OK, this Rockets thing is getting ridiculous. Nineteen straight wins!? The last seven without Yao Ming? For a team that features Rafer Alston at point guard? C'mon. Are the Rockets for real?
To quote Teri Hatcher's character in Seinfeld: "They're real ... and they're spectacular!"
Quite simply, Houston has to be taken seriously now. The Rockets' 19-game run matches the 1999-2000 Lakers for the third-longest in NBA history. Houston hasn't exactly been squeaking past foes either. The Rockets have won their last 10 by double digits, with the Hornets (twice), Mavs and Nuggets among those victims.
With Houston's next two games against the Hawks (Wednesday) and Bobcats (Friday), the streak could easily be at 21 heading into Sunday's big home showdown with the Lakers. That would be the second-longest streak ever (behind only the Lakers' immortal 33 of 1971-72, and ahead of the Bucks' 20 in 1970-71). But even if it ends before then, the Rockets can gain confidence knowing that of the previous six teams that posted streaks of 18 or more, five went on to win the NBA title.
This week's high riser: Bobcats (No. 16 from 26)
This week's big drop: Wizards (No. 17 from 12)
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Tracy McGrady isn't the only reason they've been able to thrive without Yao. Alston has averaged 15.4 points and 7.0 assists during the streak while directing an offense nearly as free-flowing as one of Rick Adelman's old Kings squads. |
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They can celebrate St. Patrick's Day as the top team in East, thanks to last week's win over the Pistons and an eight-game winning streak overall through Sunday. Kevin Garnett & Co. were also the first team to clinch a playoff spot. |
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From Russia, with no love: If Andrei Kirilenko isn't getting dunked on by Baron Davis, he's getting thrown to the floor WWE-style by Dirk Nowitzki. Oh, well, the Jazz didn't even need Kirilenko (sore hip) in victories over the Suns and Nuggets as they ran their winning streak to five. |
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Rasheed Wallace missed the previous two games with a sprained ankle, but they still won at New York and beat the Bulls at home to make it four victories in five games. They have their next four at the Palace, including big ones against the Spurs (Friday) and Hornets (Sunday). |
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Manu Ginobili has returned to the bench as they get ready for the playoff push. With their next three contests against the Nuggets (who beat them last Friday to snap their 11-game winning streak), Hornets and Pistons, the Spurs will certainly get a postseason taste this week. |
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Kobe Bryant couldn't bail them out at the last second in Sunday's loss to the Kings that snapped a three-game winning streak. They head out on a four-game road trip at New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah beginning Friday. |
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They won at Orlando on Saturday to finish 3-1 on their East Coast swing, averaging 120.5 points on the trip. The have won 18 road games this season, the most for the franchise since the 1993-94 squad (21). |
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They missed David West (sprained ankle) in that loss at Houston that ended a three-game winning streak. They will need to have their All-Star forward back for this week's slate against the Spurs, Lakers and Pistons. |
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Not even Golden State has made as many three-pointers as Stan Van Gundy's crew this season. Led by Rashard Lewis (40.1 percent), Hedo Turkoglu (39.0) and Keith Bogans (36.6), they've hit at least five three-balls in an NBA-record 66 straight games (including the final two games of last season). |
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Nowitzki had 34 points in Saturday's win over the Nets to surpass Rolando Blackman as the franchise's all-time leading scorer (16,644 points). More important, they got back in the win column after three straight losses and four in five games. |
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