[SLATE] This Is One of the Greatest Teams in NBA History?

cur.ve · Mar 13, 2008

This Is One of the Greatest Teams in NBA History?
The mystery of the Houston Rockets' 20-game winning streak.
By Robert Weintraub
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 4:15 PM ET

Like most NBA fans in Atlanta, I go to games to watch the visiting team. On Wednesday night, I went to the "Highlight Factory" (as the Hawks' marketing department insists on calling Philips Arena) to check out the scalding-hot Houston Rockets, who were going for 20 straight wins. Houston won ugly, 83-75, and history was made. The Rockets are now tied with the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history. (The 1971-72 Lakers, a dream team that featured Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich, won an absurd 33 straight.)

Before the Rockets went on this historic streak, nobody thought they would even make the playoffs. When franchise player Yao Ming was lost for the season late last month with a broken foot, one Houston writer called it "a crushing blow to a franchise." But in the two weeks since the supposedly catastrophic injury, the Rockets have won another eight straight. According to ESPN, aged center Dikembe Mutombo made an announcement to "nobody in particular" after last night's game: "The Rockets have won 20 games straight. ... All the critics can kiss my black ass."

How have the Rockets gone from mediocre to dominant? I noticed one key to the team's success shortly after the league's only pregame drumline left the floor Wednesday night. Houston's reserves actually stand for large chunks of the game, watching the action intently. This is in stark contrast to most NBA benches, which largely consist of sullen guys scanning the stands for pretty women. Perhaps this is because most of the Rockets get in the game. Coaches typically spend the season hoping their top seven players can find a rhythm and stay healthy. Rockets boss Rick Adelman keeps the scorer's table busy, regularly using 10 or 11 guys, with only perennial all-star Tracy McGrady as a constant. When Yao went down, the Rockets were more prepared than most teams to play without him.

I was mildly surprised to see that the Hawks gave the Rockets a lot of trouble with their athleticism. Joe Johnson slashed his way to 28 points, and Josh Smith powered in 16 points and 22 rebounds. But while the Hawks may have the horses to stay with anyone in the league, they're not savvy or clutch. At the start of the fourth quarter, Atlanta's backup center, Zaza Pachulia, compounded a blatant elbow to Luis Scola's face with a technical foul for arguing. Then, with Houston ahead 71-70 and four minutes to play, the Rockets had six offensive rebounds in a single possession before finally scoring. Next time down, Scola scored on yet another offensive board. Shane Battier blocked a shot, Scola forced a turnover, and McGrady scored six straight points. Ballgame. Twenty straight, despite shooting only 33 percent.

Yao's departure has helped Houston in a couple of important ways. For one, McGrady is now the unquestioned first (and second, and third) option. He can look to score at any time without worrying about getting Yao his shots. The Rockets can now also spread the floor and crash the boards more aggressively from all spots on the floor, something they couldn't do with Yao clogging the pivot (and drawing multiple defenders down low).

Houston is also now a tougher team. For all his size, Yao is somewhat soft, not the type of guy who'd elbow another team's big man in the kidneys to get an advantage. By contrast, guys like Chuck Hayes, Bobby Jackson, Battier, Scola, and rookie Carl Landry are both tenacious and flexible, allowing the team to play at any pace as well as adapt to both bigger and smaller opponents. Most important, they all have a role-player mentality, content to set screens, crash the boards, and play defense. More than any other team in the NBA, the Rockets play team basketball, and (last night excepted) it's beautiful to watch.

The Rockets' toughness and team mentality are the keys to reeling off a streak during the dog days of the regular season. They aren't necessarily traits that win playoff series, however. That's especially the case in the ridiculously loaded West, where Denver might miss the playoffs despite having a better record than all but three Eastern Conference teams. Heck, Houston's streak has only gotten them into second place in the West, a mere three and a half games ahead of eighth-place Golden State. If they go on a bad streak the rest of the way, they could still miss the playoffs.

Right now, the Lakers look like a team built for the post-season. Los Angeles was the hands-down winner at last month's trade deadline, acquiring gifted seven-footer Pau Gasol from Memphis in the hoops equivalent of the sale of Manhattan for a bunch of beads. The deal instantly turned the Lakers from a dysfunctional, if dangerous, mess in thrall to Kobe Bryant's ego into championship contenders.

The rest of the West responded to the Gasol trade like the United States after Sputnik beeped its way over the horizon: first, panic, than the inevitable Space Race. Phoenix traded Shawn Marion for the redoubtable Shaquille O'Neal. Dallas sent rising star Devin Harris to New Jersey for Jason Kidd. Even the defending-champion Spurs felt threatened enough to get the band back together, reacquiring ring bearer Kurt Thomas.

Meanwhile, Houston made a deal that attracted almost no attention, offloading crazed forward Bonzi Wells for backup guard Bobby Jackson. The exile of the me-first Wells predated the Yao injury but so perfectly suited the team's new direction that it seems like a response. Houston is now tougher and friskier (and, thanks to the inclusion of expiring contracts in the Wells deal, well-positioned under the cap for next season).

Can the Rockets emerge victorious after what promises to be an epic two months of playoff combat? The key will be their ability to overwhelm the aging teams (San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix) with waves of bodies and energy, while being smarter and better able to exploit mismatches than the conference's younger, faster squads (New Orleans, Utah, Golden State). If McGrady can overcome his historic allergic reaction to playoff hoops (he has yet to win a series in his otherwise sterling career), I think they can defeat any of those teams.

That leaves the Lakers, who have both extreme firepower (Kobe Bryant, Gasol) and superb role players (Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton). They'll prove a tough stop for the Rockets or anyone else. In fact, Los Angeles is an enhanced version of Houston. Kobe is better than T-Mac, Gasol is better than the Battier/Scola combo, and the Lakers' glue guys do the little things just a bit better than the Rockets' complementary players. And, like Houston, Los Angeles has responded well to a key injury to a big guy: The team has lifted its play in the absence of Andrew Bynum, who has been out with a knee injury for two months. For the Rockets to make the NBA Finals, they might need a team with a dominant big man—think San Antonio and Tim Duncan—to take out the Bynum-less Lakers. The matchups will be crucial, so pay attention to the stretch run. That shouldn't be a problem—for the first time since the Lakers were winning 33 in a row, there's a reason to watch the NBA regular season.
Robert Weintraub, a freelance TV producer/writer based in Atlanta, writes about sports media for Slate.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2186543/
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vcchlw · Mar 13, 2008

cur.ve said:

This Is One of the Greatest Teams in NBA History?
The mystery of the Houston Rockets' 20-game winning streak.
By Robert Weintraub
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 4:15 PM ET

Yao's departure has helped Houston in a couple of important ways. For one, McGrady is now the unquestioned first (and second, and third) option. He can look to score at any time without worrying about getting Yao his shots. The Rockets can now also spread the floor and crash the boards more aggressively from all spots on the floor, something they couldn't do with Yao clogging the pivot (and drawing multiple defenders down low).

Houston is also now a tougher team. For all his size, Yao is somewhat soft, not the type of guy who'd elbow another team's big man in the kidneys to get an advantage. By contrast, guys like Chuck Hayes, Bobby Jackson, Battier, Scola, and rookie Carl Landry are both tenacious and flexible, allowing the team to play at any pace as well as adapt to both bigger and smaller opponents. Most important, they all have a role-player mentality, content to set screens, crash the boards, and play defense. More than any other team in the NBA, the Rockets play team basketball, and (last night excepted) it's beautiful to watch.

The Rockets' toughness and team mentality are the keys to reeling off a streak during the dog days of the regular season. They aren't necessarily traits that win playoff series, however. That's especially the case in the ridiculously loaded West, where Denver might miss the playoffs despite having a better record than all but three Eastern Conference teams. Heck, Houston's streak has only gotten them into second place in the West, a mere three and a half games ahead of eighth-place Golden State. If they go on a bad streak the rest of the way, they could still miss the playoffs.
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New definition of "Soft"=not elbowing opposing players' kidney. Nice.
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yaorta · Mar 13, 2008

you bet, any team with historic 20 streak can claim as one of best teams in league history!

Prettyfly · Mar 13, 2008

That leaves the Lakers, who have both extreme firepower (Kobe Bryant, Gasol) and superb role players (Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton). They'll prove a tough stop for the Rockets or anyone else. In fact, Los Angeles is an enhanced version of Houston. Kobe is better than T-Mac, Gasol is better than the Battier/Scola combo, and the Lakers' glue guys do the little things just a bit better than the Rockets' complementary players. And, like Houston, Los Angeles has responded well to a key injury to a big guy: The team has lifted its play in the absence of Andrew Bynum, who has been out with a knee injury for two months. For the Rockets to make the NBA Finals, they might need a team with a dominant big man—think San Antonio and Tim Duncan—to take out the Bynum-less Lakers. The matchups will be crucial, so pay attention to the stretch run. That shouldn't be a problem—for the first time since the Lakers were winning 33 in a row, there's a reason to watch the NBA regular season.
Robert Weintraub, a freelance TV producer/writer based in Atlanta, writes about sports media for Slate.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2186543/
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No mention of defense? i think houston has got a better defense.

Dave_78 · Mar 13, 2008

LA's role players are better than Houston's? Really?

Name me the role player on the Lakers squad better than Scola, Landry or Battier? Uuuuh Fisher? No. Farmar. Hell no. Walton? Maybe on a good day (like once a month).

The fact is that unless Gasol plays like an All Star LA is not better than us. Personally, I think our 3 headed monster at PF will neutralize Gasol, who is coincidently "softer" than Yao has ever been.

Bottom line is that this team is better than LAs and I hope we meet them AND Utah in the playoffs to prove it.

Northside Storm · Mar 13, 2008

Man...using this author's screwed-up team analysis...

Yao>>>>>>Bynum/Odom
Mac<Kobe
Landry/Scola>Gasol
BJax<Farmar
Battier>Walton
Rafer>Fisher
Head>>>>>>>>>>Vujacijsciacj (wth is that guy? )
Mike Harris/Justin Williams/AB/DEKE/Chuckwagon/Franchise/SuperNova>>>>>>>>>>Rest of Lakers

Thus, Rockets>>>Lakers and Rockets=Champions.

...But really, what have the Lakers done to deserve these kudos? Kobe hasn't been out of the first round in years. Gasol has seen his team get swept...every year. (wow). Odom...is dumb. The only contender teams they've met (DAL/PHX) they've beaten by a combined 10 points...and Dallas took them to OT. How come everyone assumes they're a championship team? They're good, but everyone is just really overrating those Lakers. I don't want to jink anything, so I'll just say that @NOK should be a good guage.

SgtSneaker · Mar 13, 2008

"...crazed forward, Bonzi Wells..."
LOL!

BigM · Mar 14, 2008

yao's one of the toughest guys i can think of.

Airson · Mar 14, 2008

player matchup is one thing, team work is another. you may compare the players position by position, but for sure, houston has a much better team defence and may be a better team offence.

BaMcMing · Mar 14, 2008

cur.ve said:

This Is One of the Greatest Teams in NBA History?

That leaves the Lakers, who have both extreme firepower (Kobe Bryant, Gasol) and superb role players (Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton). They'll prove a tough stop for the Rockets or anyone else. In fact, Los Angeles is an enhanced version of Houston. Kobe is better than T-Mac, Gasol is better than the Battier/Scola combo, and the Lakers' glue guys do the little things just a bit better than the Rockets' complementary players. And, like Houston, Los Angeles has responded well to a key injury to a big guy: The team has lifted its play in the absence of Andrew Bynum, who has been out with a knee injury for two months. For the Rockets to make the NBA Finals, they might need a team with a dominant big man—think San Antonio and Tim Duncan—to take out the Bynum-less Lakers. The matchups will be crucial, so pay attention to the stretch run. That shouldn't be a problem—for the first time since the Lakers were winning 33 in a row, there's a reason to watch the NBA regular season.
Robert Weintraub, a freelance TV producer/writer based in Atlanta, writes about sports media for Slate.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2186543/
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1. I would take Deke, Landry, Bobby, Chuck, and Luther over Walton, Vujacic, Turiaf, and Farmar any day of the week. Our glue guys are better.

2. Of course they excelled when Bynum went out. THEY GOT GASOL. We lost Yao, and got Mike Harris. Now I am a Mike Harris fan, but I'm no fool.

He is trying to write a positive story about us, but the title and the innuendo say we suck.

Let him be a hater. Its what everyone else has been doing...underestimating us
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bbjai · Mar 14, 2008

I don't think Yao could elbow anyone in the kidneys
does his elbows even come close to most people's kidneys?

SuperS32 · Mar 14, 2008

Misleading title and the writer doesn't really show a great deal of knowledge about the subject (at least no more than anyone else on this board).

peleincubus · Mar 14, 2008

i thought the article was pretty good. i swear people on this board b**** about almost any article written about the rockets.

johnstarks · Mar 14, 2008

cur.ve said:

Yao's departure has helped Houston in a couple of important ways. For one, McGrady is now the unquestioned first (and second, and third) option. He can look to score at any time without worrying about getting Yao his shots. The Rockets can now also spread the floor and crash the boards more aggressively from all spots on the floor, something they couldn't do with Yao clogging the pivot (and drawing multiple defenders down low).
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This betrays his lack of bball knowledge. Why would a team be better if lose a major offensive option?

And drawing defenders down low means that the shooters have wide open shots from the outside.
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jlwee · Mar 14, 2008

Dave_78 said:

LA's role players are better than Houston's? Really?

Name me the role player on the Lakers squad better than Scola, Landry or Battier? Uuuuh Fisher? No. Farmar. Hell no. Walton? Maybe on a good day (like once a month).

The fact is that unless Gasol plays like an All Star LA is not better than us. Personally, I think our 3 headed monster at PF will neutralize Gasol, who is coincidently "softer" than Yao has ever been.

Bottom line is that this team is better than LAs and I hope we meet them AND Utah in the playoffs to prove it.
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Do you know there is a player named Lamar Odom in Lakers squad? Odom is the most underrated player in the league, even by his own fakers' fans!

Riz · Mar 14, 2008

Northside Storm said:

Man...using this author's screwed-up team analysis...

Yao>>>>>>Bynum/Odom
Mac<Kobe
Landry/Scola>Gasol
BJax<Farmar
Battier>Walton
Rafer>Fisher
Head>>>>>>>>>>Vujacijsciacj (wth is that guy? )
Mike Harris/Justin
Williams/AB/DEKE/Chuckwagon/Franchise/SuperNova>>>>>>>>>>Rest of Lakers

Thus, Rockets>>>Lakers and Rockets=Champions.
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WoW I don't think this post can get anymore bias! lol even though as a Rockets fan I agree with you're post. I don't see anything next to Tmac? did you forget Kobe?

Nelly · Mar 14, 2008

BaMcMing said:

cur.ve said:

1. I would take Deke, Landry, Bobby, Chuck, and Luther over Walton, Vujacic, Turiaf, and Farmar any day of the week. Our glue guys are better.

2. Of course they excelled when Bynum went out. THEY GOT GASOL. We lost Yao, and got Mike Harris. Now I am a Mike Harris fan, but I'm no fool.

He is trying to write a positive story about us, but the title and the innuendo say we suck.

Let him be a hater. Its what everyone else has been doing...underestimating us
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I've always thought the Lakers role players get more air time than a lot of other role players in the league. We always hear about Walton, Turiaf, Vujacic, Farmar and them in the media but we hardly hear about anybody else's supporting cast. They're overrated.
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TrailerMonkey · Mar 14, 2008

How was Bonzi a me-first player under Adleman? Bonzi was always looking to pass-off and he fit in really well here. That author obviously doesn't watch much basketball.

kwng · Mar 14, 2008

Well, at least he admitted he like our style of play (team play). He has undermined our bench and intensity compared to the Lakers.

Andy Sheets · Mar 14, 2008

cur.ve said:

How have the Rockets gone from mediocre to dominant?
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This is the common flaw in the national media's attempts to analyze the team: they always start from the position that the Rockets in truth are a borderline lottery team that suddenly by the grace of God started winning lots of basketball games. The reality is that the Rockets have always had a dominant roster but it was just a matter of getting the rotations and chemistry down, getting all the pieces to fit together.

Gasol is better than the Battier/Scola combo
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Whatever. Gasol is the best scorer of the three but Battier and Scola aren't chumps and last time I checked Gasol didn't play a lick of defense. I'll take defense and sheer tenacity over nice scoring every time.
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