why did Orlando Magic get blown out by the Houston Rockets in '95 ??

[Trust Me]

Just watched that Orlando Magic documentary.

I actually blame the media and the fickle fans in Orlando for that him leaving.

Shaq wanted to stay, the media out there took polls about whether Shaq was worth the money. 85% of fans there said he wasn't worth the same contract Alonzo Mourning had. I don't blame him for bouncing after that. It obviously played a major factor if he's remembered it all these years. Same paper then later on in the documentary said he had the nerve to leave and was selfish. Well, maybe if you don't make bullshyt polls and editorials that antagonize the athletes the outcome would've been different.

Those same fans also gave Hardaway no appreciation too after all the work he put in.

I see a lot of similarities with this KD situation too.

You don't know what you're talking about. I've lived and re-lived through that shyt. You're making it seem like Orlando pushed him out. fukk outta here. It was one writer from the sentinel (who's still writing and slandering the players and the sport teams in general) that made that poll and started the outcry. His name is Brian Schmitz.

We didn't disrespect Shaq as an organization or a town. I believe there were NO $100 million dollar contracts in the NBA at that point, so it probably seemed too lucrative at the time to give a player that much. When Zo got his, Orlando didn't hesitate to give Shaq $20 million more than what Zo signed for.

Shaq's agent wanted Shaq in LA from day 1. Everyone knew it. Shaq bought into it. End of story.

 

[DoubleClutch]

All I know is Penny had impressive stats that whole series. I'm guessing his teammates let him down

 

[Foxmulder]

That Rockets team was clutch as fukk and mentally it wasn't close. Rockets were battle tested came back from the brink of death numerous times. Orlando was soft and mentally weak. Something like last years clippers.

 

[jwinfield]

Ok, but when tipoff came, they gave 100% on the court. But Houston was better.

I'm not saying they didn't give 100% on the court, I said they were a young team that admitted to not taking the Finals as serious as they should have.

 

[jadillac]

because they were down 3-0 and it was basically over with

 

[Tha_Mac]

i heard Orlando was favored to win this

but they got blown out

Shaq, Penny in their prime but got beat, why is that ??

Becuz he was the best big man of his era

 

[Juggalo Fred]

shaq and penny were great but Hakeem is the best center not named Russell ever

 

[Spade]

They took it seriously, they were just inferior to Clutch City.

OP, this is why you shouldn't listen to most fans. I favored Houston going into this series, only idiots thought the Magic would win. Never underestimate the heart of a champ.

A bunch of my friends said the same thing during that time. Nobody thought Houston was going to lose to Orlando.

 

[VegasCAC]

shaq and penny were great but Hakeem is the best center not named Russell ever

Wilt is the GOAT center and probably the GOAT player as well

But damn, with how today's NBA is we're not gonna see an elite center for a long time

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

Hakeem didn't totally dominate Shaq like some of you trying to say. In some ways Shaq actually performed better. Hakeem just took more shots:

Hakeem 33 ppg on 48% 11.5 rpg 5.5 apg 2 bpg
Shaq 28 ppg on 60% 12.5 rpg 6.5 apg 2.5 bpg

So Hakeem wasn't the only reason why the Rockets won.

He wasn't the ONLY reason, just the MAIN reason. The role players stepped up and did their part as well. The reality is the Magic had absolutely no answer for Hakeem. You can stare at stats all day and make assumptions but I lived through it. One of the greatest series in Rockets history.

 

[Ill-Mind]

who Shaq or Penny ??

i think Shaq

Nick Anderson, he never was the same again after choking at the free throw line

 

[The_Third_Man]

He wasn't the ONLY reason, just the MAIN reason. The role players stepped up and did their part as well. The reality is the Magic had absolutely no answer for Hakeem. You can stare at stats all day and make assumptions but I lived through it. One of the greatest series in Rockets history.

you're the one making assumptions. I've seen the finals live too. It's no big deal.

 

[daboywonder2002]

NIck anderson and the whole team lost their confidence. Shaq wasn't as skilled back then. post up, dunk. that was it. Hakeem was a beast on both ends of the floor. great and clutch shooting from the whole team.

 

[Reggie]

They just couldn't get over the mental hump of losing game 1 the way they did. Blame it on Nick or whoever you want but fact of the matter is they had three game after that and it was their fault as a TEAM that they didn't bounce back from that.