Sky Rockets in Flight...

So far we have gone over the Utah Jazz, the Cavaliers, Suns, Mavericks and Pistons. Today we're going to take a quick look at the Houston Rockets and breakdown why they have a very legitimate shot at winning this year's championship.

The huge question for this squad so far was, what happens once Yao went down? How does the team respond? Historically they have faltered, though the numbers show McGrady was more of a linchpin of the team's success. Take Yao out, the Rockets go 7-11 for a .389 win %. Take McGrady out and the Rockets go 10-27, .270 win %. Take both out, and then it just gets ugly. So how did the Rockets do this year with Yao out?

Fantastic. As of today, Houston is fifth in the Western conference, only two games back from San Antonio for third place. They can't catch the Mavericks or Suns, but they can definitely make it to a third seed, especially with Yao coming back in a week or two. For all you Sports Investors out there, I would be careful once the duo is reunited, as always everything depends on the lines, but it could very well take the big man a couple games to come back to his former self. And maybe he's can't return to being the force that he was becoming this year--all you fantasy owners out there who groaned when Yao went down, I was with you guys. It hurt. (especially if you have Boozer go down too, grumble grumble)

So what we have to do first is examine why the Rockets are playing so well with their big man on the sideline. The answer, of course, is McGrady. He runs the show down in Houston, the offense runs through him, and when he is hot, Lord have mercy. But all of you out there knew this, no big news there, but what is big is the play of their role players, staring with Shane Battier. This man is everywhere, an engine going full throttle from beginning to end, he steals, he blocks, he can light up the scoreboard, drowns threes, and is just an overall pest to the opposing star player. Even inadvertently he's an animal, just because he plays so hard. In last night's game VS the Heat, Wade went to get the ball and Battier didn't care, did a spin move elbows flailing, Wade knocked into him, they tangled a bit and Battier tossed the ball to an open guy. Wade? He had to leave the game with an injury to his shoulder. You just don't mess with Battier, man.

Speaking of that Heat game, how hilarious was it that Shaq got a technical for waving his index finger? Which brings us to the next X factor, the reemergence of Dikembe Mutombo. Of course he's not as young as he once was, of course he could never reproduce Yao's offensive production, but the man is pulling down every board that comes his way and being a presence in the paint. A lot of people could drive on Yao, that's still a big part of his game that he has to improve on, but not so with Dikembe. That man plays like he owns a monopoly on D.

Then you have the other bit players, Rafer Alston who can knock down big shots, a consistent downtown threat, able to move the ball and yeah--he can play some D too. Juwan Howard is a man who posts solid number rather quietly, he isn't that much of a force, but he can explode at times, rattle the rim, and is a good body to have on your team. Then you have Bonzi Wells and Luther Head, quiet guys both involved in trade rumors, so if no moves are made (as is what's expected of the Rockets), I expect their numbers to increase...

And by then, of course, the big man is back.

Now, it's also very important to note who the coach is, Jeff Van Gundy. There is reason why the Rockets are one of the few teams who play solid fundamental basketball, who clamp down on defense (they lead the league in fewest points allowed), and seem to be in the right place at the right time. This guy can coach, and with a healthy Yao, there aren't very many weaknesses in this team. If the team plays this well without Yao, they can only improve once he gets back--which, admittedly, is cause for some concern. Once the star is back, other players feel they can coast a bit, feed the rock to the big man and then sit back. I don't think that will happen, Van Gundy won't allow it to happen, and they will get home court advantage, even if it's only for one round. Watch.

This is a playoff caliber team, defense wins championships and this team has it. It's tough, it can without its big star, it can knock down 3's, play D, get down and dirty, have McGrady-Magic happen, etc. Anything is possible, even...dare I say it...

Beating the Mavericks. They had a great series in 2005, going seven games, and if they meet up this year I'm confident the same will happen. Hey, when I make playoff predictions I go off entertainment and those would be pretty sweet games, so let's go Mavericks, let's go Rockets...

Two teams enter, one team leaves.