Barkley's Suns utter choke jobs vs the Rockets in 94 & 95...

[coastalmarker99]

Are these the 2 greatest choke jobs in NBA history by a superstar and team?

Win the first 2 games ON THE ROAD in 1994 and go on to lose the series
Up 3-1 in 1995 and lose in 7, with HCA in games 5 and 7.


I understand giving Barkley a break for losing to Jordan in 1993 who was at his apex as a player but this is unacceptable for a superstar as if he had taken care of the Rockets as he should have then he might have 2 rings for his career.



I love Barkley and I wish he won a ring so people would respect him more but man losing from those positions hurts.

[coastalmarker99]

Still, despite all of that those early 90's suns, teams were very fun to watch - they might have fallen short in the end but man they played entertaining basketball.

[2much_knowledge]

That sucks. Victim of the 2 best players of the decade. But it his own fault

[coastalmarker99]

That sucks. Victim of the 2 best players of the decade. But it his own fault


Yes it is as he was out partying all night before game 5 in 1995 in which they could have put the Rockets away instead they won in Ot and the Suns would then go on to blow a 3 1 series lead.

[Smoke117]

Yes it is as he was out partying all night before game 5 in 1995 in which they could have put the Rockets away instead they won in Ot and the Suns would then go on to blow a 3 1 series lead.

Barkley also played like crap in game 7 at home, too. You can blame the loss of that series completely on him. If he just played decently they should have won one of those games.

[TheCorporation]

Almost as bad as Gary Payton and the Sonics in the 90s


90s ball was primitive at best

[BigShotBob]

Pretty sure he had a bad back those years

[Gotterdammerung]

I watched both series, since I was a big fan of Hakeem Olajuwon back then.

I remember the Rockets blowing leads in the first two games of the 1994 semifinals. And by Game 7, Barkley was a shell of himself with a groin injury. Even then, he had 24 and 15 boards. In that series, it was obvious the Suns couldn't make key stops and they had no chance of slowing down the Dream. I remember Sam Cassell falling on Barkley on the floor, and seeing him roll around in pain.

In the 1995 playoffs, it was even worse. The Rockets survived a deathmatch with the 60-win Jazz in the first round. Plus Barkley had a bad knee that needed treatment during stoppage. Despite hobbling around he had 18 and 23 in Game 7. He couldn't finish strong in that series, routinely getting blocked at the rim by the Dream. While it was much closer this time, (Kiss of Death shot) there was no denying the fact that the Rockets had the best player on the floor and almost every night the Rockets had someone step up big.

[dankok8]

IIRC KJ was the Suns' best player in much of those two series as well. Barkley was pretty forgettable. Honestly 1993 was his last prime year. After that he started a pretty noticeable decline.

[coastalmarker99]

IIRC KJ was the Suns' best player in much of those two series as well. Barkley was pretty forgettable. Honestly 1993 was his last prime year. After that he started a pretty noticeable decline.

Indeed he was as Kevin Johnson, had the best playoff run in his career in 1995 You usually don’t ever lose with that combination, but somehow the Suns found a way.

Those mid-1990's Suns teams were loaded: Barkley, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle were multiple-time All-Stars with Barkley a former MVP, and they had great veteran role players in AC Green, Danny Ainge, and Wayman Tisdale (the first 2 with multiple championships). They also had former All-Star Danny Manning, but he got injured, which probably cost them since it was so close.

[pandiani17]

Indeed he was as Kevin Johnson, had the best playoff run in his career in 1995 You usually don’t ever lose with that combination, but somehow the Suns found a way.

Those mid-1990's Suns teams were loaded: Barkley, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle were multiple-time All-Stars with Barkley a former MVP, and they had great veteran role players in AC Green, Danny Ainge, and Wayman Tisdale (the first 2 with multiple championships). They also had former All-Star Danny Manning, but he got injured, which probably cost them since it was so close.

This. You are also forgetting Tom Chambers. Which makes those losses to Houston even worse for Barkley.

[AussieSteve]

In 1994, Barkley's back was so bad by the end of the rockets series that he was having pre game and half time injections just to be able to be on the court. He could barely make it up and down the court and still had 24 and 15.

As has already been stated in this thread, the suns could not get stops, a big part of that was Barkley's lack of mobility.

If he was half healthy, the suns win the chip that year no doubt.

1994 article about rockets suns game 7 and Barkley's injury (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-22-sp-60780-story.html%3f_amp=true)

[coastalmarker99]

In 1994, Barkley's back was so bad by the end of the rockets series that he was having pre game and half time injections just to be able to be on the court. He could barely make it up and down the court and still had 24 and 15.

As has already been stated in this thread, the suns could not get stops, a big part of that was Barkley's lack of mobility.

If he was half healthy, the suns win the chip that year no doubt.

1994 article about rockets suns game 7 and Barkley's injury (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-22-sp-60780-story.html%3f_amp=true)



Ok, then I will give him a pass then for 1994 as I did not realise he was playing hurt at the time.

[3ball]

.

1994 ECSF

KJ.... 27/10 on 44%


1995 ECSF

KJ.... 28/9 on 58% (and the legendary dunk over Hakeem)


KJ was #1 option over Barkley but couldn't carry the hobbled Barkley over peak Hakeem

But in 1990, KJ made the WCF by upsetting Magic's 1-seeded Lakers

Ultimately, KJ had a superior standard capability (20/10) and peak capability (shown above) than Pippen, who peaked at 22/5 with 2nd Round loss.. About 200 guys accomplished that

[SATAN]

MJ went 1-11 for 4 points vs Puerto Rico.

Ultimately, Sir Charles was the most dominant player on the Dream Team.

[AussieSteve]

.

1994 ECSF

KJ.... 27/10 on 44%


1995 ECSF

KJ.... 28/9 on 58% (and the legendary dunk over Hakeem)


KJ was #1 option over Barkley but couldn't carry the hobbled Barkley over peak Hakeem

But in 1990, KJ made the WCF by upsetting Magic's 1-seeded Lakers

Ultimately, KJ had a superior standard capability (20/10) and peak capability (shown above) than Pippen, who peaked at 22/5 with 2nd Round loss.. About 200 guys accomplished that

I think it's pretty unanimous that Pippen is better than KJ.

Also, you should stop trying to derail threads with irrelevant trolling.

[ShawkFactory]

Also, you should stop trying to derail threads with irrelevant trolling.

Fvcking seriously

[HBK_Kliq_2]

One reason why Barkley is one of the most overrated players in NBA history. Add it to the list.

Low iq, fat, not a good enough shooter, choker, terrible leader, no defense

[AussieSteve]

One reason why Barkley is one of the most overrated players in NBA history. Add it to the list.

Low iq, fat, not a good enough shooter, choker, terrible leader, no defense

The knock on Barkley is that consistent injuries prevented him from being a force in the playoffs after 1993.

His performances in the 94 and 95 playoffs are not a reflection on how good he was from 86-93.

Read my post earlier itt and the below article from 1994.

1994 article about rockets suns game 7 and Barkley's injury (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-22-sp-60780-story.html%3f_amp=true)