[Board Project] Top 15 All-Time Rockets <COMPLETE(?)>

[TMU]

Rankings
1. Hakeem Olajuwon: 14/14
2. Moses Malone: 6/8
3. Clyde Drexler: 8/16
4. Rudy Tomjanovic: 9/13
5. Tracy McGrady: 6/10
6. Calvin Murphy: 9/11
7. Yao Ming: 6/12
8. Ralph Sampson: 4/9
9. Elvin Hayes: 8/10
10. Otis Thorpe: 4/9
11. Steve Francis: 6/10
12. Robert Reid: 7/11
13. Mike Newlin: 8/12
14. John Lucas: 6/12
15. Kenny Smith: 8/13

If you have any suggestions, feel free to contribute. Thanks.

[DynastySS]

I like the idea. I am down.

[CJballa14]

im in...

Hakeem is number 1, so can we just start at 2? haha

[kevC]

I nominate Moochie Norris.

[kevC]

Player Efficiency Rating

1. Hakeem Olajuwon* 23.9
2. Moses Malone* 23.8
3. Yao Ming 23.1
4. Charles Barkley* 22.2
5. Tracy McGrady 21.7
6. Clyde Drexler* 20.2
7. Steve Francis 19.0
8. Calvin Murphy* 18.0
9. Elvin Hayes* 17.4
10. Ralph Sampson 17.4

FYI

[Baller 24]

Count me in!

[DynastySS]

Can I nominate Ryan Bowen. And my new favorite Rocket, Bobby Jackson?

[Baller 24]

Can I nominate Ryan Bowen. And my new favorite Rocket, Bobby Jackson?

Come on dude, be realistic.

[TMU]

Baller, do you think you can help me with the process?

[DynastySS]

-= original quote snipped =-



Come on dude, be realistic.

Fine then. Was Sammy C's tenure too short to qualify?

I still remember his clutch jumpers

[Ribalding]

For the record, once we get out of the top 5, I'm lobbying HARD for World B. Free.

You've been warned.

(Oh, and Craig Ehlo had a nice career after he was a Rocket. He'll deserve mention somewhere near #20.)

**Edit : Crap. Rule #7 messes up my entire plan. Can we table that rule?

[TMACFORMVP]

Nice idea! I'm down.

[TMU]

For the record, once we get out of the top 5, I'm lobbying HARD for World B. Free.

You've been warned.

(Oh, and Craig Ehlo had a nice career after he was a Rocket. He'll deserve mention somewhere near #20.)

**Edit : Crap. Rule #7 messes up my entire plan. Can we table that rule?

I see that you have an unhealthy obsession for Craig Ehlo.

[TMU]

Hakeem Olajuwon takes the #1 spot.
Olajuwon: 14 votes

Tracy McGrady is added to the field.
McGrady: 9 votes
K. Smith: 1 vote
Tomjanovic: 1 vote
Sampson: 1 vote
Cassell: 1 vote

[TMU]

I am not sure why someone would vote for Sam Cassell who only played 3 seasons with the Rockets. Unless of course, if he's turned on by Cassell's pretty little face.

[Baller 24]

I am not sure why someone would vote for Sam Cassell who only played 3 seasons with the Rockets. Unless of course, if he's turned on by Cassell's pretty little face.

He hit some pretty big shots in the playoffs his rookie year, but thats about it as far as I can think of. He played pretty good in 95-96, but IMO no way worthy of a top 20.

[Vator]

You know what...the problem with this is that many of the greatest players to ever don the Rocket red only played for the team over a very short span. Hell even Moses Malone eventually spent the majority of his career outside of Houston and we just voted him as the 2nd greatest Rocket of all time even though he was only a Rocket for 6 years. He accomplished a lot during those years and deserved the spot, but there really wasn't a lot of competition. Elvin Hayes was a Rocket for 7 years over two stints and only 4 of his prime years. Of those prime years, only one of them was actually in Houston as the Rockets were originally in San Diego. Barkley was here 4 years although he spent much of it injured. Drexler for 3 and a half years. Pippen had one very forgettable campaign. It's hard to remember, but there was a period when we did call Francis the Franchise. His 1st 5 years were here. McGrady has been here for 4 years. 4 and a half years for Sampson with only 3 being good before the injuries hit. Otis Thorpe deserves some consideration for his 6 and a half solid years of service. Mad Max and Kenny with 6 solid years. Cassell only 3 and had his best seasons elsewhere. Horry with his 4 best years here. Rodney McCray, John Lucas, Robert Reid, etc. It is crazy how so few of these guys actually were here for long periods of time. Hakeem is one of the few along with Murphy and Rudy T who can actually be referred to as lifers. It really makes this voting tough in a way, but I guess since they all spent so little time here, it kind of evens the playing field.

Now that I think about it, Otis thorpe needs to be added because he was here for a while in comparison to the others, had solid seasons every year, worked hard, made an allstar game, and won a title. What more can you ask for? It is hard to imagine, but guys like Cuttino Mobley and Sleepy Floyd should actually land on this list.

It is really a shame that drugs and injuries decimated that Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggens, Ralpsh Sampson, John Lucas, Akeem Olajuwon, Rodney McCray, Robert Reid, Jim Peterson led team. They really could have been special. In the finals one year and dismantled the very next.

[TMU]

You know what...the problem with this is that many of the greatest players to ever don the Rocket red only played for the team over a very short span. Hell even Moses Malone eventually spent the majority of his career outside of Houston and we just voted him as the 2nd greatest Rocket of all time even though he was only a Rocket for 6 years. He accomplished a lot during those years and deserved the spot, but there really wasn't a lot of competition. Elvin Hayes was a Rocket for 7 years over two stints and only 4 of his prime years. Of those prime years, only one of them was actually in Houston as the Rockets were originally in San Diego. Barkley was here 4 years although he spent much of it injured. Drexler for 3 and a half years. Pippen had one very forgettable campaign. It's hard to remember, but there was a period when we did call Francis the Franchise. His 1st 5 years were here. McGrady has been here for 4 years. 4 and a half years for Sampson with only 3 being good before the injuries hit. Otis Thorpe deserves some consideration for his 6 and a half solid years of service. Mad Max and Kenny with 6 solid years. Cassell only 3 and had his best seasons elsewhere. Horry with his 4 best years here. Rodney McCray, John Lucas, Robert Reid, etc. It is crazy how so few of these guys actually were here for long periods of time. Hakeem is one of the few along with Murphy and Rudy T who can actually be referred to as lifers. It really makes this voting tough in a way, but I guess since they all spent so little time here, it kind of evens the playing field.

Now that I think about it, Otis thorpe needs to be added because he was here for a while in comparison to the others, had solid seasons every year, worked hard, made an allstar game, and won a title. What more can you ask for? It is hard to imagine, but guys like Cuttino Mobley and Sleepy Floyd should actually land on this list.

It is really a shame that drugs and injuries decimated that Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggens, Ralpsh Sampson, John Lucas, Akeem Olajuwon, Rodney McCray, Robert Reid, Jim Peterson led team. They really could have been special. In the finals one year and dismantled the very next.

Thanks for the input. For a moment I thought this was a bad idea considering the inadequate amount of votes and the lack of discussion into these threads.

I think Moses Malone is rightfully the 2nd greatest Rocket of all-time. He did play the majority of his career various regions, but as a player his absolute prime was when he rocked the Rockets uniform. He won 2 MVP awards here, selected to several All-NBA and one All-Defensive team.

There's no doubt that longevity is integral in these type of threads. But I don't think it is significantly more important than other factors such as winning championships and individual accomplishments. We have to keep all accounts in balance.

Yeah, the initial 5-candidate list that I've created prior to our first voting was composed of players who I thought were the most reputable as former Rockets players. Perhaps I should have included Rudy T over Elvin Hayes, and I am aware that it was not a perfectly accurate list to begin with. However, I don't think it will interfere with the outcome of the rankings. As long as we do enough research and try to be objective, I think we'll manage to create a precise list.

[Vator]

I mean if you go by career credentials, Elvin Hayes is right up at the top of the list. He was a good inclusion. He is one of the first guys that I thought about as well. The thing is, I didn't know a whole lot about him statistic wise because a great portion of his career was played prior to me being an avid basketball fan. I was just surprised at how few years so many of the guys that wore the uniform actually played here. For example, Charles Barkley's career accomplishments make him probably the 3rd or 4th guy on the list, but the fact that he spent so little of it here knocks him down several rungs.

Yeah we could use a little more discussion. I agree with that. That is why I stickied this. Hakeem was obvious number one, Moses was almost as much as a lock for slot 2. I think that maybe once the things get a little less obvious that we will generate more talk.

For example, I really feel that Rudy T should be on the list above Clyde. I noticed that Clyde has garnered more votes but I say Rudy because of the amount of time he spent with the franchise and his overall accomplishments with the team. Was he a better player than Clyde. Hell no! I'm not saying that at all, but I do believe that he did more for the franchise than "The Glyde" if we look at his overall body of work. Plus dude got punched in the face and had his mug exploded during the game. Talk about taking one for the team.

[TMU]

I mean if you go by career credentials, Elvin Hayes is right up at the top of the list. He was a good inclusion. He is one of the first guys that I thought about as well. The thing is, I didn't know a whole lot about him statistic wise because a great portion of his career was played prior to me being an avid basketball fan. I was just surprised at how few years so many of the guys that wore the uniform actually played here. For example, Charles Barkley's career accomplishments make him probably the 3rd or 4th guy on the list, but the fact that he spent so little of it here knocks him down several rungs.

Yeah we could use a little more discussion. I agree with that. That is why I stickied this. Hakeem was obvious number one, Moses was almost as much as a lock for slot 2. I think that maybe once the things get a little less obvious that we will generate more talk.

For example, I really feel that Rudy T should be on the list above Clyde. I noticed that Clyde has garnered more votes but I say Rudy because of the amount of time he spent with the franchise and his overall accomplishments with the team. Was he a better player than Clyde. Hell no! I'm not saying that at all, but I do believe that he did more for the franchise than "The Glyde" if we look at his overall body of work. Plus dude got punched in the face and had his mug exploded during the game. Talk about taking one for the team.

You're right, Rudy T had accomplished more as a player than Clyde had. I also ignored his role as coach during the 94'-95' championships. I always thought he was overrated as a coach, but I guess I am underestimating his heart as a champion.

Plus, when people think of Clyde, they'll associate him with those years he had as a Blazer.

Yeah, I decided to change my vote to Rudy T.