Article:Rockets are for real...

Their win streak may come to an end when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers come to Houston but for the time being, the Houston Rockets are the hottest thing going in Space City. Tonight, the Rockets, without the services of one Yao Ming (who Tony Kornheiser of "Pardon The Interpution" calls "stick man"), won their 14th in a row (the third longest winning streak in the history of the NBA) over New Jersey at the Toyota Centre in downtown Houston, about a 10 minute drive from my dorm on campus.

The Rockets led 46-28 at the intermission and never looked back. This team has a chance of making it in the post season if Tracy McGrady, who finished with 19 points to lead all scorers, continues to step up and be a leader, not a follower.

It would be nice if Yao were to come back for the postseason. I doubt if that will happen but if the Rockets can keep this train going, then there's no stopping them. Houston is currently a 3 seed if the post season were to start tommorow and would play Phoenix and Big Aristole (aka Shaq) in round one. The two teams spilt the first two games played and have two more against each other (March 22 in Phoenix, April 11 in Houston). Each team has 19 games left but the Suns have one more home game than the Rockets.

Houston has an away game with the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday and host Charlotte on Friday before Kobe and Gasol come calling to the Lone Star State on the 16th. Three could decide where the Rockets place in the NBA championship. Let's hope they take at least two of three.