Remember the 22-game winning streak? Remember who finally stopped that streak? The Celtics, that 'super team' prior to that other one in Miami. I think we pretty much knew Boston was going to end that streak, especially with the way the wheels were already starting to fall off during the last handful of games in the streak anyway. But, it was *BOSTON* coming to town. That team, at that time, those guys struck FEAR into opponents and fans, and for good reason. Half the battle was already won with those guys, because the opponents seldom BELIEVED they could actually beat that team. Remember the Lakers in the 80's? Showtime? Some of you probably don't, but for those of you who do, you remember what it was like for that team to come to town. Or worse, to go to the Forum. You knew, KNEW, you were not likely to come away from a game with those guys with a win. Same with Bird's Celtics in that era. You could be a CHALLENGER, but THEY were the big dogs. Remember the Kobe/Shaq Lakers? Remember when San Antonio was not held together with dental floss and duct tape? Remember the last few years, with the Lebrons and the Thunder? FEAR. You play certain teams, and you know, KNOW: they are going to beat you. It makes you stumble, it makes you blink. And when you stumble and blink, you turn a 16 point 3rd quarter lead into a loss, because in the back of your mind, you KNOW.. it's not enough. Somehow, those guys are going to come back and beat us. I believe that the time is finally upon us, the Houston Rockets are on the brink of no longer being an 'up-and-comer', a 'challenger', a 'dangerous team'. No, we are right there on the lip of the cup. The Rockets are striking that same FEAR into their opponents now. Listening to Vogel the other night, 'wired for sound', telling his own team how good the Rockets are at what they do, and how impossible they are to defend... seeing the smacking of Miami, and the annihilation of Indiana. And then taking an angry Portland team, a very good team, which was determined to flex their own muscles.. and they did. Houston was floundering, but never far enough behind to let the Blazers start to lose that little twinge of FEAR in the backs of their minds. And they blinked. And that's all it took. You could see it - the 'Oh no' looks on their faces, in their body language. They knew, even when they were still up by 12, they knew. They were going to lose. And they did. Because the Rockets are the ones causing the fear now. They are not quaking in fear from anyone else. They defend their home ferociously, and the swagger into the opponents' houses and raid the refrigerator and sleep in their beds. Make themselves at home. Sure, we will still lose 3 or 4 more games this year, but maybe no more than that, if things keep rolling the way they are. It's just a nice feeling, to finally, after all these years, to once again be the team the opponents FEAR. Carry on..
