i wasn't. My original comment was referencing the last 4-5 years. Then you and others suggested that the Rockets' record was not that dis-similar from the Jazz so I went and looked at actual won-loss records for the last several years. That data validated what I was thinking. They have been better and remained better for longer than we have in spite of losing their WC championship core through retirement.
they didn't lose their WC championship core until 2003-04, and you counted 96-04- while they were still in place. Not a valid comparison by your own definition.