The Rockets inside presence meant one thing - funnel the ball to Hakeem and let him swat it away. He was the best defensive player in the league and the blocked shot was his trademark. Because the Rockets didn't have real ballhawks at every position (minus Vernon Maxwell), they used Dream as a goalie, which was appropriate considering his history as a soccer player and the fact that he is the best shot blocker in the history of the NBA. Very few teams had that kind of a backstop.

Today? Forget it. Cato has the potential to be a defensive stopper but he can't stay healthy or out of foul trouble. No one else has shown the propensity to act as the "goalie" and defenses will continue to exploit the Rockets weak interior defense until something changes.

One thing the Rockets could do in 93, 94 and 95 was get physical with teams. They had enough size with Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe, Charles Jones, Carl Herrera, Robert Horry and Chucky Brown inside and toughness with Mario Elie, Vernon Maxwell and Clyde Drexler outside to harass offenses and knock them down when necessary. Even when this didn't necessarily lead to a stop (it might end up in free throws for the other team), it was intimidating. Players had less of a tendency to drive the lane because, if Olajuwon wasn't swatting their shot, someone was fouling them hard.

The Rockets lack of bulk up front today creates significant problems when it comes to getting physical with other teams. Without any real size on the front line, teams have no fear of going to the basket. In addition, the inexperience of Mo Taylor, Kenny Thomas, Cato and Jason Collier leads to soft, tic-tac fouls rather than the harder intimidating variety. The guards are starting to improve defensively, especially Steve Francis and Shandon Anderson, but they need more help in the frontcourt.

If there was one area where the Rockets excelled on defense in the past, it was making smart decisions. Rudy T was able to install complex defensive rotations and double teams as a way to neutralize opposing offenses. Because the team was so experienced and skilled in this area, the Rockets consistently forced teams into tough shots and turnovers. Their rotations were quick and decisive and they always knew where to be on the defensive end of the floor.

This is the weakest area for the current Rockets defensively. Because they are still learning NBA offenses, it is nearly impossible to utilize any type of complex defensive schemes. Instead, the Rockets are forced to go one-on-one the majority of the time and double team only infrequently. One-on-one's result in good players getting good shots and, when the double team's come, the rotations are too slow to get back to the open man creating a wide open shot or drive to the basket.

2. Lack of Fokass

Hakeem's famous (for some of us) statement that the team needed to "fokass" has created confusion among younger fans and a constant source of amusement among those of us who remember it. However, it was no joke to Dream and it was one of the main reasons the Rockets won two championships.

Things like missed free throws, poorly executed plays, lazy passes and 24 second shot clock violations were uncommon during those championship runs, but they were even more uncommon during crunch time. The Rockets knew how to win and it led to two rings and some serious parties on Richmond Avenue. It was their trademark ability to win games in the clutch that turned a 20-point fourth quarter choke against Phoenix in the playoffs into an improbable championship. From "Choke City" to "Clutch City" in one week.

Francis, Cuttino Mobley and company haven't learned to "fokass" yet. Most of that can be blamed on youth. Bonehead plays, missed free throws and poor execution down the stretch (especially at home!) has been the cause for many a hair being ripped from the heads of fans all over Houston. The fact is that the decision making has been bad but so has the execution of decisions made. The combination is deadly.

3. Unselfishness

If there was one thing the red and gold Rockets were, it was unselfish. They moved the ball to the open man and gave up the ball whenever necessary. When Olajuwon finally learned that trusting his teammates led to wins, he gave up the ball and the team began to win. It was that trust that allowed players like Horry, Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell and Elie to get big wins for the team.

Horry's shot against San Antonio in the playoffs to win the game when he had gone scoreless and shot 0 for forever all night. Smith's three pointers in game one against the Orlando Magic in the Finals. Elie's "Kiss of Death" in Phoenix. Maxwell's nearly nightly heroics. Cassell's gutsy and agressive play during the Finals against the Knicks. All those heroics were made possible by the fact that the best player on the team was willing to share the spotlight if it meant winning. He was still the best player in the NBA even with his teammates helping. In fact, it could be argued that it was only when he learned to play unselfishly that he truly became one of the greatest players in the game. After all, the mark of a truly great player is his ability to make those around him better.

This is something the pinstripe Rockets are learning but it is coming very slowly. There is still the look of disbelief when fouls aren't called on wild shots. Bad shots are forced up at the wrong times. Players drive to the hole with two defenders on them when their teammates sit wide open. Fast breaks are run poorly because teammates don't know how or when to give up the ball.

Sharing is infectious. Not only is it infectious, it breeds winning. Not only does it breed winning, but it makes average players good, good players great and great players into superstars. Until the Rockets learn the value of sharing with their teammates, they will continue to struggle no matter how much talent they posses.

4. Finishing

None of the unselfishness Olajuwon displayed during the championship years would have mattered if his teammates wouldn't have been able to follow through and make shots. The Rockets were fearless and cold-blooded in their wins. They knew when to shoot the ball and they were not afraid to miss.

So often, players want the ball but don't know what to do with it when they get it in a pressure situation. Elie, Horry, Smith, Cassell, Drexler, Olajuwon and others were never afraid to be the goat. They would take shots and miss if necessary but they would not pass up an open shot if it was there. Win or lose, they would do it together and, if the shots didn't fall, they didn't fall.

What sets this young team apart is that they do have heart but they don't yet know how to follow through on that. They think they have an idea but that is a long way from the confidence that comes with knowing.

When they take an important shot, they cannot be afraid to miss. If they are, they will miss every time. This isn't to say that they should fling up any shot they get. Rather, they should wait for the game to come to them, but when it does, shoot with confidence. Don't be afraid to look stupid or you will most definitely look stupid the majority of the time. Unfortunately, experience is the only teacher that really matters when it comes to learning how to win. Fortunately, this team has plenty of time.

5. Be Aggressive Early

The Rockets of old had a tendency to lose leads. Maybe it was age. Maybe it was a lapse in "fokass." Whatever the reason, they did lose leads from time to time. However, they had the leads to begin with. They knew the value of a fast start. Fifteen wins to start the 1993-94 season and 9 to begin the 1994-95 season. Those are fast starts.

The value of starting quickly isn't just in the lead on the scoreboard. It is a signal to the other team that you mean business. It is a boost to your own confidence and a blow to your opponent's. It signals to the referees that you are going to be the aggressor, which gives you an advantage. It is as important psychologically as it is strategically. It can mean the difference between winning and losing. Better to force a team to fight from being down 10 than have to battle back yourself.

The new-look Rockets haven't figured this one out. Too often, they allow teams to get out to a fast start or build a lead. They have made furious comebacks recently, but that will take its toll in time.

Again, this is a consequence of youth. The lack of "fokass" (there's that word again) on the game early on and the inability to get involved quickly demonstrates the lack of mental preparedness that comes with youth. More than losing, the energy they expend climbing uphill against teams will wear thin after a while. It is mentally and physically exhausting to constantly have to battle back from deficits and, eventually, they will grow weary of constantly having to exert themselves in that way.

Now, none of this is to say that the young Rockets don't posses the talent or skill level to make the jump to the level of their predecessors. It is fairly obvious that, with some additions here and there, they can become a contender. They do have one thing on the Rockets of the past: they can score in bunches. But, no amount of offense can make up for their biggest enemy, their lack of experience. As they mature and grow as players and people, they will see their talents begin to blossom and so will we.

We are all fortunate to be here to witness it. Never in the history of the franchise has a core of players all about the same age had the opportunity to mature together over time. With some luck and a good dose of experience, the young Rockets can learn to overcome the same obstacles the Hakeem-led Rockets did and return the franchise to contender status where it belongs.