No, I'm not talking about this year's Houston Astros team, I'm talking about the team whose season was supposedly lost: the Rockets. If they can stay healthy they will knock the Lakers out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Staying healthy is the key. T-mac and Yao have missed a combined 36 games this season and have rarely found themselves on the same court at the same time. Since coming back from his injury, Yao has been putting up dominating numbers and looks to be forming into the breakout player we all knew he could be. Since February 1st the Rockets are 14-4 and what looked to have been a season left for the lottery may turn out to be a very scary number 8 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture. Should we really be expecting anything less though? When T-Mac was traded to Houston everyone was anticipating the combination of two of the league's most talented youngsters. The dangerous McGrady who can kill you from just about anywhere on the court on the offensive end combined with a dominating center presence of Yao Ming. Houston didn't bring McGrady in for the "lottery." They brought him in to help win a championship...or two. While the Rockets aren't quite that good yet, there is no reason to doubt that they can be a strong legitimate contender for the title when both of their stars are healthy. As it stands now, Yao is dominating and if he and T-Mac remain healthy through the duration, they will make the playoffs and Kobe will be watching from the mansion.