Well according to history any team that went on 19+ run has won a championship that year. I'm not saying Rockets are but anything past first round is a BIG success when you know you don't have Yao Ming around. Be honest, Rockets are playing unbelievable basketball, they're clicking on all cylinders but they NEED to get this motivation going in the playoffs. Playoffs picture is interesting, if Rockets claim 3rd-4th seed by the end which is likely possible then they'd play against teams like SUNS and JAZZ. Playoffs is all that matters, teams know it and every team that has been great in season tries to be even more great in postseason. If you ask me the best playoff opponent is likely Utah Jazz, Rockets should take a series from them in 6 games if they continue playing like this, but remember that Utah is probably the toughest road matchup. GSW are always interesting, such speedy team, they're inconsistent and they have no big man, if Rockets match up with them, it should be an interesting matchup. Suns who aren't the same are also very hard matchup, when you have Amare, Shaq in the post and really have nobody big except Deke it gets little scary, anyway it should be avoided if it's possible, let me just add that Suns have no superb chemistry around. Nuggets who are possibly out of playoff picture are surely surging for some easy W, they beat Spurs and proved they're valuable for playoffs, but injuries, no chemistry slow them down.If it's possible Rockets would take Nuggets any time. Hornets who are playing on the wings of their PG Chris Paul are very promising team, but SURELY lacks one thing...no experience. As much as Hornets are good lack of experience in playoffs will cost them, that's why they traded for Mike James and Bonzi Wells. As for the Rockets this should be one of the best matchups, Rockets proved they can beat Hornets without Yao but they still got to prove it in playoffs. As for the Spurs and Lakers that's a different story, Lakers who are very interesting team probably will not meet Rockets in first round but if both teams eventually succeed then they'll meet in second round. As you see guys there are no easy matchups, Rockets are winning and we're believing, West is overloaded, primary focus should be getting PAST first round and breaking that nasty 11 year absence from REAL playoffs.
Right...to be exact, they're winning 8 straight without Yao. So they need to win 11 + straight games without Yao in order to qualify as Championship contender. So it's kind of misleading streak since Yao help won the 12 streaks. And now without Yao and they add 8 more wins, people misleading it and tend to think they won all 20 without Yao which is not true.
Yes but we won those games as a TEAM, and Yao did not win them for us. I believe this team is playing as good if not better than we were when we had Yao in the lineup. The Rockets won 20 in a row, there is no Yao or Rockets, he was part of the team just like all the other players that helped.
Maybe Rockets did play good without Yao Ming but when it comes to playoff time absence of Yao will be surely visible. Remember, dominant big man win championships, after all that's why Rockets chose Yao on 02' draft and that's why every NBA draft finishes with C-PF as 1st pick no matter how is he worse than 2nd pick. I could just say that 03' draft was exception because LeBron isn't human but 2nd round was Darko Miličić, guy who never really adopted.
People forget the Rockets had a 15 game streak in 1992-3 and lost valiantly in the playoffs. While not an ultimate success, it did set the table for the two championship seasons that followed. Of course, I'd like them to win it all this year, but I've always looked at the streak as a precursor. And looking at what's happened this year, the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns have slipped and gotten older. The Jazz are probably as good as they're going to get. Regardless of what happens next week, I think it's safe to say the Hornets are a bit psyched out by the Rockets. On the converse, Golden State is no longer the psychological hurdle they once were. Denver's too flighty. Meanwhile, the Rockets are hitting their prime years and get the equivalent of a 1st Pick in the draft when the tall Chinese guy comes back. Additionally, the style and success of the team will make it a hot destination for free agents and there's a decent amount of cap/trade flexibility next year, thanks to Morey's mid-season machinations. So, let's have fun this year and not worry about a thing, because the Rockets have, I think, climbed the mountain of legitimate contenderhood and we can all see the promised land from here. It's reward enough to just look at it after so many years in the wilderness.
i can't think about playoffs just yet.. even though we're sitting atop the SW division we can't afford to go on any kind of losing streak... let's just focus on one game at a time for now... but yeah it would be so so sweet to get out of the 1st round
i think its equally impressive that the rockets lost yao (the focal point of their offense) in the middle of a streak and have been able to keep the emotional/psychological consistency to keep winning. you are talking about removing the guy your offense and style of play is built around, and still being able to win. thats impressive, streak or not. just an amazing team. thats all you can say. whether they win or lose, this has been a season to remember.
your argument for them trading for mike james and bonzi makes no sense. bjax has playoff experience..
It's easy to look at this team without Yao and say there's no way we can win it all this year. But after watching the way they've been playing the last couple of months, I would definitely NOT bet against them. Stranger things have happened in sports, and chemistry is probably the most overlooked factor when it comes to determining success on the pro level.
Mike James has won one ring alredy and Bonzi has been great in the playoffs but Bobby is one, Mike and Bonzi are two.
The point is that we lost Yao after winning 12 games. Now, the rockets have won 8 in a row after Yao went down. If we can continue to win next 10 games (it means we win 18 in a row without Yao), then I believe we can win the title.
