The biggest surprise of the offseason…

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…there’s actually a highlight video of Matt Maloney in existence on the internet.  Here it is:

I will need to double-check with Larry Coon, but I do believe Matt’s contract is still currently on the books.

Maloney became something of a mythical figure upon retirement, the subject of numerous urban legends around the greater Houston area.  While never corroborated, I’ve heard on account of at least three separate individuals tales of sheer dominance at local area recreation centers.

He was unguardable.  He’d have three or four guys draped on him at any one time.  He was burying threes from mid-court – absolutely unconscious; the best player I’ve ever gone up against.

I have nothing but appreciation for Maloney’s service in the 1996-1997 campaign when he stepped into emergency duty and filled the void at point guard.  But truth be told, he was undoubtedly the link that cost those Rockets a shot at the title.

Defending a double digit lead mid-way through the 4th quarter in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets simply had no answer for John Stockton who went berserk.  I’ll spare you guys the rest as we’re all familiar with the story.

But there was a report in the Chronicle earlier that year discussing a rumored deal that would have sent guard Brent Price to the Mavericks for veteran guard Derek Harper.  Allegedly, the Rockets balked when Dallas requested that a first rounder be included in the deal.  I still maintain that this non-deal was the most significant move of the “Big 3 Era.”  Harper could have reined in Stockton, at the very least for one basket less, and we would have seen a Game 7.

Reportedly, Kevin Johnson was also available at that time.  The Rockets opted to go to war with Sedalle Threatt instead.  The decision to not acquire a veteran point guard for the playoffs was what sealed the Rockets’ fate in ’97.