Your championships had been sandwiched between two Michael Jordan three-peats. Do you suppose these Rockets groups have gotten their correct due for what they achieved? Kenny Smith: You can’t erase history. I don’t know if you get proper due, but you can’t erase history. 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 12 months. He had 55 factors in opposition to the Knicks, who had been arguably the very best defensive crew in basketball at the moment. No, he was Michael Jordan. (The Bulls) simply weren’t nearly as good a basketball crew. The crew 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 12 months, so there was just one 12 months he wasn’t there. He did play (throughout the second title run). He was there, and we simply didn’t get a chance to satisfy them. -via Houston Chronicle / August 14, 2024