Are the Houston Rockets the team to beat in the West? They are currently on a 22 game winning streak which is second best in NBA history and they have done this without their franchise center Yao Ming. Although many critics argue that they are primarily a perimeter shooting team and that come playoff time they will be unable to compete with teams that have bigmen such as Pau Gasol Lakers, Tim Duncan Spurs, Shaquille O'Neal Suns, Erick Dampier Mavericks, and Tyson Chandler Hornets.
However, aging center Dikembe Mutombo has done a decent job in making his presence known in the paint and it is remarkable that at his age he can still contest and block shots as well as rebound against players half his age. Moreover, Tracy McGrady has really stepped up his game during this win streak and is becoming a true team leader in which he understands the importance of setting up plays for his teammates rather than him trying to score on every possession. Although I do agree that they lack a post presence inside and I don't think Luis Scola or Carl Landry will scare opposing teams in April. But if they can knock down wide open three-pointers like how Bobby Jackson and Rafer Alston did yesterday against Los Angeles than it doesn't really matter where their buckets come from as long as they keep scoring and winning games.
How long will this winning streak last is anybody's guess, but I know that nobody will want to face them in the 1st round of the playoffs because a team that is playing on the same page and is a cohesive unit is a commodity that not too many teams have the luxury of having. Coach Rick Adelman is a shoe-in for coach of the year and Tracy McGrady should be considered in MVP discussions because if it were not for him this team would not be in 1st place in the Western Conference.
