Houston Rockets: Respecting the Streak

I am not the biggest NBA fan and I don't pretend to be even remotely close to an expert on NBA basketball. 

I used to enjoy watching basketball in the late 80s, and throughout the 90s; when the league was filled with players such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. 

Throughout the early part of this decade, the league had become infested with players who were more interested in their sneaker contracts, music videos and a seemingly ongoing contest of who could argue most with the refs. 

That is when I lost interest in the game. Although I must admit, the NBA has made huge strides over the past few years to restore basketball as one of the top sports in the country. 

I cannot remember the last time I sat down and watched an entire basketball game from start to finish, and I probably couldn't name half of the players selected to the All-Star Game. I am more of a baseball and football guy myself. 

Having said that, as a sports fan, it is impossible not to sit up and take notice of what the Houston Rockets have achieved over the past couple of months.

Last night, the Rockets extended their win streak to 21 games – the second longest win streak in NBA history. Their streak began a couple of months ago when the team had a mediocre record of 24-20. Last nights victory put the Rockets in a tie with the Lakers at the top of the Western Conference.

Maybe it's because the NBA is not as popular is it used to be, or maybe it's because I personally don't follow the NBA very closely anymore, but it is only recently that I have noticed the Rocket's amazing streak make it's way to front page sports pages.

The Rockets’ 21-game winning streak is something that I haven't seen in sports for some time. The Patriots' 18-game winning streak this past season was extremely impressive, but football is played once a week. To achieve a 21-game winning streak in the NBA, you have to go out and win every other night for a period of more than two months.

To make the Rockets' streak even more impressive, they lost their star center, Yao Ming, to a season ending injury only 12 games into their current streak. Most teams would have packed in their season at that moment, especially when still considered a mediocre team even after a 12-game winning streak.

But, the Rocket's have gone on to win nine more games in a row and are sitting on top of the Western Conference in a tie with the Los Angles Lakers, whom they play tomorrow afternoon.

Now, the Rockets streak might come to an end tomorrow against the Lakers, or it might not. Either way, the Rockets would have achieved a winning streak that I personally haven't seen the likes of in recent memory.

Even if you are not a NBA basketball fan—as a sports fan, this is an achievement that you have no choice but to respect.