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Saturday, May 31, 1997

Rockets begin painful assessment after loss

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ / Associated Press

HOUSTON - They said the Houston Rockets were old this season.

So, what will the Rockets do to keep from getting even creakier now that a devastating last-second shot by Utah's John Stockton has stopped them from going for a third NBA title in four years?

"I think we'd get better even if we didn't make changes," Carroll Dawson, Houston's executive vice president, said Friday. "Look at how long teams have to be together to win. You have to consider that."

The blockbuster trade that brought Charles Barkley to the Rockets last August was supposed to get the Rockets back to the NBA Finals. Stockton, though, ended all that with a flick of his wrist, hitting a 26-foot shot at the buzzer for a 103-100 victory Thursday night in the Western Conference finals.

It was a bitter ending, one that coach Rudy Tomjanovich won't forget.

"When I'm an old man sitting on the porch, I'll say that this was a great team," Tomjanovich said. "It will be a disappointment because I really thought we had the team to win it. We've won championships with less."

Adding the talkative Barkley got the Rockets only one step closer than a year ago when they were swept by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

This time, the Rockets beat the Sonics in a rugged seven-game semifinals series only to run into the Jazz, who had the best record in the Western Conference. And when Stockton went up for his game winner, Tomjanovich couldn't watch.

"As soon as I saw John Stockton get the ball I turned away and didn't look," Tomjanovich said. "He makes that shot all the time."

The Rockets were hounded by questions of age and injury throughout the season, and now it will increase.

Although the superstars - Hakeem Olajuwon, Barkley and Clyde Drexler - along with Kevin Willis and key free agent signees Sedale Threatt and Eddie Johnson are well into their 30s, Tomjanovich wants to keep that mix working.

"We're not going to change that much," Tomjanovich said. "We have some older players here and we need more energy. We need more young players. We had them early but they got hurt."

Olajuwon and Drexler will return next season. Barkley has one year remaining on his contract but he's not talking about his future.

"Obviously, this is a turning point in my life," Barkley said. "I can't make any rash decisions. I'm not discussing the future but I've had a really good time this season. This is the best coaching staff I've had and I really enjoyed it."

"I have to continue to work and stay healthy and get ready for another quality year," says Olajuwon, who is signed to a long-term deal. "This was a good year for me. I feel great and want to maintain it."

Drexler and Mario Elie also have a year remaining on their contracts. That leaves rookie Matt Maloney, a key starter who the Rockets want to re-sign.

Maloney is one of nine free agents and among the most likely to get offers from other teams.

Tomjanovich also said he's interested in bringing Threatt and Johnson back.

"Age is always a concern," Tomjanovich said. "It was this year too. But it's been great to come up with our options. We were blessed to get Eddie Johnson and Sedale."

Before the season even started, critics pointed to the Rockets' aging superstars as the main reason they wouldn't make it to the Finals. That appeared to be the case through the season, as the Rockets suffered through a maelstrom of injuries.

It started in preseason when Brent Price, projected as the Rockets' starting point guard, suffered the first of a series of injuries that eventually ended his season.

Barkley missed 25 games with a sprained right ankle and a bruised left pelvis. Drexler missed 19 games with a sprained left hamstring.

Now the guessing begins.

"Who knows, I may not be here," Elie said. "There are a couple of guys who may not be here. I'll just enjoy the summer but it's going to be a discouraging time. We had our chances." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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