Houston Astros: Four ways this team compares to the 93-95 Rockets

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HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Houston Astros fans celebrate at Houston City Hall before the Houston Astros Victory Parade on November 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The Real Top Dogs

It’s ironic that the slide you clicked on the Best Teams Everyone Forgot when it should’ve said the best teams people don’t remember that year.

But yes, it’s true. For even though the Astros and Rockets might’ve been the best team in the American League or Western Conference to their National League and Eastern Conference foes, they were not the top seed.

Rockets

Does anyone remember who owned the best record in the NBA in 1994? I’ll give you three clues.

Frasier lived their one time.
You don’t sew a needle in space.
Let’s just Oklahoma City has no love from this city.

If you guessed this team…

SEATTLE – FEBRUARY 11: Gary Payton /

You are correct.

In 1994, the Seattle SuperSonics possessed the league’s best record of 63-19. They were the overwhelming favorites to win the NBA Championship that season. How does that

How does that affect the Rockets? Simply because Seattle was an Achilles heel to the Rockets. We lost to them in the 1993 Playoffs and then repeated the same thing in 1996. Fortunately, we got them back in 1997.

But, this was supposed to be the year of Seattle. What happens?

1994 NBA Playoffs: Denver upsets Seattle

They had a 2-0 series lead against the #8 seed Denver Nuggets and then laid an egg. Denver rallied to win the series in five on the road in Seattle. As for the Rockets, they finished with the #2 seed and had homecourt advantage the rest of the way.

Now take a look at the Astros’ Achilles’ heel.

Astros

It doesn’t take a rocket (no pun intended) scientist, to determine the team that gave us trouble during the season.

The ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 ALDS

22 wins in a row just to overtake the Astros. That’s something that should earn respect from everybody. Sure, the Indians were in first place of the American League and they had everyone’s pick to represent the American League in the World Series. Now, what could go wrong?

Now while I do believe even if Cleveland had won that we still would’ve beaten them just like I feel the 94 Rockets beating the Sonics that year was going to happen, it comes to show you that being in first of a conference does not always guarantee you’re the best team. In other words, like we all know, the regular season and postseason are two different things.

Now, if Houston had to win a championship, they needed a go-to guy. And fortunately, both teams had that.

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