Saturday, March 15, 2008

Blackjack!

You have to understand... I'm really not trying to jinx this right now. But I'd be remiss if I didn't post something after Houston's 89-80 win over Charlotte. Second. Longest. Win. Streak. In. NBA. History. 21-0. That can't be taken back, that doesn't have any caveats. No matter what happens now, it's history. And everyone in the nation is on the gravy train (except maybe the Chuck-wagon). It's indicative of that lost art of professional basketball to which such appreciation David Stern may have overlooked. Fans, purists and media alike, can appreciate team basketball.

It's still a beautiful thing to watch--even when the Rockets aren't hitting shots. The defense is dominant. Yes, it was just the Hawks, and yes, it was the Bobcats, but these were the textbook lapse games. The Rockets, however, were better than that and the fans believe it. Even when the Bobcats went on a 21-1 run early in 1st quarter there were no boos, maybe some hemming and hawing, but as a whole, like the Rockets, the fans were unflappable. Finally.

But like T-Mac, as much as I'd like to think the Rockets' spanking new no. 1 Western Conference ranking means they have as arrived as a post-Hakeem franchise, the true test will be the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, and then, of course, there's the rest of the week. I won't miss these short of a miracle or a disaster, Rockets fans. And neither should you.

Originally posted at Yao Central on March 15, 2008 06:53 AM

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