With all of the furore that's now said to be going on in the NBA and in particular within the Western Conference. One has really got to sit up and take note as to what this improbable run by the Houston Rockets has done. Their impressive win streak which now stands at 19 consecutive victories is all the more improbable when factor in that they're playing without their top scorer and one might state leader , All Star center Yao Ming.
Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets exchanges a few friendly words with Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets. McGrady and the Hockets would go on to win the game 91-73. picture courtesy of afp/ Bill Blast .......
Ming's loss due to an unforeseen injury may well have put to an end the hopes of a less resolute team that harbored wishes to garner a postseason berth. However this has not been the case with the Houston Rockets. As they've blazed a trail across the conference with their scorched earth policy of taking no prisoners and laying waste to their opponents along the way. And no one has been more impressive in their play as of late than Tracy McGrady of the Rockets. In particular has been his resolve and demeanor. He's now matured into the player that many had believed he could become. Unselfish and and prepared to defer to others when necessary.
McGrady drives the lane against Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets. picture courtesy of reuters/ Richard Carson .........
But also what has been uncompromising about his play, is his wish to include his teammates in all aspects of the game. And McGrady himself has begun to show leadership qualities that few of us even thought that he had. Coach Rick Adelman has the team playing a sound brand of aggressive basketball on both ends of ther floor. And even the wily veteran Dikembe Mutombo is showing us that age is nothing but a number , at the age of 42. Who'd have thought that there were legs left on the ol' dog ? Adelman has got the players to buy into his policy of playing the game with sound fundamental play. Few turnovers and that defense is the key to winning. And won they have with astounding regularity. Their 19 consecutive wins is the third longest streak in NBA history and a franchise record for the Rockets. Hard to believe that a team that posssessed the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler never achieved such a feat ?
Nets' forward Vince Carter goes up for a shot over Rockets' center Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo's play has been very persuasive in the Rockets' continued dominance of their opponents as of late. picture courtesy of reuters/ Richard Carson ..........
What is even more surprising is that they're now contesting the current NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot within the Southwestern Division table. At 43-20 they sit a game behind San Antonio and 1.5 game infront of the New Orleans Hornets. Were the playoffs to start today the Rockets would be the third seed in the Western Conference behind the Spurs and Lakers respectively. And whilst no one would immediately consider the Rockets to be favorites to win it all. Their names can and ought to be considered as part of te equation . Especially if we're said to be considering contenders in the Western Conference ? And though the presumed favorites at this juncture would be the Spurs and Lakers based on their records. One can't count out the Rockets. It'd be remiss to do so and when placed into context as to how they've been playing.
Steve Novak shoots from beyond the arc against the New Jersey Nets in a game played at the Toyota Center in Houston . picture courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Bill Baptist.........
Putting together a run of 19 consecutive wins is hard enough . But when you consider the competitiveness of the Western Conference it is downright astonishing and impressive . As I'd alluded to before in this piece McGrady seems to have now found his niche as a player and it may well have been a long and hard journey for him. But the dividends seem finally to be paying off. And the beneficiary of it all has to be the Rockets themselves and the fans of the franchise. The raucous crowds are shouting their encouragement to the players. And that if anything has got to be all the more pleasing to a player of McGrady's psyche. Whilst in Toronto and Orlando in particular he couldn't gain the respect of the fans. And was often seen as a malcontent and self absorbed in his own importance. And though his tenure in Houston has seen its ebbs and flows . It can be said that finally he might well be adjusting to a place where he feels needed and loved.
McGrady and the Nets Devin Harris contest a loose ball during the game. picture courtesy of ap/photo/Pat Sullivan .........
Though some might think it presumptuous one has to wonder what would now be happening had not Yao Ming been injured ? The Rockets with both Ming and McGrady in tandem would surely be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs . But that's all supposition at this juncture and games aren't won by suppositions . They're won by the play on the courts and the teams that are out there competing at the time. And that's what the Rockets and McGrady have definately been doing as of late. And the league in particula is better off for it.
Bobby Jackson will pay off more than people think. He loves Coach Rick and Rick loves him. He isn't gonna go for 25, but will do so many under the radar things that helped Bibby that will to help T-Mac and Rafer. Am I a little biased since he was a gopher, maybe. But then again some guys really fit with some coaches, this is one of those situations.
Good job, I dont know if you got a chance to check out my "Recognizing the Rockets" blog, but I totally agree about T-Mac. People's #1 thing to say was that T-Mac was going to be hurt or ineffective within the week after Yao went down. So far he has done nothing but play MVP-caliber ball of late. People need to shut-up about T-Mac, they criticize his ability to win in the playoffs, but his teams pushed for game-7's (Orlando, and Houston) against teams who advanced to the conference finals each time. So what if he felt comfortable with a 3-1 lead? Should he not have? He gets an unfair amount of heat, like KG used to in Min. McGrady is still an above average player, and an all-star (the only reason he was not this season is because he said he would not play in the All-Star game while he was projected to be voted a starter).
Gotta like the job Adelman is doing with this team. I'm still not entirely sold on them, though. I know they're playing hot ball (understatement), but can you see them advancing past a Dallas, Phoenix, San Anton or L.A., even if they do have home court advantage?
good post. I've maintained for years the Bryant and McGrady are virtual clones of each other when both are healthy.
Bryant is the better defender, McGrady the better 3 shooter but otherwise their game is a mirror of the other.
Sure I'd like the Lakers to win the West but this streak is exciting and I'm in no mood to see it end. NBA history is more exciting than any single season. GO TMAC!!!!
"can you see them advancing past a Dallas, Phoenix, San Anton or L.A., even if they do have home court advantage?"
Yes, particularly against the defenseless Lakers and Suns. I keep thinking Dallas is going to go on a tear with Kidd, their schedule is easy through this week and the 3 contenders next week are all at home. If they can sweep those games against the Lakers, celtics, and Spurs, they will gain a lot of confidence.
If the Lakers get their injured players back to 90% by the playoffs, it WILL be a different story, however...
nba is the worst
I can tell you this it's all about consistency and the way that they've been playing . It's all about momentum but it'd appear that not many people are good at analyzing the machinations of the game. And what I'm seeing is that in the way that they're playing at present. Tell me if you've seen this sort of consistency from any of the other contenders thus far in the West ?
And the play of McGrady has been exemplorary at this juncture.
A very well thought out piece; I'm sorry I wasn't on the computer long enough earlier to read it. It's true that McGrady has matured considerably with Yao out, but the key has been how Adelman has imrpoved the offense; under Van Gundy, McGrady and Co. couldn't run the floor and be creative because he wouldn't let them. Adelman did the same in Portland and Sacramento with success, and if McGrady continues his play of late, they may make a liar out of me yet. Only time will tell.
Downs'
Living here in C Florida the complaint against McGrady was that he wasn't a leader though he was a 'great' ball player. That being said since the injury to Yao he's proving to us all that he can lead and his maturity level is now beginning to show once and for all. That being said he's so susceptible to the slightest injury that at this juncture their season would go up in smoke should something now happen to him. As for Mutombo whatever he's doing it's led to him having a new lease of life. It's hard to believe at the age of 42 he's playing like a kid half his damn age ? I can only hope that he and the team sustain their level of play. As for the postseason if they're playing that well they'll definately put a scare into the other contenders out there.
rampant' aka tophatal ......
Last edited by rampantfanatic on March 11th at 11:34 PM.
slshusker
As impressive as this run is how good would this team now be had Yao not gone down injured ? They're scaring the living hell out of the rest of the conference with this impressive run to say the least.
The caveat here being is that McGrady is so susceptible to nagging and niggling injuries. That were he to go down for however a short period of time their season would no doubt be done almost instantaneously. But McGrady seems to be showing us all that he's more than capable of leading a team.
OutlawsInc
I've alluded to this in a previous response but how scary would this team be were not Yao out with an unforeseen injury ? Some might say that they're doing it with smokin' mirrors and having Mutombo play center is like having a newborn walk for the first time. But somehow they seem to be maintaining that consistency and at the same time they're winning convincingly.
As for McGrady he seems to have found a new zeal for playing the game the 'right' way.
Reverend Rhythm
I'd have to concur with your assessment as Adelman has done one hell of an impressive job. What's got to be daunting is thinking how good this team'd be if Yao were part of the present roster instead of being gone for the season. McGrady has stepped and played impressively as too have the likes of Mutombo and Alston.
But it'll be hard to see 'em maintaining this pace unabated without losing one or two games over the next few weeks or so.
The Houston Rockets are the wildest of wildcards. At the beginning of the season I was SURE they were the most improved team, but that took so long to happen that we'd all lost faith in them by the time it happened.
I think McGrady's history holds him back from being a major consideration for this year's MVP. These awards tend to go to people who have been deserving it for awhile and then finally given their due.
I can't believe T-Mac and Half-Amazing are cousins. Can you imagine the war stories at family reunions when they are in their 60s?
Tom 7
One never questions McGrady's abilities it's been his willingness to lead. And that if anything has been his overall problem. Had he acquitted himself so then I think that we'd be talking about him as an MVP candidate with clarity this year. Can you imagine how scary this team'd be were Yao Ming still active ? It'd be a frightening thought for the rest of the league for sure. My only concern is now is the susceptability of McGrady to niggling injuries. If he should go down then their season would be over immediately. And what can one say as to the play of Mutombo ? It seems that Father Time hasn't caught up to him as of yet ?
As for Shaq his play and productivity at present makes him appear to be a geriatric.
rampant aka tophatal .........
Last edited by rampantfanatic on March 12th at 9:13 AM.
NEO'
The verve with which the Rockets have been playing belies their abilities. Who knew what they possessed such resolve ? They're now playing as if they're possessed and out on a mission. As for McGrady he's finally displaying to his critics that he can lead a team when given the right tools to lead with. It's a testament to the coaching ability of Rick Adelman and his staff.
bamaboy22
Jackson is a solid backup and'll prove himself to be an effective contributor when called upon. What the Rockets are now doing is extraordinary to say the least. It's not as if the team is dynamic in all aspects of the game. They just go out there and seem to get the job done. Adelman ought to be commended on what he's been able to achieve with this team. And when you consider that they're doing it without their leading scorer (Yao), it's all the more impressive ! McGrady of the period of Yao's loss has acquitted himself well.
Save for Miami, three teams are faring quite well with major injuries on their roster. Houston, Portland, and Washington are doing well without Ming, Oden, and Arenas respectively. Would they be better with these guys? Or have the injuries somehow freed up the talents of players 3-12 on each roster?
btgroup1
In all honesty that's the $64,000 question.
Some of these teams are relly playing some inspired basetball. And from what I've been observing this'll turn out into a dogfight in the West. Whoever prevails after it's all said and done'll be bloodied , battered and on their last legs. And as to who it'll be is anyone's guess at this juncture. As an avid Spurs' fan I'm hoping that they'll prevail.
An avid martial artist and fan of Jet Li. Possessing a black belt in karate (2nd degree Black Belt) I'm of Caribbean parentage born in the UK and have lived in the US for the past 14 years. A lover of sports in particular Soccer, NFL, NBA and MLB.
Slowly getting use to NASCAR but I prefer F1 Practices martial arts, karate and wu shu kwan , muy thai -kick boxing) College grad BA in Int'l Fin and BA in Economics.
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Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets exchanges a few friendly words with Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets. McGrady and the Hockets would go on to win the game 91-73. picture courtesy of afp/ Bill Blast .......
McGrady drives the lane against Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets. picture courtesy of reuters/ Richard Carson .........
Nets' forward Vince Carter goes up for a shot over Rockets' center Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo's play has been very persuasive in the Rockets' continued dominance of their opponents as of late. picture courtesy of reuters/ Richard Carson ..........
McGrady and the Nets Devin Harris contest a loose ball during the game. picture courtesy of ap/photo/Pat Sullivan .........
