Your championships have been sandwiched between two Michael Jordan three-peats. Do you assume these Rockets groups have gotten their correct due for what they achieved? Kenny Smith: You possibly can’t erase historical past. I don’t know in case you get correct due, however you’ll be able to’t erase historical past. Everybody at all times says, “Properly, Michael was out.” No, he wasn’t — he was sporting No. 45 (in 1995). And everyone seems to be saying, “Oh, he was rusty.” Nobody was saying he was rusty when he had 55 factors at Madison Sq. Backyard that very same yr. He had 55 factors towards the Knicks, who have been arguably the perfect defensive workforce in basketball at the moment. No, he was Michael Jordan. (The Bulls) simply weren’t nearly as good a basketball workforce. The workforce they misplaced to, the Orlando Magic, we swept. I by no means have a look at it as getting respect. You possibly can’t erase historical past. And we’re right here to remain. He did play that yr, so there was just one yr he wasn’t there. He did play (through the second title run). He was there, and we simply didn’t get a chance to fulfill them. -via Houston Chronicle / August 14, 2024
