March 18, 2008
As you may have heard, the Houston Rockets have won 22 straight games.
And I’ll admit, I thought they would be done after star center Yao Ming went down. Certainly Tracy McGrady, who had previously led the Orlando Magic to many playoff series collapses, can take this team and carry them to the top of the almighty Western Conference.
Nobody could have foreseen this type of domination by McGrady and the Rockets, especially in the highly competitive West, which makes the East look like the J-V league.
So, why are the Rockets flourishing when they should be shriveling?
Well, first, the workload does not fall directly on McGrady’s shoulders. In the game versus the Lakers, guard Rafer Alston scored a career-high 31 points, and Rockets forward Shane Battier shadowed Kobe Bryant all night, and even when Kobe got a shot off, Shane Battier had a hand in his face.
The Rockets are sharing the ball and playing defense. Eleven out of their last 13 wins have been by at least 10 points or more. Rockets role players have stepped up, and forward Luis Scola has had a very nice first year in the NBA. Veteran guard Bobby Jackson is also putting in work, and all have contributed to the continued success of the Rockets.
Even Dikembe Mutumbo, who might be 100 years old, is playing with vigor on defense.
Many skeptics have criticized the run, saying that they’ve only beaten bad teams, but the win versus the Lakers was a silencer.
The Rockets have a real test Tuesday versus the top team in the league, the Boston Celtics. Although the Rockets are scorching teams, the Celtics could put out the fire. The Celtics own one of the best defenses in the league to go with the new "Big 3."
How long the Rockets will keep this winning streak alive is up to their defense. If they can beat the Celtics, they are a legit team to watch for in the playoffs. If not, it may seem like it’s not a big deal because it is the best team in the league, but it might be a red flag. There is a big difference between playing well and having a little luck, and actually being a powerhouse.
