The Rockets' Red Glare

Before this year, a Tracy McGrady-led Rockets team has never gotten out of the first round.  Either he or Yao Ming were injured, and were never able to get the chemistry necessary to make the jump from first-round fodder to second-round contender. 

Then came McGrady's perennial status on the injury list, and Yao was left to stand alone.

The Rockets became Yao's team with a little bit of help from "Nu Warrior," Ron Artest. 

Strike one:  The Rockets steal game one from a well rested Laker team. Yao played his best game of the series, making Andrew Bynum irrelevant in the process. The Lakers were able to rebound and took Game Two, but lost Derek Fisher to a flagrant two foul against Luis Scola. Series tied 1-1

The Lakers didn't miss Fish and were able to reciprocate in game three going up 2-1. To make things worse Yao's troublesome left foot had sustained a hairline fracture.  Wow!

Or as the headlines said:  YA OUCH! 

This was it. The Lakers had no worries. Heck, Bynum had no worries.  The Rockets had lost Mount Mutombo in the previous series and had no more big bodies.

The trend continued, and Yao too was gone and echoes of "here we go again" were filling the mind of Rocket fans everywhere.

Strike two: Someone forgot to tell the Rockets that they weren't supposed to play well.  In fact, everyone expected them to revert back to McGrady-ball and be soft. The Rockets led 22-7 midway through the first quarter.  The "Nu Warrior" was the glue, that starter who infused toughness in them.

Bynum, having the perfect opportunity to redeem himself, showed confusion once again. The final score was not indicative of how the Rockets dominated. They pummeled the Lakers, leaving them charred and deflated. 

It wasn't supposed to be like this.  The Lakers had swept the Rockets during the regular season.

The Rockets were ignited and united for their fallen leader, their Great Wall, Yao Ming. Series tied 2-2.

Only time will tell if strike three equals a Rockets upset and a berth for Houston in the Western Conference Finals against Denver.