NBA - Sports Rumors

Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:01 pm EDT

Win over Lakers could silence Rockets critics

By Michael Hurd

Tracy McGrady

Critics continue to dismiss the Houston Rockets winning streak as a fluke, saying the Rockets have played a bunch of bad teams. Tracy McGrady hopes Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers silences some of the skeptics, even though the Lakers were missing Pau Gasol, who is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

"This was really all about how good the Rockets are," McGrady said. "This is what this game was about, the Lakers coming in here at the top of the Western Conference. This game determined where we are. We answered those questions, we took on that challenge and we're standing alone."

Source: Philadelphia Daily NewsNew Window

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144 Comments

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  1. entengg
    1. Posted by entengg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

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    suns will break their winning sneak on saturday
  2. entengg
    2. Posted by entengg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

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    suns will break their winning streak on saturday
  3. Troy
    3. Posted by Troy Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    I want the Lakers to play the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. I like T-Mac but that is one team I'm not really worried about when playoffs come around cuz they can't defend against Gasol/Bynum. They're too big and they won't be getting all those offensive rebounds that killed us yesterday. But keep winning and beat all these other good West teams so Lakers can stay near the top!!!
  4. Steve S
    4. Posted by Steve S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Boston will end their streak. However I see them facing the Suns in the playoffs as they're probably slip to the number five seed and The Suns will move up to the 4. In that game with their speed and great defense they have a great chance of beating the Suns. Hopefully with the addition of Dale Davis they can match up with Shaq..but they're never going to get into the NBA finals with out Yao. T MAC FOR MVP!!!
  5. AC23
    5. Posted by AC23 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Troy, the way you look at it right now, there is no way LA and Houston will meet in the first round. Unless one of these two teams have a losing streak. Either LA or Houston drops to 7th or 8th. But that's unlikely going to happen for either team.
  6. Mario524
    6. Posted by Mario524 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    For once, I want boston to win, only to end this so called "fluke" winning streak to an end. They aren't that great, not at all, they play with heart, if every team played with heart, then they would be as good as houston (Now). Reality is, they love to play
    mybe if memphis gave that a try they be an o k team
  7. LAKERDAVE
    7. Posted by LAKERDAVE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    lay off the crack pipe, rocket fan! u beat an injury depleted laker team at home. ur streaks comes against a bunch of bottom feeding teams. dallas would have beat u if dirk wasnt suspended. ur record wont mean a thing when u get bounced in the first round. the rockets are the new england pats of the nba. lakers foo!!!
  8. andrew_six
    8. Posted by andrew_six Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    Out of the next four matchups for the Rockets, the team LEAST likely to threaten their streak is the Suns. The slow-down Suns will be lucky to make the playoffs. Every Phoenix fan needs to pray on their knees every night before bed that Denver doesn't go on a tear anytime soon or they are going to fade into the desert sunset. Golden State is on a roll, Utah is a lock because of their pathetic division, and Denver is surging after putting up 297,348,547 points the other night. Although none of the "experts" hiding behind microphones can acknowledge the trend, at this point, if Denver continues to threaten, the logical team not to make it will be either Phoenix or Dallas. Coincidentally these are the same two teams that relied on insane speed, tall athletic scorers, and 130 point/0 defense games to win. They both made trades that killed their speed and their team concepts and now they are freefalling.
  9. Jesse
    9. Posted by Jesse Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    We beat Dallas and that was a fluke because Nowitzki was out. We beat the Lakers but that's a fluke because Pau was out.
    Anybody remember that Yao was out for both of those games? In this streak we've beaten the Hornets twice, Dallas, LA Lakers, Golden State, and Denver (5 of the top 8 in the west). We've also beaten the Caveliers twice.
    But I guess it's just a fluke
  10. Chino
    10. Posted by Chino Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    im from the bay and if my warriors dont advance, ima go with the rockets! im a big t mac fan and wouldnt mind seeing him win a ring!
  11. Mark E
    11. Posted by Mark E Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Mario524, Memphis needs more than a little heart. If they played a lick of defense, they would have won many more games this year.
  12. three6wonzero813
    12. Posted by three6wonzero813 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    great win. people need to stop hatin on the rockets. they're more talented than people think. alston's amazing on both ends of the floor, and so is battier.
  13. jakethesnake
    13. Posted by jakethesnake Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    Rockets are IT right now!!!
  14. Hitman
    14. Posted by Hitman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Whenever the Rockets lose next (and, as we know, it will happen), all of the naysayers will come out of hiding and start there negative rants about the streak. Their absence has been a blessing- I hope they have enjoyed eating their own words. I, for one, am enjoying the moment(s) and wish the Rockets good luck the rest of the season and have hope they will do well in the playoffs.
  15. 123KID
    15. Posted by 123KID Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    ya pretty much. i'll believe the rocket's hype when they beat teams at full strength (i.e. boston, phoenix) and when they actually get out of the first round. their winning streak is good, but it doesnt mean they won the title.
  16. choy
    16. Posted by choy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    22 games ain't a fluke no matter who your're playing
    i don't think most teams can pull 22 in a row even if they're playing the Heat or Sonics 22 times in a row
  17. Forty
    17. Posted by Forty Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    I'm a Rockets fab as well, and this winning streak is great!!!!......However, i must say that i am a bit apprehensive about the chances of us winning the championship.....the playoffs are gonna be pretty hard with all those western teams coming back at us healthy....I'm just hoping we can take them down again.
  18. Leff NutZ
    18. Posted by Leff NutZ Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I meant Phoenix
  19. chris b
    19. Posted by chris b Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    Thank you for that point Jesse W. everyone seems to so easily forget that Houston's TOP SCORER is and has been out. Lakers fans, you should feel ashamed that Rafer Alston handed you your jock straps. And for those of you who think that the Rockets are just a fluke and assume they will fade away once they get a loss check their record since Jan. 1st, before the streak began. You guys should just be glad you got to be a part of history by losing to us. Thanks
  20. Leff NutZ
    20. Posted by Leff NutZ Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    And they play BOS
  21. Dave A
    21. Posted by Dave A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    The Rockets played a good game. But when a guy who normally averages 13-points a game makes eight-3-pointers and gets a career high of 31... of course, you're going to be winning the game.
  22. Curtis
    22. Posted by Curtis Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Jesse, not only was Pau out, but don't forget about Bynum, Mihm and Ariza... We're talking three 7 footers and an athleticly gifted defensive stud in Ariza. I'd love to see the Rockets, even with Yao in the playoffs if both teams were healthy, I like the Lakers chances much better than the Rockets in that scenario.
  23. treg s
    23. Posted by treg s Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Heart. U suckers that are too punkish to even be in a fight use words like fluke and luck. If yall got hit in the face yall would lay down and curl up like a baby. These Rockets have played despite of. Its a team sport MAN. Name another team this season that has won 22 straight, I'll wait. You suckers can't. I wish somebody would put something in all you hoes mouth cause my zipper is stuck. O yeah Kenny Smith your game was'nt that tight, but you had heart so Houston believed in you.Stop being a turn coat rep that ring you got and the city you got it in. Take ESPN nuts out ya mouth!
  24. aznpattierick
    24. Posted by aznpattierick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    alll u losers
    this isnt a fluke
    we are going to own BOSTON tomorrow
    and we're doing it without yao
    yall just jealous cuz ur team cant do at least past more than 11 games winning streak.
  25. DtownSooner
    25. Posted by DtownSooner Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:52 pm EDT

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    Let's see this week! They are going to play with the tuffer teams.

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