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Wednesday May 7, 2008 3:06 PM


Under Review


Rockets overcome slow start, Yao's loss to return to playoffs in 2007-08


Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- The Rockets overcame a slow start and the loss of their All-Star center to return to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

Unfortunately, they couldn't build off that momentum in the playoffs.

Despite a season filled with remarkable comebacks, the Rockets were unable to advance beyond the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, bowing out in a six-game series to the Utah Jazz.

The postseason exit ended what had been an impressive run for one of the NBA's most resilient teams in 2007-08.

"We had a really good year," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who was leading the team for the first time. "When you look back on it and the things we went through, we had guys step up. They played hard when Yao (Ming) went down. Overall, I thought they played really well. We won 55 games. That's a nice accomplishment. Now, the key is to get back there. It's disappointing to lose in the first round and still not be playing, but like I said after the season, I was really proud of the way the guys responded."

Under the guidance of Adelman, the Rockets overcame several significant hurdles to reach the playoffs.

They opened the season with a 15-17 record before making a surge up the standings following New Year's Day. But even after that turnaround, the Rockets were expected to fade from the postseason chase when Yao was lost in late February with a season-ending injury.

But rather fold, the Rockets gained home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs with a 55-win season. They even went nearly two months without a single setback, winning 22 consecutive games. The historic run was good enough for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

Tracy McGrady had another strong all-around season in leading the Rockets without Yao. But unlike past seasons, the team's shooting guard had some help. Rafer Alston emerged as the team's second-leading scorer and Luis Scola led a talented crop of rookies to bolster Houston's front line.

Ultimately, the Rockets' injuries caught up to them in the playoffs. Houston missed Yao's low-scoring presence against the Jazz and three others -- Shane Battier, McGrady and Alston -- were playing hurt.

"We're going to continue to talk about how we can improve the team," Adelman said. "But I feel we have a really strong nucleus. We get Yao back with Tracy and the young players. Our core looks really good right now."

The Rockets will seek additional help in the offseason to make a more significant run. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the team needed to add some size as well as some athleticism on the perimeter.

"We need more of an ability to attack the basket," Morey said. "We've got a shortage of that skill on the roster. It's not as acute when Yao's on the team because we have a guy to go to. But when Yao is out, we have Tracy and Aaron Brooks. If there's a skill set we need, it would be that."

The Rockets are hoping those possible changes and improved health will help them to make a deeper playoff run next season -- without all the obstacles.

Team MVP: Tracy McGrady. The Rockets' star shooting guard didn't have his best statistical season. But he's still the one guy on the roster that the Rockets need to consistently win.

Defining Moment: The Rockets once again didn't get past the first round of the playoffs. But that was hardly the team's defining hour. Houston instead became the talk of the NBA in March by stringing together an improbable winning streak. Despite injuries, the Rockets went over two months without a loss, collecting 22 straight wins. The run was good enough for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, falling 11 games short of the record held by Wilt Chamberlain and the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

The final 10 victories came without Yao Ming, who was lost in the middle of the streak with a fractured foot. But even though the Rockets lost their All-Star center, Houston continued to win with a share-the-wealth offense. Tracy McGrady was still Houston's primary scoring option, but the Rockets got major production from Rafer Alston, Carl Landry, Luis Scola and others during their incredible run. The streak finally came to an end on March 18 when the Boston Celtics picked up a decisive win in Houston.

What Went Right: The Rockets were expected to miss the playoffs after losing Yao Ming, but the team proved their critics wrong by finishing the season tied with Phoenix for the fourth best record in the Western Conference. The team even managed to generate some excitement among its fan base by winning 22 straight games. The rest of the good news? Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks -- the team's talented collection of rookies -- each made significant contributions. The team also remained one of the NBA's best defensive teams, limiting opponents to 92 points per game.

What Went Wrong: The Rockets might have made a more significant run in the Western Conference playoffs if Yao Ming hadn't been hurt. The All-Star center missed the final two months of the season and watched the playoffs from the bench. Unsurprisingly, Houston sorely missed his low-post scoring against the Jazz. Steve Francis and Mike James -- two highly-touted offseason acquisitions -- didn't wind up playing significant roles. Francis missed most of the season with a knee injury and James was eventually traded to New Orleans after falling out of the Rockets' rotation.

Best Game: The Rockets extended their historic run to 22 consecutive wins with a thrilling 104-92 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on March 16. Rafer Alston carried the Rockets with a career-high 31 points, draining eight three-pointers. In perhaps the game's defining moment, the starting point guard capped off the performance by pumping his fist at the crowd after a heated exchange with Los Angeles guard Sasha Vujacic in the fourth quarter. With the win, the Rockets briefly claimed the top spot in the Western Conference.

Worst Game: Sure, it turns out the Sixers weren't so bad. But even with that being the case, no setback shook the Rockets like their 100-88 loss in Philadelphia on Dec. 10. The Sixers took advantage of Houston's cold shooting as they built as large as a 31-point lead. Houston's bench eventually rallied to make things more respectable, but the early setback had the Rockets questioning themselves.

Biggest Surprise: Through the first 36 games of the season, Carl Landry wasn't in the Rockets' rotation. Heck, he wasn't even active for most of Houston's early games, playing a grand total of 17 minutes. But eventually, the rookie power forward got his chance to play -- and never sat again. Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games, providing a spark off the bench with his rim-rattling dunks.

Early Lineup Outlook: The Rockets could undergo some shuffling over the summer, but the core isn't likely to change. Houston is still going to be led by Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The Rockets have four point guards under contract -- Rafer Alston, Bobby Jackson, Steve Francis and Aaron Brooks -- heading into next season. They also have some depth concerns at center and shooting guard/small forward. Dikembe Mutombo, the league's oldest player, might retire.