Write What You See: Houston's Winning Streak Ain't All That

By Craig Kwasniewski

First off, let's give a rousing golf clap to the Houston Rockets for winning all those games.  The regular season is a long and arduous journey and for a team to remain so focused for such a long time is very impressive (especially with their "superstar" out for the remainder of the season with Olympic aspirations).  As we're seeing with the Spurs and Lakers right at this moment, many teams tend to coast during portions of the long season, waiting to crank it up for the playoffs.  So, cheers to you, Houston... thanks for not mailing in the season when Yao Ming quit on you for the Olympics!

BUT...

Is a streak against meager competition really worthy of all the attention?  Just look at who they beat over the past six weeks (quality W's in bold):

1. Jan 29   vs.  Golden State   (Good win... and a SHOCKING T to Boom Dizzle for complaining to the refs)
2. Feb 1     at    Indiana            (Lottery bound with the worst point guard in the NBA)
3. Feb 2     at    Milwaukee       (Yao vs. Yi Jianlian, The Chinese SB = most overrated game ever!)
4. Feb 4     at    Minnesota        (Do I REALLY need to say anything here?)
5. Feb 7    vs.   Cleveland        (Finally a quality W against the league's MVP)
6. Feb 9     vs.   Atlanta             (Is a W against the 10th best team in the east newsworthy?)
7. Feb 11   vs.   Portland           (Not the Portland team of December)
8. Feb 13   vs.   Sacramento      (A W thanks to a clutch three by Steve Novak... WHO????)
9. Feb 19  at    Cleveland         (How did LBJ let the Cavs lose to HOU twice?)
10. Feb 21   vs.   Miami               (The worst team in the NBA not coached by Pat Riley!)
11. Feb 22  at    New Orleans     (Good W against the 5th best team in the west, see below)
    
12. Feb 24    vs.  Chicago             (This team is in complete turmoil, very 2002 Clippers-esque)
13. Feb 26    vs.  Washington       (No Butler, no Arenas... no problem)
14. Feb 29    vs.  Memphis           (The Washington Generals of the NBA)
15. Mar 2    vs.   Denver            (Not THAT impressive considering the choke job by George Karl)
16. Mar 5    vs.   Indiana             (How/Why the hell did they keep Tinsley?)
17. Mar 6    at    Dallas               (No Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs are lacking confidence)
18. Mar 8    vs.  New Orleans     (Spurs, Lakers, Mavs and Jazz are better than New Orleans!)
    
19. Mar 10  vs.   New Jersey        (Why they hell didn't they ship VC to the NYK's?)
20. Mar 12  at    Atlanta              (Could possibly make the playoffs, only to be swept by the C's)
    

Notice not a single solitary game against the Spurs, Pistons, Celtics, Lakers or even the Jazz?

So before we crown the Rockets The Greatest Team Ever!, I have a few questions:

How long before T-Mac’s back gives out?  How long before Rick Adleman starts to realize he's Rick Adleman and chokes in the playoffs (like in Sacramento)?  Will T-Mac go into “here I go again” mode if they lose back-to-back games in the first round?  (BTW - both T-Mac and Yao have never advanced in the playoffs... are they still "superstars?")  Can they keep winning with a 75-year old center?  They’re playing at such a high level of confidence, but can they continue at this pace for the next 6 weeks?  Their starting point guard was an And-1 grad!!!!  Can we seriously believe that Tha Professors’s protégé is capable of hanging with the likes of CP3, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Jason Kidd or Baron Davis?

The Rockets are a great mid-season story, but I can’t buy into them. Such a first round loss.... again.

Comments

[go LA]

No one says they are the greatest team ever. If a team plays 20 teams in a month and a half and travel all over the place and still able to maintain a high level of concentration and work ethics in game situations amid of all those injuries in and out of the games, I think it's worth some sort of complimentary comment in this league.

[Meraj]

Winning 20 games is not like going on a 2 game winning streak. I am from Toronto, Canada and NOT from Houston and I'm still going to give props to the Rockets for winning 20 games. Winning 20 games is not EASY I think you should know that. A win a win- be it a team with a record below .500 or be above .900. When Yao went down, they still won and kept their heads up. When such a terrible news goes up like that out of nowhere, people in the locker room are sad and they feel like giving up. But the Rockets kept on going and going. You should give them credit and stop hating on them. You're just a hater who has no life and writes stuff about the Rockets that's not even true. Look at your exaggerations: Mutombo a 75 year old? Why dont you drive into the paint and get your ball swatted into your own net on the other side of the court and feel embarrassed as Mutombo does the finger-wag. And Rafer is capable of playing with the other PG's! What on earth are you talking about Mr. Whatever your name is Kwas...! 3 of the PG's you mentioned: CP3, B-Diddy and J-Kidd played against Rafer in the W streak and guess who won? Umm...did Houstons winning streak snapped? NO! I'm not saying those three PG's are bad players. Actually, they are my 3 favourite PG's to watch including Nash. I would love to talk more and give you a lesson on writing something like that again. I know its your opinion but give the team some damn credit. My e-mail is meraj_wordlife@hotmail.com and if you want to argue with me about something.. I would love to shut you off and you'll feel stupid to ever write a piece like that again.

[Houston]

This was a very poorly written blog.

You're just taking shots at everyone you don't like.

Don't post ever again

[VC Fan]

My question to you is: If the Rockets beat the Lakers on Sunday will you stop writing forever? or better yet write an apology here?

Or would you write an excuse stating that "Lakers lacked confidence" pfft

[Craig Kwasniewski = sh*t]

Hater blog. Continue to hate please and go grab a donkey's ass like it's your mom and kiss it like charles barkley.

[Alex Martin]

All right buddy, thanks for the "Intelligent NBA commentary" (if that's what you call it). Truly, Houston deserves just a ‘golf clap’ if all they have done is win twenty games. As you have so astutly pointed out, the Spurs and Lakers could have also piled up a win streak of twenty or thirty games had they not decided to coast. Excellent insight. There are still a number of teams in the east jockeying for playoff positions. In the West, where only five or six games separate the first seed from the eighth, there is still home-court advantage to be won. So do you really think that ‘many’ teams are just sitting back and relaxing while waiting for the playoffs to come around so they can ‘crank it up’? The Rockets had a really tough schedule to begin the season, and by the time they were 13-15, everyone was pretty much ready to call them the biggest flop of the year. But then with the new year came a new team. A tougher, more confident team. Sure, Yao Ming went down, and maybe we should all be hating on him for his loyalty to his country. But to say he gave up on his team… don’t you think that’s a little extreme? Ever since coming to the NBA, Yao has been a tireless worker, essentially living in the gym to improve his game (he is not as naturally gifted as some of the other players in the league). So thanks for recognizing that just as you gave props to the Rockets for the streak. All teams have at least a few stretches where they play some pretty weak teams; why, then, haven’t the Spurs or the Lakers or the Mavs piled up 15-18 wins in a row yet? The fact of the matter is, we should recognize the Rockets for what they have done, and regardless of how they fair in the playoffs – really, this criticism is unwarranted, as it is should be saved for an entirely different discussion – they now own the second-longest winning streak in NBA History (50+ years). Obviously, the Rockets are not the Greatest Team Ever, but who said they were? They probably aren’t even the class of the west this year. Even so, the teams that belong to this so-called class of the west have not been able to put together such a streak. So go ahead and footnote all the games that they’ve won with all your cynical parenthetical remarks, and hate on T-Mac and Rafer Alston all you want to. But remember: at the end of the day, this is the team that has compiled a twenty-game winstreak, T-Mac and Yao are two of the top twenty (or perhaps even ten) players in the NBA, Alston has emerged as a solid point guard (to say the least), and you are just a truculent blogger with nothing better to do than to write menial articles that are hardly worth reading. You, Mr. Kwasniewski, definitely are not ‘all that’, but Houston’s winning streak certainy is. And so is Tracy McGrady.

[Gary]

Amazing how sad it is someone can look at another's success and find fault with it? It's a reflection of the negativity of the media (and Blogs)...tell me one other team in the league right now that can take their best player (arguably) and an All Star starter (fact) off their team and win 9 straight games? Forget the 20 games - just tell me one team that can do that - you can't...the Celtics were losing when they lost Garnett...the lakers would not win 5 more games with bryant - yet the Rockets continue to not only win, but dominate teams. Anyway - I am sad for you that you cannot enjoy a special accomplishment...Rick Petino called the media "The fellowship of the Miserable" and you fit that description to a T!

[Alex Martin]

All right buddy, thanks for the "Intelligent NBA commentary" (if that's what you call it). Truly, Houston deserves just a ‘golf clap’ if all they have done is win twenty games. As you have so astutly pointed out, the Spurs and Lakers could have also piled up a win streak of twenty or thirty games had they not decided to coast. Excellent insight. There are still a number of teams in the east jockeying for playoff positions. In the West, where only five or six games separate the first seed from the eighth, there is still home-court advantage to be won. So do you really think that ‘many’ teams are just sitting back and relaxing while waiting for the playoffs to come around so they can ‘crank it up’? The Rockets had a really tough schedule to begin the season, and by the time they were 13-15, everyone was pretty much ready to call them the biggest flop of the year. But then with the new year came a new team. A tougher, more confident team. Sure, Yao Ming went down, and maybe we should all be hating on him for his loyalty to his country. But to say he gave up on his team… don’t you think that’s a little extreme? Ever since coming to the NBA, Yao has been a tireless worker, essentially living in the gym to improve his game (he is not as naturally gifted as some of the other players in the league). So thanks for recognizing that just as you gave props to the Rockets for the streak. All teams have at least a few stretches where they play some pretty weak teams; why, then, haven’t the Spurs or the Lakers or the Mavs piled up 15-18 wins in a row yet? The fact of the matter is, we should recognize the Rockets for what they have done, and regardless of how they fair in the playoffs – really, this criticism is unwarranted, as it is should be saved for an entirely different discussion – they now own the second-longest winning streak in NBA History (50+ years). Obviously, the Rockets are not the Greatest Team Ever, but who said they were? They probably aren’t even the class of the west this year. Even so, the teams that belong to this so-called class of the west have not been able to put together such a streak. So go ahead and footnote all the games that they’ve won with all your cynical parenthetical remarks, and hate on T-Mac and Rafer Alston all you want to. But remember: at the end of the day, this is the team that has compiled a twenty-game winstreak, T-Mac and Yao are two of the top twenty (or perhaps even ten) players in the NBA, Alston has emerged as a solid point guard (to say the least), and you are just a truculent blogger with nothing better to do than to write menial articles that are hardly worth reading. You, Mr. Kwasniewski, definitely are not ‘all that’, but Houston’s winning streak certainy is. And so is Tracy McGrady.

[Zul]

Wow you have a very bad habit of not checking facts. No one is claiming the Rockets are the greatest team ever. However, the team with the record of 33 straight had opponents who had a combined record below .500. Go ahead check into it. Furthermore, rockets did beat Dallas without Dirk, BUT did you notice the rockets were missing YAO MING. Come on. No one is saying they will win the championship, but recognize the achievement without trying to finds ways to tear it down. If Lakers, Suns, or any other media darling did this under the same schedule, wow. In the words of Dennis Green, "YOU WANNA CROWN THEM THEN CROWN THEM!" However in this case, it is a TEAM without media darling superstars.

[J]

I'm not a Houston fan, man i gotta admit that what Houston is doing is sick. The Celtics are in east and hardly managed to win 10 straight games. You are the biggest hater i have ever seen, it doesn't matter who you play, 20 straight games is unbelievable. Give them some respect. And by the way, when Houston beat Hornets they were 1st or 2nd. Denver is a very solid team.

[Zul made a great point]

Zul you made a very good point, yea they beat dallas without dirk, but was yao ming playing?? They won almost half of their games without big yao. Tracy is doing a great job and of course the team itself. I don't know how you got to post this crap.

[Jeffrey]

HATER. Dude the rockets have been playing really well they won more than half of their game swithout yao they have played amazing defence holdin a team to 75 points. I wouldnt exactly say that T-Mac has been the reason because his offensive numbers havent been that great but as a team theyve played awesome. And cmon gimme a break. I can Guarantee that in any Pro sport yu look at No one ever has a 20 game lucky streak this is an amazing streak man . cmon Jamaal Tinsley isnt that bad except for his turnovers hes top ten in assists in the whole league. Dude i have tu give u ur props yu found a way 2 hate on a 20 game winning streak whil dissing every team that Houston played GOOD JOB !NOT!

[phil]

i think you have to understand, that in the nba you have great teams like the celtics and lakers, all which haven't won 20 in a row and they are loaded with superstars. i think u need to get ur nba knowledge up...

[Kwasniewski sucks]

HOW u gonna hate on the rockets streak. the beat the cavs when lebron had a triple double, the beat the hornets when they were number 1 in the west, and then they did it again, the beat the high powered golden state, they beat dallas without yao. prior to this streak they had a four game streak followed by one loss to the jazz, and in that streak they beat san antonio as well at portland. they only game out of their last 25 games that they lost was to the jazz which is respectable to say the least. so u can look at this streak and say we got lucky but u dont even take into account who else we beat. by the way we beat cp3 baron davis and j kidd in this streak

[Aris]

Dear Craig, while I do share the sentiments of just about every one who posted I would like to ask you a few questions before lambasting your laudable, I mean...laughable, article.

First off, do you actually watch the NBA? Have you actually seen any of Houston's wins in the last 6+ weeks? Now, I'm not sure if your article was this thoughtless on purpose so as to incite a response, but come off it man! Yes, Houston has played a relatively easier schedule than many other teams, and while I agree that we might all overrate their focus, their resiliency, and the seeming emergence of McGrady into a moderately consistent leader, we can NOT overrate winning 20 straight games. This is the NBA after all. Teams have talent, and while the league's bottom third may be un-coached, or un-coachable, it does not negate the significance of 20 consecutive victories.

Finally, I commend you on finding a way to try to bash a team that has accomplished something only three teams in the history of the NBA have, all WITHOUT an integral part of their defense (Yao Ming), and with a "75 year old center". All of those facts (Novak's game winner went in didn't it?...what else are you going to say about it?) should only add to your grudging acceptance that Houston is finding ways to win.

All in all, your post is beyond reproach.

Good luck sorting through all the hate-mail, and continued success in writing your thoroughly researched, and totally unbiased blog.

[bon]

you suck, hater.

maybe you don't play basketball so you don't know what 20 wins in a row means. houston's 20 are very convincing wins by the way. i hope they make it 21 right now against charlotte. so this hater can shut the * up.

[Tackle_52]

My oh my!!! just listen to yourself here, how did they even allow you to post up a blog like this? all I have to say is this.... its the nba! you sir are a chump for even trying to be a creative writer of any kind, let alone identifying what the game of basketball is, 20 games in a row is unheard of these days, and you have the nerve to diss this moment? But I get it, let me guess here.... hmmmmm, it sounds to me like you are nothing more than a JEBRON LAMES fan to me, I can guarantee you all, that if it was the cavs that are at 20 straight wins in a row, he would be making this a history blog. You would be on JEBRON LAMES so much if it was him that we would never hear the end of it! mark it down as the greatest win streak in the history of the nba, simply because of 1 guy, and he is JEBRON LAMES. just remember that if it was him doing this, it would be history as the greatest ever! but since its not JEBRON LAMES it is not that good. Basically, he is not that impressive any more.

[guest_314]

You are just a hater. Nothing else.

[Ken]

Mate, you seriously need to get a life. Why did you have to slate the Rockets for something they have accomplished instead of giving them a credit.(big sigh)did the Rockets kicked you out while you're on their training camp or something? First of all, if you didn't know who is Steve Novak, that shows your complete lack of knowledge but anyway why can't he score that 3 there instead of McGrady?? Must it be a McGrady's 3 in order to recognise the effort of the Rockets? Secondly, like it was pointed out by some lad, although the Mavs were playing without Dirk, the Rockets weren't really full force with Yao Ming out and to say that Yao is not committed enough to his team is total crap. Did he perform badly during the stretch where his team won 10 or 11 games in a row or did he start thinking of the Olympics already? Did he tell Rick not to pick him to play because "oh i need to conserve my energy for the Olympics"?? and finally today the New Orleans Hornets beat (yea BEAT) the Lakers by 18 points. Think of that, the Rockets beat the Hornets twice (yea TWICE) during their streak whom you considered not good enough compared to the Lakers. That should deal you the sucker punch.

[ian]

lakers will beat the rockets on Sunday. it's easy for you guys to say those criticisms but my question is, can you do that? you can not, so just shut your mouth and let's just see what the best player in the NBA can do. And that is KB24

[timahimik_ang walang_alam]

Hey Craig Kwasniewski and other stupid commentator stop criticizing the Houston Rockets OK! You know, basketball is not an easy game OK! All you need to do is to shut up and shut down your self from doing unnecessary thing. First of all Rockets has a good credibility in terms of playing a good ball, not like cheating SPURS. Spurs wins its latest championship with frauds, as such like "BRUCE BOWEN KICKING (sucking) FOOT", Robert Horry's Nasty foul on Steve NASH.
No Dirk is a fair play for Houston Rockets, because even without there big man Yao they could still WIN the game, for as else the Mavs is nothing without Dirk Bobitsski.
Well Sunday game at Houston is also a fair play for both team, because no Yao=no Gasolina, well its a T-Mac & Kobe show down.
For this season no team to be like Houston even the greatest EAST Boston can't even prolong the streak more than 10 WINS, Spurs? ah~ a~, Lakers? ah~ a~
Craig Kwasniewski if you really brave enough to comment and criticize a GOOD TEAM do it in front of the TEAM OK!
And Craig Kwasniewski, I challenge you to join a league to let you expierce that playing basketball is not that EASY, so if you felt sorry for the BILLIONS of Rockets FANS around the world, then all you need to do, is to RESPECT the Team Houston ROCKETS OK!!!!!!!

[momo]

intelligent nba commentary? if u think winning 20 games in a row in a professional league is easy, just how intelligent is your commentary going to be? stephen a. smith sounds more intelligent than you, you sports writing wannabe. you're a damn joke, pack it in hater....

[Ash]

Grow a brain mate , NO ONE said they're the greatest team so who exactly are you trying to dunk on there ? Ask your own overactive imagination maybe you'll be inspired for another "terrific" post like the one above , If winning 21 in a row( they beat the Hawks again) is so easy , i dont see the spurs,celtics,lakers,pistons,mavs,suns or this year's hornets,the 96-97 bulls,showtime lakers - havent seen any of them do it , only one other team has got a better streak , you probably know the stats better , why hate on the rockets then ? They're playing great ball right now - show them some respect for that , the rockets themselves know this wont last forever so what exactly are you trying to prove ?

p.s:I'm not even a rockets fan , i wish the lakers would something like this , cant wait for bynum to return and hope gasol's ankle holds up!

[Luc Longley]

hey hater you wanna hate huh? You probably kiss Kobe (OVERRATED) in your dreams. you probably want to hold his hand TOO. And I promise you this- when we lose in the first round again this year you won't hear another word from us!

[Craig Kwasniewski]

I sux