NBA PLAYOFFS : Rockets Still Have Dream of Repeating in the Finals : Western Conference: Olajuwon leads Houston to 100-95 victory over San Antonio to clinch series.

The Houston Rockets are the Western Conference champions for a second consecutive year, meaning the road to the NBA title still goes through the Summit. This is somewhat remarkable since it never really went through there in the first place.

They played three series without the home-court advantage. They played three teams that had won at least 50 games, two that had broken 60, including one, the most recent, that had a league-best 62 victories during the regular season. And they beat all of them.

The San Antonio Spurs, the favorites of many to win it all, lasted six games, then finally fell Thursday night, right at the feet of Hakeem Olajuwon. He got 39 points and 17 rebounds, and the Rockets got a 100-95 victory before 16,611 to take the series, 4-2.

Game, set, state.

“They’re the world champions,” Spur guard Avery Johnson said. “They taught us something in this series about the heart of a champion.”

This was the latest lesson. The Rocket offense scored six consecutive points to turn a 93-92 deficit with 2:42 remaining into a 98-93 cushion with 30 seconds left. The defense surrendered one field goal in the final three minutes.

Afterward, they ran off the court in celebration usually saved for first-timers, not veteran clubs who know the real goal lies ahead. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich had his arm in the air and hugged Kenny Smith. Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler practically giggled like high schoolers at the postgame news conference.

That’s how big this was to the Rockets, counted out at midseason, sixth best in the West at the end of the regular season and a game away from elimination five times during the first two rounds of the playoffs. And now they’re going back to the finals to face either Orlando or Indiana starting next Wednesday.

“It’s very hard to express how you could feel about a group of guys with their backs against the wall and hanging together,” Tomjanovich said. “I wish everybody could go through it. It’s very heartwarming.”

Dare he say it? Better than winning the championship a year ago on the same court?

“Just as good,” Tomjanovich said. “Right now, it’s better.”

There was similar debate about Olajuwon: Has he ever been better? Six games of making the Spurs pay for offering mostly single coverage. Six games of affirmation that, while David Robinson was easily voted the most valuable player, Olajuwon is still the toughest sheriff in these parts.

Start with points: Olajuwon 212, Robinson 143.

Rebounds: Olajuwon 75, Robinson 68.

Blocks: Olajuwon 25, Robinson 13.

Shooting: Olajuwon 56%, Robinson 44.9%.

Attitude: Olajuwon stepping up again, Robinson often too timid.

“Should there be another vote?” Drexler said, smiling. “What do you think?

“Of course I think so. But Dream has come to the realization that the trophy has already been given away. All we can do now is get the trophy. The team trophy.”

Said Robinson: “He was very, very good. He was remarkable. He hit tough shots. I don’t know how I could say it with a straight face, but I thought I defended him pretty well. That man played as well as I’ve seen anybody play in a long time.”

It was Olajuwon’s defense that helped seal the victory. It came with about 30 seconds left and the Rockets up, 97-93, after Robert Horry made a three-point shot and Robinson missed two free throws wide left. This was a chance to draw close enough to perhaps take the game down to a final possession when Robinson got the ball out on the baseline and drove to the basket.

Just as he got close, Olajuwon moved to close off his path. Robinson went up in the air, looking for something to do, and got caught with no options. He threw the ball out front to nobody, leaving Rocket Sam Cassell to chase it down.

Cassell gained possession, then was quickly fouled. He made one of two from the line for a 98-93 lead with 37.5 seconds showing. The Spurs were done, for the night and the season.

“I don’t think I’ve felt anything like this since I’ve been in sports,” Robinson said. “It’s disappointing. You play so hard. It’s just a crummy way to end a good year.”

The Rockets’ year, in a sense, is just beginning. One more round to make the season, or make up for what has come before.

“It’s amazing isn’t it?” Cassell said. “During the season, everyone counted us out. Isn’t it strange?”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA PLAYOFFS

Houston’s road to defending its NBA championship is a long one, but the Rockets have been there and done it before:

LOWEST-SEEDED TEAMS TO REACH NBA FINALS:

Team Year Seed Houston Rockets 1995 No. 6 Houston Rockets 1981 No. 6 Seattle SuperSonics 1978 No. 4 Boston Celtics 1969 No. 4

50-50-50

The Rockets became the fourth team in NBA history to beat three 50-victory teams in the playoffs. To earn a second consecutive championship, they will have to become the first to do it four times.

* 1994-95 Rockets: Beat Utah (60-22), Phoenix (59-23), San Antonio (62-20).

* 1979-80 Lakers: Beat Phoenix (55-27), Seattle (56-26), Philadelphia (59-23).

* 1972-73 Knicks: Beat Baltimore (52-30), Boston (68-14), Lakers (60-22).

* 1968-69 Celtics: Beat Philadelphia (55-27), New York (54-28), Lakers (55-27).