http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5117974 Ten things we've learned in the NBA this week Story Tools: Print Email XML Mike Kahn / FOXSports.com Posted: 6 hours ago Things are beginning to get serious with the Houston Rockets ... very quickly. The good news is that there is plenty of leeway in the Western Conference once you get past the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Despite that fact, the Rockets are already frantically treading water before we complete the first month of the season. And the biggest question of all — putting it in perspective — is what to make of Tracy McGrady's perpetual back and knee problems. 1. The Rockets have begun the season 3-11, lost seven in a row and eight of 10. They have the worst record in the Western Conference; point guard Rafer Alston has a stress fracture in his leg, and Yao Ming has been unable to carry the team with McGrady out. What this really means: The Rockets are in trouble, and it will be interesting to see how coach Jeff Van Gundy handles it. Virtually all coaches take losing to heart, but it weighs on him more than most. It's very difficult to get a handle on McGrady's future, although he is clearly one of the top 10 players in the game (often in the top five). But when will that be? How long can he last? Yao, while averaging a career-high 18.9 points and 8.9 rebounds, is a very talented center who works well in a complementary capacity. He did have 30 points in the loss to the Bulls on Saturday night, but that followed the 23 points combined he tallied in the losses to the Grizzlies and Suns. The big money they shelled out for Stromile Swift may have been market value, but he still is not a consistently solid player on both ends of the floor to go along with his obvious athleticism. No one expects the Rockets to be on the top of the West with McGrady out. Then again, no one expected them to be on the bottom either. The only reason for a speck of optimism is, despite the horrific start, most of the West is mediocre; and even at 3-11, they're only five games out of the eighth spot.
TMAC is more important to the Rockets than any other player are to their team Take Tmac out and we're one of the worst team in the NBA.
