ESPN: sunday daily dime: Matchups Key To Houston's Championship Hopes

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080316
The Houston Rockets elicit more questions than answers these days. 21 straight wins? Take it in for a moment and try to digest it. I'll say it again with emphasis. The Houston Rockets have won 21 consecutive games? The number is hard to imagine for any team in any era, but for this particular group it is almost unfathomable. I mean, for the last nine games of the streak we are talking about Tracy McGrady and a bunch of solid role players. This isn't a team that, on paper, should be able to keep its head above water without Yao Ming, much less dominate the entire league for a six week stretch.

Is it luck? A weak schedule? A bunch of guys collectively playing over their heads? If you buy into any of those theories, you would be wrong on all accounts. The truth is that this team is doing every tangible thing on the court that equates to winning basketball. Furthermore, those skeptics that believe the Rockets will fade down the stretch and get bounced in the first round regardless of their seeding may be eating their words six weeks from now. This team can win in the postseason if they get the right matchup. In that regard, they are no different than any of the other Western Conference teams.

There is always luck associated with winning. But this Rockets team creates winning opportunities by valuing every possession. Simply put, they are the best overall defensive team in the NBA. The numbers back that up, but they don't tell the entire story. Houston ranks 4th in points allowed, 2nd in defensive field goal percentage, and 1st in overall rebounding percentage. It is the stratosphere in which Boston, Detroit, and San Antonio reside, three teams on the short list of title contenders. The Rockets are the best defensive team in the league because they contest every shot. They never give up on screens. They trap and rotate better than everyone else. They help on penetration. In short, they are relentlessly competitive. They have held opponents to fewer than 100 points 18 times during the streak.

Still not convinced the Rockets are legit? Wondering about that schedule? I will concede that they haven't faced a proportionately high number of elite teams during the streak. But they have beaten Cleveland (twice), New Orleans (twice), Dallas on the road, and the Denver Nuggets. During the streak they have only played six games against teams that have no shot at the postseason. They have also crushed the bottom feeders with a double digit point differential. There have been no letdowns. The schedule will be significantly more difficult starting Sunday with a home date with the Lakers (ABC, 3:30 ET). That will be followed by a matchup with Boston and a three game trip to New Orleans, Golden State, and Phoenix. We certainly will know a lot more about the Rockets a week and a half from now.

Next question. How are they scoring enough points with this lineup? First, they have an offensive weapon in McGrady that is as talented as any other player in the NBA and use him as the primary playmaker which allows him to score, create, or occupy defenders in order to allow their role players to be impact players. To McGrady's credit, he hasn't forced the issue or felt the need to put up huge numbers in Yao's absence. He trusts his teammates and they are coming through in a big way.

Luis Scola is suddenly pushing Kevin Durant for rookie of the year. He has averaged 12 points and seven rebounds since being inserted into the starting lineup at the beginning of the streak. Rafer Alston is having the best season of his career. Others have all chipped in with timely scoring. It doesn't matter to Rick Adelman who scores. The way they play "D" the Rockets only need to get to 90 every night. With McGrady at the helm, that hasn't been a problem.

But with that said can the Houston Rockets actually do some damage in the playoffs? The answer is yes, if they get paired up with Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State, or Phoenix.

As far as the Spurs, Lakers, and Jazz go, each of these teams has the necessary combination of talent, scoring balance, discipline, defensive impact, and coaching prowess to take care of business against the Rockets. Those teams won't beat themselves and that is a big part of what the Rockets have relied upon during the streak.

The Rockets are a serious threat in the West. They are the underdog, without a doubt. But they win because they understand what it takes to succeed. The final chapter on this team won't be written until the postseason run is completed. For now, just sit back and enjoy the show.

 

dont you love it tho how a person can flat out hate our team and come back and give us nothing but props? i love it it goes to show how much we have accomplished. i love this article i think its one of the more honest well thought out ones that doesnt just focus on details and looks at the grand scheme of things!
GO ROCKETS!