The Houston Rockets may not be the smartest, toughest, or most talented team in the NBA, but they are certainly one of the most under-appreciated.
I have to wonder how a team can be on a 19-game winning streak and not grace the front page of every sport magazine or web page in the country. Add in the loss of Yao Ming, and this team is practically a miracle.
Now, I am not saying this has been pretty basketball. The Rockets looked sloppy last night against a weak Nets' squad. The lack of defense and what seemed to be a complete breakdown of offensive flow made the game almost sad to watch.
Either way the truth remains that, despite their lack of rhythm last night, the Rockets are in the midst of something special. They are making history and accomplishing what many have never come close to achieving.
Only the Lakers and the Bucks have registered longer win streaks.
I heard someone say that “Winning messy is better than losing pretty,” and I have to agree.
Will the Rockets break the record for the longest streak? The answer is no, but who really cares! It is not about the streak anymore.
It is about a team—never respected, even in their championship years—coming together and earning their way.
I remember when the Rockets won their first championship. I got my Sports Illustrated the next week, and was surprised to see they weren’t on the cover.
Even yesterday, one flip to ESPN found Barkley and the crew doubting the Rockets' chances of beating the Nets, and calling their streak a thing of luck.
And to think, Barkley used to be a Rocket!
Luck doesn’t beat the Hornets. Luck doesn’t beat the Mavericks. There is nothing lucky about what the Rockets are accomplishing. Why is it luck for some, and skill for others?
If the Lakers were in the same position (and they were twice!), the sports world would be calling them the best team in basketball. At the very least, announcers and sports journalists would be clammering to write about their dominance.
I have tried to reason out why the Rockets have never been appreciated, and I can’t seem to find the answer. I don’t know why a team that has won 19 straight games can’t get the respect they deserve.
I know one thing though—Dikembe Mutombo’s smile says it all. This is a team that is having fun and making the most of the hand they have been dealt.
Win or lose in the playoffs, the Rockets should be proud of what they have done this year. I know I am!
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6 months ago
Very simple, there is no drama within Houston Rockets, just a plain good team. And the sport analysts do not like that. Because there will be nothing to analyze.
They like to talk about players with altitude, create dramas. Look at the East conference, Pistons is a much better team than Cavaliers. But they all talk about Cavaliers, because Cavaliers has LeBron James, and they praise him as MVP candidate. Never thought about that LeBron James could be the reason why Cavaliers could not win.
Although Houston Rockets has two superstars, Yao and T-mac, but they are both nice guys. And nice guys finished last.
from 6 months ago
Agreed! You mirror my thoughts exactly here!
6 months ago
You must have been watching the scrubs mop up the 4th quarter last night, because the Rocket's rotation played excellent defense through the first 3. There was nothing sloppy about it. Holding any NBA team to 30% shooting, while blocking 9 and stealing 8 is impressive D. And they are getting it from everyone in the rotation. Mt. Mutombo is twice the shot blocker and rebounder that Yao Ming will ever be. Defensively, Houston is better than anyone in the league, and they continue to be with consistency. That gets them respect, at least amongst their peers.
from 6 months ago
I agree that Mutumbo is as good as they come when it comes to shot blocking and rebounding and that the Rockets do play consistent defense. I also agree that they are probably respected among their peers, but I didn't write this article about the respect that they get from their peers. I have to disagree on the level of play in last night's game. If you watched the game last night you saw that it was messy. The Nets played like garabage too. The whole game was just sloppy, no matter what the stats say.
6 months ago
Heather, from my experiance as a Pistons fan, I would be hoping and praying that ESPN and Sports Ill. and the rest of the sports world continues to ignore them. Let them feel slighted, let them feel like the underdog. Until they win it all, let the focus be on all the teams that will fall out early. I am so glad that Clevdland and Boston are getting the press in the East b/c that is when the Pistons play their best. Maybe Houston is different but from watching them, I don't think so.
from 6 months ago
I think your probably right Regan. I just simply find it sad that team's like the Rockets and the Pistons are shafted so often. Everyone loves an underdog (ask the Giants :), but sooner-or-later I think the media should give credit where credit is due.
6 months ago
What the Rockets are doing right now is just ridiculous and I hope they win the West (although it's unlikely). When they get to the playoffs, I'm not sure what I want them to do. On one hand, I want to see them win against some of the Western powerhouses and continue surprising everyone. On the other hand, I'm a Magic fan and I love seeing McGrady get booted out of the first round each year since he left us and then dissed our franchise and city. I guess I'll be happy either way. :) Great article by the way!
6 months ago
Everyone is expecting them to lose like they predicted once Yao was sidelined during the streak. I would imagine everyone is holding their breath until the streak comes to an end to explode with relief and tell everyone "I TOLD YOU SO."
6 months ago
Thank you Heather for this great article. I live in Houston and have been a fan over 15 years. You are right on that the Houston Rockets get no RESPECT. Bill Walton is on the top of the list of those, who never ever gave Houston any respect, even with back to back championships.
6 months ago
Nice article. I have watched the Rockets since they came from San Diego in the 70's. It is always the same. And the Pistons too. Those who play team ball never get the glory that those who play individual highlight reels do. That's why we hear about Kobe and LeBron and Boston's big three and nothing about Detroit and Houston.
I agree, let them keep dissing, it provides fuel for the guys. Personally, I would be in heaven with a Houston-Detroit Finals. It would mean alot of stars went down under the sum of parts of the team.
6 months ago
I remember watching their second championship. When they were playing San Antonio, it was all about David Robinson and the powerhouse Spurs. Houston in six. Then they played against Orlando and I really got ticked about their respect. I remember it was game three or four against the Magic, and all Bill Walton kept saying was how great Shaq was, and how powerful he was, how quick Penny was....As I recall, they couldn't win one single game. And I don't care what Shaq did later with the Lakers, he was NEVER the player Hakeem was. There has never been a center like him when he was on his game. But playing for the Rockets kept him from getting the respect he deserved. I hope they beat the Lakers on Sunday, and I hope they beat them by at least 10 points like they did the Hornets (TWICE) and the Mavericks (twice? cant remember).
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