NBA Notes: Rockets streak continues

By Mike Walsh

Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, Steve Francis, Mike Harris, Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Bobby Jackson, Carl Landry, Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Novak, Luis Scola, Justin Williams, Coach: Rick Adelman(!!!).
If I told you in November that this motley crew of a basketball team was going to rip off a 19-game winning streak (and counting) and be one game out of first place in the Western Conference in March how many kinds of crazy would you call me?
Well folks, this has become our reality. Somehow the Rockets have climbed to within one game of first place in a Western Conference that is tighter than the skin on Meg Ryan’s face.
They have seamlessly replaced Yao with Dikembe Mutombo, who is fighting off rigor mortis to go out every night and block shots and rebound. He has somehow turned back the clock.
If the Rockets win a first round series and Dikembe is seen on the ground, clutching the ball with both hands crying Sonics fans might have a collective aneurysm.
How is this happening? McGrady is being McGrady. He takes over when necessary. This year he trusts his teammates more than ever. The Rockets play solid defense, do the right thing on offense and never seem to lose their swagger.
Carl Landry is an epiphany, Battier and Hayes play hard nosed defense as does Mount Mutombo, Alston (forever “Skip to my Lou” in my book) looks like a legitimate point guard out there, and everyone is picking up the scoring slack.
Can they keep it up? I don’t think so. I mean, I hope they keep winning in the regular season because I would much rather have the Warriors match up against them in the first round than the Lakers or the Spurs. That is, of course, if the Warriors make the playoffs at all.

Speaking of the Warriors: The W’s are on track to maintain their lead in the West and get into the playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed. Back-to-back playoff berths would be a rousing success for the Warriors, especially given their history and the level of talent in the West this season.
The biggest “concern” is that Baron hasn’t missed a game yet this season. That is reason for concern for a guy like Baron who misses time every year. Don Nelson has to be just hoping that his annual injury either won’t happen or won’t derail the Warriors playoff push.
Whatever the hope is, Nellie doesn’t appear very concerned as he has played Baron 42 minutes a night over the last seven games. Monta Ellis has logged 44 minutes per game over that same span. Here’s hoping the Warriors work horses don’t run out of gas before May.

Lebron vs. Kobe…vs. Chris Paul: This year’s MVP race is shaping up nicely. It is a great topic to debate. This year’s contestants are distinctly different.
First off is the best player: Kobe.
Kobe is an assassin on offense. He’s a deadly shooter, great slasher, great free throw shooter and plays fantastic defense. His resume is filled with games, weeks, playoffs and seasons where he has proved himself as the best player in the NBA right now.
The second choice is the player who is doing the most with the least: Lebron.
I’m not just talking about his team either. Make no mistake about it, Lebron has carried the Cavs with a sub-par roster his entire career.
Here’s thing: he’s a great scorer with an extremely limited repertoire. Seriously.
Granted, when he decides to go to the hole, no one can stop him. You would have to go Last Boy Scout on him to slow him down when he is determined to get to the cup. But, have you ever seen him post up?
What do you think of his outside jumper and three point shot? Average? Maybe? If he decides to work on his post up game and outside shot in the off season his ceiling will officially come off. There is no telling how good he could be.
The good news for NBA fans is that he seems determined to get better. This season he is a much more focused defender and a better shooter. Time will tell if he is destined to be one of the greatest players of this generation, or ever.
The third choice is the dark horse. Because Kobe and Lebron can be compared more readily (both straight out of high school, about the same height, both wing players, both highly touted out while still in high school, etc.) Chris Paul gets left out.
Here’s the thing: Chris Paul has been amazing this season! I am a little biased towards point guards because I was one in high school, but think about the team Paul is leading. It’s not like it is a team of established veterans and stars, it’s the Hornets!
He’s had to deal with Tyson Chandler’s maturing process, Peja Stojakavic being completely one dimensional, Hurricane Katrina, playing “home” games in Oklahoma City, etc.
And now he is one of the two best point guards in the league along with Deron Williams. He is unstoppable off the dribble, always makes the right decision with the ball, shoots reasonably well and plays scrappy, tenacious defense when called upon.
Paul is one of many young talented players who will make the NBA fun for the next decade.
Despite Kobe starting the season acting like a baby, he has come on and gelled with his teammates, taking over when necessary and leading the charge to the top of the west. He is doing it all now with an injured finger and probably has the edge over the other two candidates in most people’s minds.
Still it’s a fun debate and one that will continue into the spring.