Rockets–Spurs rivalry

The Rockets-Spurs or Spurs-Rockets rivalry is an ongoing series of encounters between two NBA teams: the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. Also known as the I-10 Rivalry since both San Antonio and Houston lie on Interstate 10, it is one of the three Rivalries of the NBA between teams from Texas.

Background

The rivalry began in 1980 when the Rockets led by Moses Malone and Calvin Murphy beat the Spurs led by George Gervin and James Silas. The rivalry grew intense as both teams moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference. The rivalry sparkled in 1995 when the sixth-seeded Rockets led by Hakeem Olajuwon beat the top-seeded Spurs led by MVP David Robinson.

Even after Olajuwon was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2001, he recalled the fond memories he had of playing against his old San Antonio rival, David Robinson.

"I think when I walk on to that court (at the Alamodome), maybe then it might hit me, all the games I played against San Antonio and the great rivalry we had,...I'm pretty sure David will be very surprised to see me wearing a new uniform. I'm sure it's going to be strange, but at the same time it will be very special. The memories, the competition, the rivalry. I am very much looking forward to it."

• Olajuwon, ^[1]

Notable games

1995 Playoffs

In 1995 the Rockets were looking to win their second consecutive NBA Finals. Despite a slow start by the team, the sixth-seeded Rockets (47-35) managed to get through their first opponent, the third-seeded Utah Jazz (60-22) 3-2, and the second-seeded Phoenix Suns (59-23) 4-3. The Rockets would encounter the top seeded Spurs waiting (62-20) for them in the Conference finals. The Spurs had swept their first round opponent, the Denver Nuggets (41-41) before defeating the Lakers (48-34) in 6 games.

Olajuwon displayed perhaps the most impressive moments of his career when the Rockets faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals. Recently crowned league MVP Robinson was outplayed by Olajuwon, 35•24 PPG. When asked later what a team could do to "solve" Olajuwon, Robinson told LIFE magazine: "Hakeem? You don't solve Hakeem."^[2] The Rockets won every road game that series and beat the Spurs 4-2. The Rockets would go on to sweep the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals 4-0, and secure their second championship.

2004 Rockets comeback

On December 9, 2004. After a long fought game in which the Spurs had mostly led (up by 10 points with less than a minute left) and the Rockets audience beginning to boo their own team; Tracy McGrady managed to score 13 points in 35 seconds, including a 3 pointer at the buzzer to give the Rockets a comeback win. The game ended a Rocket 8-game losing streak against the San Antonio Spurs.^[3]

2008 Spurs comeback

In 2008, the teams would meet for the first match on November 14 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs began the 2008 season with their worst record in franchise history (2-4), as a result of an injury to Manu Ginóbili at the 2008 Olympic games, and a sprained ankle to Tony Parker early in the season^[4]. This was the first regular season game in which the newly acquired Ron Artest along with Tracy McGrady and Chinese center Yao Ming would face San Antonio. The Rockets led most of the game, going up by as much as 14 points with 7 minutes left.^[5] Despite missing more than 40 points in scoring from their two injured guards, two time MVP Tim Duncan (22 pts) and Rookie George Hill (17 pts) would lead the Spur's comeback. The Spurs would finally take a lead (76-75) with 59 seconds left on a Tim Duncan Hook Shot.^[5] Tim Duncan blocked a layup that would have given the Rockets the lead with less than 2 seconds left. After a missed Spurs free throw, the Rockets would get one last change to win but Artest missed on a three-point field goal as time expired giving San Antonio a 77-75 victory.^[5]

See also

• NBA
• Rivalries of the NBA
• NBA Rivalries (List)
• San Antonio Spurs
• Houston Rockets

References

1. ^ Zicarelli, Frank (December 12, 2001). "OLAJUWON'S RETURN HOME A DREAM TRIP". The Toronto Sun.
2. ^ Hakeem Olajuwon, nba.com/history. (Accessed January 3, 2007.)
3. ^ McGrady's late 3-pointer beats clock, Spurs, China Daily. October 12, 2004.
4. ^ "Duncan scores 22 points, leads the Spurs to another home victory", NBA.com, November 14, 2008
5. ^ ^{a b c} Monroe, Mike. "Late surge propels Spurs past Rockets", San Antonio Express News. November 14, 2008. (Accessed November 15, 2008)

Categories: National Basketball Association rivalries | Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs