Who needs tickets?

 Ok I have to admit that the sizzling Houston Rockets have proved me wrong. When I found out that Yao Ming had suffered a stress fracture in his left foot I, like probably most people following the NBA, predicted that the team was doomed and that their 13-game winning streak would end in the next few games.

I for sure never would have imagined that they woud reach 20 straight victories and become one of the top teams on the NBA power ranking’s of several important sports outlets.

For example ESPN, Yahoo Sports, CNN/SI, and The Sporting News all have the Houston Rockets ranked as the number 1 team in the nation for the week ending March 9, 2008.

The Rockets have not only proved critics wrong, but probably most importantly, they have learned to play without Yao Ming as several role players have stepped up big time and helped All-star shooting guard Tracy McGrady carry the load.

Even though they might not be a championship-caliber team the Rockets can now be considered a safe bet to make the playoffs and give problems to any opponent they face. This team is now playing inspired basketball and even if their winning streak comes to an end they will continue to thrive with this new sudden winning formula they have found.

 Rick Adelman has done a magnificent job bringing these guys together and not letting them believe anything of what the media wrote about their imminent demise and their season being lost.

Of course the important question now is how much longer can the Rockets keep the streak alive? Well, even though I have a newfound respect for these guys I still don’t believe in them 100 percent. I don’t think they are ready to dance with the big boys of the NBA just yet.

They may lead the weekly power rankings for now, but they for sure aren’t as complete a team as let’s say the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers.

In fact, I’m going to bet once again against the Rockets ability to keep this streak alive beyond Sunday’s game against the Lakers. That is of course assuming they don’t take the Charlotte Bobcats for granted and lose to them tonight at home.

Although they beat the Atlanta Hawks on the road on Wednesday the Rockets were far from being a dominant team. Houston rallied from a 10-point early deficit to defeat the struggling Hawks despite scoring a season-low 32 points in the first half.

Furthermore the Rockets have had 13 games at home, played only eight teams with winning records and their toughest opponent during that stretch was a Dallas Mavericks team without Dirk Nowitzki because he was serving a suspension.

If indeed the Rockets find a way to overcome the Lakers on Sunday they still have a tough road ahead of them next week:

vs Boston Celtics - March 18
vs New Orleans Hornets - March 19
at Golden StateWarriors - March 21
at Phoenix Suns - March 22

So as you see, probably by next Friday the Rockets streak won’t be alive. In the unlikely event that the Rockets do beat the Lakers and Celtics I think they wil be too emotionally and physically drained to face the New Orleans Hornets the following night. Take into account that the Hornets will face the Rockets with a night’s rest and were 23-10 at home as of March 13, 2008.

Let’s even be bolder for a second and dream that the Rockets win all their games next week. How far could they take this, you may ask. Well, after next week’s grueling tests they have what should be two easier games against the Kings and Timberwolves at home on March 24 and 26 respectively.

If they have enough energy and poise to beat those two lesser foes and withstand the pressure (something that at that point would be amazing) they would have to face the defending champion Spurs at the Alamodome on March 30, and by then there’s absolutely no way that the streak would come out of that venue intact.

So there you have it, the Rockets won’t break the Lakers record of 33 consecutive wins because in the most unlikely event that they arrive in San Antonio with their streak alive the Spurs would stop it at  28 (a number that woud be absolutely mind blowing nonetheless)

Of course as I told you, this is all moot because by Sunday the Lakers will put an end to one of the most amazing and improbable winning streaks the NBA has ever seen.