The Rockets Red Glare

Whether watching from the ramparts or from courtside, Houston fans cheered and raved as the Rockets notched #18 in a row.

I don’t know about bombs bursting in air, but the air was certainly filled three-point shots and wild raves in the Rockets 106-96 win over the Hornets.

There were 55 three’s taken altogether. Houston hit on 14 of 34 while New Orleans made 11 of 21.

Over 18,000 raving fans, the Rockets’ 19^th sellout of the year, watched Tracy McGrady surgically take apart the Western Conference’s third best team.

McGrady, 3 of 8 behind the arc, scored 41 points overall with 9 assists. Point guard, Rafer Alston, hit on 4 of 8 three’s on his way to scoring 20 points. Shane Battier added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

For the Hornets, Chris Paul scored 37 points with a game-high 11 assists. He was 3 for 5 behind the arc. Tyson Chandler had 15 points with a game-high 16 rebounds. Peja Stojakovic also went 3 for 5 behind the arc and finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Morris Patterson hit 2 out of 3 three-pointers and had 12 points overall.

Yao who?

The Rockets had won 12 in a row when their All-Star center Yao Ming suffered a season-ending leg injury that would require surgery. At the time, a collective gasp swept through Houston. Everyone expected the Rockets to simply roll over.

Instead they have rolled on.

This is the Rockets sixth straight win since losing Yao Ming, and they are playing even better than they did in the previous twelve. They have now tied the Hornets for the third spot in the West and are only a game behind the Spurs for the Southwest Division lead.

Make no mistake about it, McGrady has put the Rockets on his shoulders and is leading them down the stretch. But everyone has stepped up. 41 year-old Dikembe Mutombo looks 10 years younger as he fills in for Yao.

The others in McGrady’s supporting cast of Alston, Battier, and Luis Scola along with Luther Head, Steve Novak and Chuck Hayes off the bench are matching up and creating floor space. This has opened up the lanes allowing drives to the post as well as open three’s.

How long will the streak continue and where will the Rockets wind up is anyone’s guess. But for right now, Houston is the land of the Three’s and the home of the Raves.

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