Last week, I openly debated whether the Houston Rockets' then-19 game win streak meant they were a legit contender. Since that time, they extended the streak to 22 before back-to-back lopsided losses to Boston and New Orleans. In light of this, I ask again; are the Rockets serious threats in the loaded West? Let's look back at something I said last week:

"The Rockets' win streak is impressive, no doubt, but look at who they've played. Only New Orleans and I think Denver... were impressive victories. During the streak, they haven't played the Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Pistons, Suns or Jazz, to name a few."

Well, they since have played the Lakers and Celtics, and they did beat the Lakers convincingly, but without Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Looking futher into the streak, when they beat Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki was suspended for that game. So Houston did catch a lot of breaks in the streak. Granted, with streaks like that, you need lucky bounces, but only Chauncey Billups gets more breaks than these guys did! But look even deeper, and you'll see something very dangerous for any team; arrogance.

I saw it in both the Lakers and Celtics game. Some may call it confidence, some may call it swagger. I call it arrogance. The way Rafer Alston and Bobby Jackson celebrated making shots like Magic Johnson celebrated winning his first NBA game (by nearly choking Kareem)! Let's not forget that this team last celebrated a playoff series win in 1997! That's where the legitimacy will be determined. Showing such reactions for a regular season game shows a possible case of Piston-itis, or complacency. Can this team afford to be complacent before the playoffs?

Of course that's a rhetorical question, but if Houston showed anything from their recent failures, it's that they need Tracy McGrady to be in top form to win a playoff series. McGrady has had two off games, and the results (a 94-74 loss to Boston and a 90-69 loss to the Hornets) have been predictable. McGrady must show that he can lead a contender to at least a first-round win. And while no Western team can afford to lose many games in a row, Houston is the team in most dire need of home-court; if they drop below 4th, I guarantee they'll lose in the first round. They're only two games ahead of 7th (Dallas) so they better be careful.

In summation, is Houston filet, or baloney? They certainly tasted like filet during their streak, but if they don't put a halt to the performances (I use that loosely) of late, they'll become baloney. In my opinion, this team doesn't look like they have the parts to go very far in the West, and until the playoffs start, I firmly believe that fortune won't look as kindly on them as it did during their win streak.