[SI.com] I was wrong... + [Fox Sports] NBA elite have issues to address for playoffs

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You were wrong about the Rockets. After the trade deadline, you said they had basically given up on the season with the Rafer Alston deal. Care to reconsider your assessment?
-- Kerry, Splendora, Texas

Oh, I was absolutely wrong. But in my defense, anyone who thought the Rockets would be better after Tracy McGrady went down and Alston was shipped out for the Memphis Grizzlies' backup point guard is lying. (added by jsmee2000: apparently he doesn't read clutchfans.net) Houston has benefited from superior perimeter defense from Ron Artest and Shane Battier, a more up-tempo offense with Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry splitting the point guard duties and more quick low-post touches for Yao Ming.

Can they win a playoff series? Maybe. The Rockets have pulled out some close games recently (including a two-point victory at San Antonio on Sunday), partially dispelling the notion that they can't win down the stretch without a go-to scorer. But Houston has to find a way to avoid Utah. The Jazz, as was apparent in Tuesday night's matchup in Salt Lake City, are a matchup nightmare for the Rockets. Carlos Boozer runs circles around Yao, and Mehmet Okur kills them from the perimeter. And they know it. If the playoffs started today, the Rockets would open at home against the Jazz. I don't think home-court advantage in this situation is enough.



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NBA elite have issues to address for playoffs
by Charley Rosen
Updated: March 25, 2009, 1:25 PM EST

Straight Shooting

The playoffs are in sight and there are several teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the championship. Here's what these teams must do — besides avoiding injuries — in the concluding three weeks of the regular season to maximize their championship hopes.
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Houston: Yao Ming still needs to make better decisions when he's double teamed — especially when he's overplayed, forced to turn baseline, and then two-timed. Also, Yao's minutes must be curtailed. The fact that he rarely, if ever, resorts to his (relatively) quick baseline spin from the left box, along with the realization that he's slower off his feet than ever before, indicates that he still hasn't fully recovered from last season's leg injury. Aaron Brooks is still a work in progress at the point, but he's certainly getting better game-by-game. As long as Ron Artest is making his off-balance shots and forced drives, then the Rockets are A-OK.
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