Rockets Take Down Spurs, Claim Southwest Division Lead

For the select few who read my stuff, I apologize for the absence.  I'm back and ready to talk Rockets basketball.

Life is good for a Rockets fan. The boys in red and white have won 16 of 20 since Tracy Mcgrady decided to undergo season ending knee surgery. With 10 games left in the regular season, they have taken over the two seed in the West from the San Antonio Spurs.

They did so in dramatic fashion.

On a day when the second half of the Sweet 16 teams in March Madness were determined, I found myself watching the epic battle between these two teams. It may have had something to do with the fact that I had Wake Forest, FSU, Utah State, and West Virginia advancing, all of whom lost in the first round....moving along.

The Rockets and Spurs game was a defensive battle, as it is every time these two teams meet. I don't remember the last time one of their clashes crossed the century mark in terms of points.  It was a close and hard fought battle, with the spread never being more than nine in favor of Houston, for a mere 23 seconds. 

The Spurs took control early and led for most of the first quarter. In typical Rockets fashion, they stormed back in the second quarter and took a halftime lead of four into the locker rooms.  Also typically of this team, they seemed like they were prepared to give yet another game away late in the game. 

With just under six minutes to go, the Spurs took a seven point lead on a driving lay-up by Tony Parker.  The lay-up capped a 9-2 run by the Spurs. Just when things were starting to look bleak, the Rockets stormed back with a 10-2 run of their own.  They took the lead on a fade-away jumper in the lane by Aaron Brooks with 1:45 remaining.

The Spurs would regain the lead with 46 seconds left on a put back by Kurt Thomas.

The glaring question about the Rockets come post season has been; who are they going to count on in the clutch?  Well, it seems pretty evident the ball needs to find its way to Yao Ming. 

While Yao did not take the shot, he made a beautiful pass to Scola cutting through the lane for a lay-up to regain the lead with 29 seconds left. 

Not to be outdone, Tony Parker ran a pick-and-roll play to perfection and blew by Yao for an easy go ahead layup, leaving 20 seconds on the clock.

Running the high pick-and-roll with Yao, Aaron Brooks got double-teamed, but was able find Yao at the top of the key for a wide open jump shot. "Shoot it!" undoubtedly screamed all Rockets fans, but Yao had other ideas.

Always seeming to be in the right place at the right time, Yao found Scola camping underneath the basket with a screaming two-handed pass for the eventual game winning lay-up, after Duncan and co. had frantically tried to close out on Yao.

Announcer Bill Warrell couldn't have said it better: "Now that's championship basketball!"

It was one of those memorable regular season games, you know, one that you'll remember for about a month. All kidding aside, it was a huge win for the Rockets.

**Notes

Luis Scola had a great game, with 19 points, 17 boards, and three steals

Ron Artest was great early, scoring 13 points in the first half.

Yao had a poor game offensively, but was fantastic in the clutch, scoring on a put-pack dunk and dishing the two assists.

Kyle Lowry seems to be fitting in quite well for the Rockets, and is a great matchup defensively for most point guards in the West.