Charles Barkley: Tough Battle vs. Payton and the Sonics (1997 WCSF Game 4)

[@clutchcity25]

Charles says he couldn't play anymore when he got to Houston, yet he had a year where he had 19, 14, 5, 2 steals, and shot 48 percent from the field. A tad bit modest, I must say.

[@supervegito8513]

He was the second option behind Hakeem in 97

[@ollenesteban3442]

At the Age of 35 36 I think.... What a brilliant stat💪🏼

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Yeah he tried to remove himself from responsibility of failing to win a championship with Hakeem and Drexler... They manuevered that modest position well to remove each other of that full responsibility. Jordan won 2 titles in 97 and 98. He was drafted in same draft as Hakeem and Barkley. Jordan had Pippen and Rodman. Pippen wasn't healthy most of 1998. Still won. Karl Malone was drafted in 1985. Stockton 1984. Still they beat Houston, San Antonio and Los Angeles in 1997 and 1998. The big 3 Rockets lost. Fair and square. They tried, they failed. They had a capable championship team and roster. They lost. Barkley was still very very valuable. Olajuwon was still very very valuable. Drexler was still very very valuable. They lost together to Karl Malone and John Stockton. Two times.

[@HHH_3]

​@alecsanderhamilton9224 the rockets almost got to the championship that year if it wasn't for Stocktons lucky game winner. The rockets would have beaten the bulls.

[@dhide14]

I still can't believe Seattle lost both games 3 & 4 at home after getting the split in Houston in Game 2. Seattle had a chance to go up 3-1 just by taking care of their business at home. It was incredible for them to bounce back and win games 5 & 6, but they never had a chance in game 7 @ Houston. Kemp was a completely different player in '97 too, still burned from his contract dispute.

[@supervegito8513]

It was just like the 2000 Lakers Blazers series

[@vanishing_girl]

Charles was good his entire career, even when he lost his athleticism he still was great at rebounding, he was very strong, and he actually had pretty good post moves. In his 4 years with the Rockets he averaged 16-12-4 on 48% shooting. Unfortunately for him Clyde retired and Hakeem broke down, they had one really good shot at the title in 97 when all 3 of them made the all-star team, but John Stockton just destroyed Matt Maloney in the 97 WCF and the Jazz won. I would have loved to see Barkley, Hakeem, and Clyde vs. Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman.

[@lchris6997]

+Vseslav Botkin That's IMO the main reason why Cassell and Kenny getting traded turned out to be a big mistake in the long run, they always gave Stockton fits. Malone was never really dominant against Houston either and still wasn't his MVP year, Stockton did the majority of the dirty work in that series.

[@TruthBTold-]

That is like not being able to fuck the one girl you want who has the fattest ass ....Just got away

[@tdvu]

@@lchris6997 Well, if you dont get Barkley, you're never getting past Seattle in the 2nd round. The Rockets had trouble against the Sonics until Charles came to Houston. By getting an advantage against one team, you lose the advantage against another team.

[@lchris6997]

@@tdvu It's about matchups, the Rockets struggled so much with the Sonics when they had Drexler because they played small with Perkins being a shooter in the C position which made it difficult for Dream to stay in the paint. They matched up better when they had Thorpe because Dream didn't have to worry about Perkins as often, the period where the Sonics had the long winning streak was when the Rockets didn't have a real PF. The Suns were another small ball team that gave the Rockets problems they did have a 3-1 lead, the difference was they didn't have a C to draw Dream out of the paint and were inconsistent on defense.

[@stacksondeck34]

I remember this game. Barkley missed two FTs down the stretch but made up for it in overtime. Maloney played really well this series.

[@JMS1089]

Yea I agree. Back when he was in Philly, he was in phenomenal shape working out with Moses. Sometimes I think his own talent held him back in that he didn't have to work hard for a good portion of his career. Nonetheless, he gave out some great performances and he definitely deserved one or two rings.

[@CLewey44]

Chuck was about a year too late. Had he gotten there the year before they may would have 3-peated or at least made the Finals.

[@maxfight0701]

He was still very strong and good at offensive side.

[@neomysterio]

Injuries is what slowed him down.

[@Streetstraystx]

Hakeem was done by then surprisingly Barkley had more left in the tank ...

[@unddd8284]

Not reallu

[@ChrisM07]

Incorrect, G4 was actually the only real big game Barkley had in this series he even went scoreless the entire 4th quarter of G7.

[@clutchcity25]

Hakeem almost had a triple double this game.

[@Kicks-iw2xe]

All those years of drinking and eating crap crept up on him towards the end. If he looked after his body the rockets teams of 96-98 could of won a ring

[@JCT1926]

1:08 lol the camera angle makes maloney look like yao ming lol

[@Defender80s]

This was Barkley without the Leap, Agiliy, Speed and Potence he had before 1995-96. Still quite good but not the Sir Charles we all know

[@nixdapogs]

Kemp was already disgruntled at this point and will leave the sonics that summer. The beginning of his downfall

[@alexspencer8449]

0:31 Tampering?🤔

[@Riles3152]

It would be tampering if Barkley was an upcoming free agent and Karl brought him over for dinner to recruit him.

[@rickross2838]

lol :D