Like Rodney Dangerfield once said (OK, way more than once), "I get no respect."
I imagine that's how the Houston Rockets feel after notching their 20th consecutive win, matching the second longest win streak in NBA history. Yet in the eyes of many observers, they aren't even the best team in their own conference.
When the Rockets started this run, it was at a very improbable time. Houston was only 15-16 on New Years Day, if you recall. Yet even after losing Yao Ming, they have continued to do nothing but win, having now gone 8-0 since they lost their star center to a season-ending foot injury.
But lacking a low-post presence and playing in the Western Conference makes respect hard to come by. With teams like the Spurs and Lakers, among others, it is an extremely competitive conference. The Lakers have been considered legitimate contenders since adding Pau Gasol and the Spurs...well, they're the freakin' defending NBA champs.
Yet consider the stifling defense Houston plays. The Tracy McGrady-led offense. And we're not talking about a team that has eeked by its opponents. Oh no. In fact, the Rockets tied an NBA record with 10 consecutive blowout wins (wins by 10 or more points) before beating Atlanta 83-75 on Wednesday night.
Ah, but I suspect that the Lakers all-time record of 33 straight victories is safe for now. After hosting Charlotte on Friday, the Rockets face a five-game string that reads Lakers, Celtics, at Hornets, at Warriors, at Suns.
And when they do lose, you'll hear NBA analysts across the country saying "I told you so"—and further denouncing their title hopes. Maybe they don't have what it takes. Perhaps their lack of a low post presence will hurt them in the long run. But for now, anyone who is ruling them out better know that the Rockets certainly feel they are for real.
Regardless of how it all turns out, it certainly has been an impressive run by the Houston Rockets and coach Rick Adelman. But apparently not enough to earn any respect.
comments (34) write a comment »
write a new comment
6 months ago
keep the good work up guys, ur doing great.
6 months ago
I think Houstonians are used to not having our teams recognized. When the Rockets one back-to-back championships everyone said it was because Michael Jordan wasn't with the Chicago Bulls anymore. I was definitely concerned when they announced Yao would be out for the rest of the season...but the team has really stepped up and come through for Houston. Given their impressive streak...they are a threat and a true competitor to any team they face. After all, we were nicknamed "Clutch City".
6 months ago
Good words.
6 months ago
Never underestimate the heart of a Champion!
-Rudy T,
Ched
http://www.sayssimpleton.blogspot.com
6 months ago
I completely agree. I wrote a very similar article on the same topic yesterday! Add 1 more to the win column and the lack of respect looks even more crazy today!
6 months ago
I have to agree with you. The Rockets deserve some respect. 20 games in a row is one heck of an accomplishment, I don't care if you're facing the worst team in the league every night, 20 games in a row deserves respect. It is after-all tied for 2nd as the most wins in a row any team has ever gotten.
6 months ago
You all must be from Pac 10 country...no, that can't be it, I did not hear the words "East Coast Bias". I am somewhat stunned to hear the "no respect" coming. All I have heard about Houston is how amazingly strong they have become, how Adelman got the players to buy into his system, how they have become, even sans Ming, a genuine threat to win the championship. If that is lack of respect, send some our way...
6 months ago
Life is cruel to the Rockets. If only they have Yao Ming available playing only 4th quarter of each remaining game! Would that change some critics' mind?!
6 months ago
Drew, I think the lack of respect stems from the fact that they play in such a tough conference and some people had already written them off before the hot streak started. Sure, some will pile on the compliments while they're on this incredible streak, but wait until they lose one or two, everyone will be once again talking about the Spurs having the experience and Phil winning another title, blah blah blah.
Even more of a concern is can they sustain throughout the playoffs without Yao? so far, so good.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
6 months ago
Nice one Bob. I have been a Rocket fan since they came here from San Diego. No one ever believes...back to back championships and still they didn't. 20 win streak and still they don't.
The sports geniuses spend so much time talking about if the Rockets are for real that they don't mention the Lakers hanging on Kobe's pinky, the Jazz not being able to beat anyone on the road and not having homecourt against half their possible opponents, the Hornets playing .500 ball these days and having no playoff experience, etc....
The dissing is good for the guys, they can use it to get themselves up. I don't really care how long the streak goes after Friday. Like the Rockets, I just want a good seed in the playoffs. I must admit, I would dearly love to beat the smirk off of the faces of all of those who have already crowned the Lakers champs by beating them on Sunday. It's a crap shoot maybe yes, maybe no...but certainly a great game to watch.
6 months ago
It's a good streak, but it's only good if they follow it with a championship, which I don't see happening.
6 months ago
Not so much a crap shoot, Shari. LA is going to come in here expecting to be the savior of the NBA against that little team that has dared to steal so much of their press time. But its our house. The bigger concern is 2 sets of back-to-backs with only one day off between. True, we beat NOH on their home court in a 2nd game back-to-back already once during this streak but this one follows Boston, probably the best of the East. Then, with one day off to fly, we meet the Warriors then Pheonix. That little 4-in-5 will give us a true picture of the ROX's mettle. If they come through that without losing their attitude, the rest of the season will be theirs for taking.
6 months ago
I like both Adelman and McGrady a lot, but I think they have earned plenty of respect. I don't see them as a top 3 team in the West and until McGrady can get his team past the first round, people are still going to doubt this team. I do think they will pass round one this time and with how close together the West teams are, they may win it all, but for now I'll wait and see how they do against more top opponents before really judging them.
6 months ago
Nasser, glad you are at least willing to wait and see. Most just write them off.
Anonymous, I agree that little 4 in 5 could shut everyone up if they do well enough. I expect them to lose some in that stretch, but honestly I expect it to be in New Orleans not here for Boston or LA and we can beat Phoenix in Phoenix. Just think NO will really be gunning since we have beaten them twice recently, and badly too.
The Lakers will need Kobe's A game to compete in our house. We will need Tracy's A game to keep them out. Can't wait for that game.
from 6 months ago
Thanks for the comments Shari. I'm looking forward to the game against the Laker as well. I am in Chicago, so i hope the game is on ESPN or TNT or somewhere I can get it on my dish.
6 months ago
No respect? All I hear when I turn on ESPN is the Rockets winning streak. That's all they've talked about since the winning streak was at 12. Hell, the Rockets 12 game winning streak got a ton more press than the Spurs 12 game winning streak did earlier this year. Now its almost at the point where they are going to have a Rockets ticker at the bottom of ESPNs screen like they did for the Pats.
Is the Rockets 20 game streak impressive? Yes. Does it mean they should be regarded as the best, or even top two in the Conference, absolutely not. In this 20 game streak all they have proven is that they can pound on the worst teams in the NBA and that they have a good handle on how to beat New Orleans. If they end up matched up against the Hornets I'm confident they can beat them, but in this win streak that is the only good team they've beat.
In this streak they've beaten the Pacers twice, the Hawks twice, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Miami (boy its a bad year for cities that start with 'M' huh) New Jersey, Sacramento and Chicago. Not only are all those teams very bad, but none of them match up well against the lineup and style of play the Rockets run. Even without Yao, this streak could have been forcasted. Sure its impressive that they've gone this long without losing a game, but the respect they've gotten has outweighed the actual achievement.
Talk to me when they start beating San Antonio, Boston, Detroit, the Lakers, Dallas (with Dirk), Phoenix and Utah.
6 months ago
Any time a team wins as many games in a row as the Rockets have, it's impressive no matter what teams they've played. And see - that's exactly the type of attitude that I'm talking about Isaac. You say this is all you hear about, but then you go on to say that the streak could have been forecasted. Uh, no. Since this has only happened two other times in the history of the NBA, I hardly think anyone should have seen a 20 game win streak coming. But thank you for whether you realize it or not, you've confirmed my point.
6 months ago
They definitely deserve respect. No doubt about it. 20 games is ridiculous especially against some of the competition they have played. Its not like they are playing only teams from the east. They did beat the hornets twice. If they win the west i still don't think they will get the respect they deserve. I think people want to see what they do in the playoffs and then maybe everyone will respect them.
6 months ago
Well, let's admit they do have a hard road ahead of them without Yao. But I'm rooting for them - heck, my Bulls certainly aren't deserving of any respect.
6 months ago
lol all i can say is the rocket is scheduled for liftoff on sunday i can wait for shan battier and dike to swat the shit out of kobe and put him in his place go rox's make us all even more proud of you than we all ready are
from 6 months ago
Should be a great game tomorrow John.
21 in a row and counting! I was actually thinking that yesterday's game against Charlotte was a "trap" game but they got it.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
6 months ago
Celts-Rockets will be interesting, KG will wreak havoc on Mutombo but the Celts don't have an answer for T-Mac, it'll come down to which team has the momentum late, Gasol is hurting and Houston will beat LA. if they get past the Celtics, Warriors, and Hornets they will have a real shot at the record. Easier said then done I suppose
6 months ago
Max, if they get past the Celtics, Warriors, and Hornets they will most likely be comfortably atop the West and I like that better than chasing 33 games.
Isaac, if 20 is so easy without your all star, then why is it such a big deal that the Mavs only had Kidd and not Nowitzi. After all, the Rockets only have T-Mac, no Yao. By the way you forgot the two wins against the invincible LeBron, one in his house and he was there.
And tomorrow, the excuse if they win will be no-Pau. Again, no Yao. That cancels out any no______ you want to throw up on any team that we play.
That is what makes the streak amazing to me.
And while you are dissing the teams they played, let's give the Hawks their due. This season, in their house, they beat LA, NO, Phoenix, Dallas, and I think the Spurs. Notice who is missing from the mighty fallen in that list :)
6 months ago
If the Rockets can get past next week, respect will be unavoidable.
But the fact is, they will not escape next week with more than 2 wins. Chances are they'll come out 1-4.
Lakers, Celtics, Hornets, Warriors & Suns.
Say goodbye to the winning streak.
6 months ago
Bob, you totally missed my point. Sure it is impressive to win 20 straight, but you are acting like we need to annoint the Rockets the crown of the Western Conference, which would be ridiculous to do. They are getting proper respect for their winning streak, which is much less impressive then the number of wins itself when you look at who they have beaten. They will end up with a lower seed then they are at right now, and all the Rocket hype will die down in time for a first round loss.
Shari, congratulations on beating Cleveland. The Rockets would without question be the third best team in the Eastern Conference. They are not a top 4 team in the West.
6 months ago
Isaac, I'm sorry if you think I missed your point, but I read it again and I still think your opinion of the Rockets as a team solidifies my point about the lack of respect. It's not just impressive to win 20 in a row, it is historic my friend. Now that they're at 21, only one team in the history of the NBA has ever won more in a row. That means they are not just good, they are not just lucky, and yes, I can annoint them as the best in the West (at least for now). dude, 21 in a row, only one other team EVER has done this, think about that for a second. They are the best team in the West and should be treated as such.
from 6 months ago
But see Bob, even you realize that they aren't really the best team in the West with your "(at least for now)". You can hammer down the fact that this is a historically long streak all you want, but a non-biased observer can't help but notice that this stretch has included a lot of weak competition. Over this period of time they have been the best team in the league. I have watched many of their games over the last 21, and I still don't see a team that is anywhere close to being a title contender. I watch ESPN often, and I definitley don't see a team that's getting no respect.
I do see a team that's playing very inspired basketball and they are putting it together over a long period of time. I see a team that is tailor made for what Rick Adleman tries to do (I know that one for sure, because I coach an 8th grade AAU team and we run the Adleman offense) but I don't think that just because they haven't dropped a game during this stretch of soft schedule that they are all of a sudden a different team the they were.
6 months ago
They get my respect if they can win the next four.
6 months ago
They get my respect if they can win the next four.
6 months ago
Isaac, ok, I'll give you that I am not even sure they are the best in the West. But I think any team that has won 22 in a row (and counting) deserves to be in the conversation anyway.
22 in a row!!
from 6 months ago
That's where I can meet you halfway. I agree that they are in the conversation.
I just disagree with the title of your article for two reasons. One is that I just hate that people throw around the no respect card so often. What does that even mean? Who are they getting no respect from? ESPN? They are talking about them every waning second of NBA coverage. Local papers? I'm not in the Houston area, but I'd imagine they are getting plenty of respect there. People writing articles on bleacer report? There are Rocket streak articles all over this site.
Also who cares if people are respecting them even if they weren't? "Experts" are wrong all the time and like to cover the sexy stories, which this streak happens to be. The no-respect thing is played out.
I'm sorry for being so argumentitive, the respect thing is just one of my pet peeves. I was impressed by the win over LA though.
6 months ago
respect! definitely deserved!
6 months ago
I respect their streak, who wouldn't? It's amazing, phenomenal and fun to watch. But I saw my Suns through two awesome streaks last year - 15 and 17, which, by the end of the full season, meant absolutely nothing.
6 months ago
the streak itself is impressive i'll admit, but the team is not even near comparison against the other teams in history that won close to this many games, nor the other great western teams of this season. no way is this year's houston team in any conversation with those greats of the past and of today. this is just a lucky year for the rockets (i mean talk about ridiculous, every supposed good team the rockets play recently, a key player goes down few days before the game). just because the clippers had their run a few seasons ago didn't make them a great team- it just made them an anomaly. same with the rockets.
i give the streak its due respect, but not the team.
and whoever said that winning 22 in a row is impressive even when you're playing the worst team is stupid. any above average team will beat the heats 60 games in a row
write a new comment