. 11 on the NBA's 60 Greatest Playoff Moments.

However, in terms of Rocket moments, it's only No. 9.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7rsqsNf4SE&feature=related

On to No. 8...

Clyde Drexler Misses, Hakeem Olajuwon Tips

In a game in which the Rockets trailed by 20 that took quite a bit of luck and a lot of threes from Kenny Smith, the team miraculously came back to take the game to overtime.

With the game tied in overtime, Clyde Drexler drove, with his head down as usual, and missed a lay-up to give Houston the lead.

Good for the Magic...until Hakeem came from behind to tip the ball in and give the Rockets the lead for good.

The Dream threw his arms up in celebration (and a bit of show-off.)

A memorable game that had an amazing finish.

After that first game, the Rockets controlled the series and gave the reunitied Phi Slamma Jamma their only championship.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnAydeBY0S4

Speaking of game winning shots...

No. 7

Eddie Johnson Hits from Straight on

In a game the Rockets absolutely, positively needed to stay in during the 1997 Western Conference finals, Eddie Johnson delivered the shot they needed.

Down 2-1 in the series and facing overtime and a potential 3-1 hole, the Rockets had 6.7 seconds to make something happen in a 92-92 tie.

The hero should've been Drexler or Olajuwon. Instead, the ball ended up in Eddie Johnson's hands with .8 seconds left from way behind the three-point line.

As two Jazz defenders rushed at him, he swished the shot. Nothing but net as the clock hit zero.

And no Rockets fan could forget his emotional run down the court, hands extended as the crowd went absolutely berzerk.

I remember watching this game and going to school the next day. My friend, who witnessed it all live said the place was rocking for a solid hour after the game had ended.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luBrkc2m9cI

Absolutely incredible.

And that's only No. 7.

No. 6...

McGrady's 13 in 35 Seconds

Sorry I couldn't find a better picture of T-Mac.

Quite possibly the greatest regular season comeback in NBA history.

As unfortunately as the McGrady-Yao tag team is ending, all the heartache of first-round losses may have been worth it for this phenomenal performance.

The Rockets were struggling to open the year, the first year with T-Mac in a Rockets uniform, making many question the trade of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.

Then this happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfurCV1FDpM

I was watching this game and actually turned it off and left my room in disgust to go get a snack. When I came back I decided to turn the TV on again to see the recap and watch Kenny and Charles rip the Rockets. When I turned the TV back on, McGrady was in the process of stealing the ball and running down the floor for the game-winning shot.

I have since never stopped watching a Rockets game until the final second ticks off the clock.

Well-done T-Mac.

Next up, No. 5...

Game Six Block of John Starks

I'll never forget this one.

Hakeem Olajuwon, known for his ability to bounce right back even after getting faked out, lost his balance and had to regain it quickly to alter John Starks' final shot.

Starks had been hot all night and had Hakeem not gotten a hand on it, the ball definitely would've gone in.

Yet Hakeem was able to jump up and get just enough of the ball to have it harmlessly float nowhere near the rim and to the ground.

The best was John Starks trying to get a foul call at the end of the play.

A great memory for all Houston sports fans.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUv5_YFhPI

Coming up, No. 4...

Nick Anderson Bricks, Kenny Smith Hits

I was visiting my cousin in Boston and went to my first game at Fenway the night of this game. I did not care one bit about the Red Sox or Fenway, I just wanted to know when the baseball game was over so we could go home and watch Game One.

I made it home just in time to see Nick Anderson brick four free throws and Kenny Smith hit his NBA finals record seventh three-pointer of the game to tie the game.

I saw it.

How excited Nick Anderson was when he got fouled a second time with a chance to ice the game with just one measly free throw.

The look of devastation when he missed on his fourth opportunity.

Kenny Smith with the pump fake and the three.

Talk about destiny.

Orlando would not recover from this one as the Rockets went on to sweep.

Watch here:
(Jump to 4:30 to get to the good stuff.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd1D-u8oAfo

This moment leads us perfectly into No. 3...

Hakeem Hits from the Corner, Seals Phi Slamma Jamma's Only Championship Together

Another amazing moment for the Rockets franchise.

When the end of the game and the series was no longer in doubt, the Rockets ran the clock out.

As the meaningless passing of the ball transpired, it ended up, fittingly, in The Dream's hands. Standing in the corner, Hakeem decided to put up a three just for fun.

And it went in as the perfect exclamation point at the end of a strong playoff statement. Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!

Watch here:
(Moment happens at 7:10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jrhRUj0jo

From one championship to another...No. 2

CHAMP CITY!

In a playoffs that truly tested their mettle, they were declared "Choke City" after losing the first two games at home to Phoenix in the semi-finals, only to come back to redeem and rename themselves "Clutch City," winning the series in seven games.

They survived a mismanaged clock in game four of the Western Conference Finals and still won due to a terrible brick by Tom Chambers.

And as the clock wound down, The Dream held the ball in the corner, just as he would the following year. Only this time Hakeem held the ball and let the clock wind down in the first edition of Clutch City.

The team won the first championship in the history of Houston sports.

My friends and I stormed the streets of our neighborhood, throwing red and gold streamers at the passing cars that were honking their horns.

A great feeling for our hometown.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbJw_7Y830

But the number one moment, my number one moment for sure...

Kiss of Death...

No, it's not either of the championships.

But this moment defined the Rockets second incredible postseason run and the swagger of this team.

After trailing 3-1 and having to win two games on the road, they took a game five after trailing by 20 points into overtime—and won.

The Rockets then went home and took care of business sending them back to the desert.

As the clock wound down, no true Rockets fan will ever forget.

Smith. To Horry. To Elie in the corner.

No doubt.

It went through and the last-ditch three at half court by the Suns was no good.

Why is this better than the championships?

Because there is no forgetting that look. The elation you felt watching the three go down and the sheer pride when you saw Elie give the "kiss of death" to the Suns, staring their bench down.

What that must have felt like for their fans, to see that complete show of "I just owned you."

For the rest of his career, whenever Mario Elie shot in the desert, a hush went over the crowd.

Watch here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGuUwjS4Pc

That's, without a doubt, my favorite Rockets moment.
Thank you for reading Rockets fans, and let's see something special out of these 2009-2010 Rockets. I get the feeling we are in store for something good.

HONORABLE MENTION:
1) Hakeem triple shakes Robinson, defining his dominance in the 1995 Western Conference Finals.
2) Clyde Drexler arrives in Houston re-uniting Phi Slamma Jamma
3) "The clock didn't start!" moment in Game Four of 1994 Western Conference Finals.