[Chron]Realignment of 3 Rockets gives hope for playoffs

Feb. 21, 2006, 1:45AM
Realignment of 3 Rockets gives hope for playoffs

By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

RESOURCES
ROCKETS UPDATE

Should they choose, the Rockets could simply ignore the first 43 games of this season and savor the last 10, focusing on the glorious possibilities that came into view upon Yao Ming's return on Jan. 30.

That night in Memphis, Yao realigned with Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston, completing the triumvirate the Rockets

had envisioned all along. They have won seven of 10 games since and, aside from lapses at Toyota Center against the Los Angeles Lakers and in Phoenix against the Suns, the Rockets have looked different. The All-Star break provided time needed to reflect upon recent success and generate whatever energy the team will need.

"I think it's safe to say we have been playing well in the month of February," McGrady said. "With everything that's been going on in our season, this is good for us to take the opportunity to relax and sit back and gather ourselves together and get focused for the remaining 29 games of the season."


Ambitions high
Aspiring for the postseason — with four teams standing between them and the eighth-place Lakers in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference — would seem blindly optimistic.

Given the size of the deficit — the Rockets are five games behind the Lakers in the loss column — and the daunting number of obstacles on the schedule, such daydreaming would make even Pollyanna proud.

The schedule has 13 games against teams currently in the Western Conference playoff picture and five more with likely playoff teams in the East. But before the Rockets worry about matching the performance of the Dallases and San Antonios of the NBA, they would be better served to take advantage of matchups with teams occupying the positions between them and the Lakers.

The Rockets will face ninth-place Utah and 11th-place Sacramento once each and have two games each against 10th-place Golden State and Minnesota.

The Timberwolves hold a two-game lead over the Rockets in the loss column. The Rockets will get one more crack at the Lakers on April 2 in the opener of a six-game road swing over nine days.


Improvement comes first
Having so many opportunities to make up ground should play in the Rockets' favor.

"I don't think in those terms," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said of looking ahead. "I think about consistent improvement.

"So much of that has to do with how we perform individually. Obviously we're 7-3 since Yao is back. ... But when we've had Yao, Tracy and Rafer, we've been a good team, and we can continue to be a good team."

But can the Rockets continue at their current clip? If they do, will winning 20 of their final 29 games be enough to get them into the playoffs?

With their health markedly improved and their roles ironed out, the Rockets are at least in position to ask such questions. When Yao, McGrady and Alston were sidelined, there was little reason for hope and even less cause to discuss the possibilities of what could happen when they returned.


Consider the present
With the trio indicating a roll might be in the offing, perhaps glancing ahead is acceptable.

"I don't look any more forward than the time when we were injured," Van Gundy said. "Your job as a coach is to maximize the abilities of what is on hand at any given time."

mk.bower@chron.com

 

Hmm...So do you guys think he did a decent job in that department?