Twenty in a row is an unbelievable accomplishment by any measure, a streak accomplished by only two NBA teams other than the Rockets -- the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33 games), and the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (20).
Houston will try to surpass the Bucks for the second-longest streak tomorrow night at home against Charlotte. If they win, there will be plenty of buzz surrounding Sunday's nationally televised tilt against Kobe and the Lakers (3:30 p.m., ABC).
Here are some links to get you caught up on various theories for why the Rockets -- even without injured center Yao Ming -- are the toast of the NBA:
Rick Adelman: In 17 years as a head coach, his teams have made the playoffs every season but two.
Luis Scola: The MVP of last summers Tournament of the Americas in Las Vegas has been a difference-maker in his first year in the NBA.
Tracy McGrady: He won't win the MVP, but he's carrying the hottest team in the league right now.
By the Numbers: Everything you need to know about the Rockets' streak from 1-20.
Rafer Alston: The former Cardozo star and NYC playground legend has become the steady distributor that every winning team needs.
GM Daryl Morey: Hired at 35 with a computer science degree from Northwestern and an MBA from M.I.T., Morey lacked the PhD in NBA. But his "Moneyball" approach has worked, and the Knicks should be considering someone of his ilk if and when they replace Isiah Thomas. (See my column in today's paper on this topic.)
And last but not least ... Steve Francis! (Just kidding.)
Comments (1)
Real easy to use stats and whatever else you do if you got Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
They can make Scott Laydon look like Jerry West.
The Knicks need to tear the thing down. No more contracts. All young players. Accumulate draft picks. Get lucky in the lottery and draft home runs.