Rox should start playing AB a little more and bench Boddy Jackson.

I think the Rockets wanted to bring on guys like Mike Harris and Justin Williams who can help them this year just in case of another injury to the front line (Landry’s knee, Dikembe’s age). I don’t think they thought Gerald Green could really help them this year. I think when the Rockets waive a player like they did with Green, they typically do it with dignity and class with the potential to have them come back (like they did with Harris). So hopefully we’ll see Green get invited to the Vegas Summer League next summer, and if he shows potential there, maybe get invited to training camp next October. I would think the Rockets would have an inside track on him since Green is from Houston and I’ve got to think he liked his experience with the Rockets, although it was short. — John

I for one always want the Rockets to win, and I’ve said it before, Yao wouldn’t want anyone who wants the Rockets to lose just because he isn’t playing as a fan. So Yao doesn’t want you as a fan Joseph, and since this is a Yao Ming fan site you’re not welccome here.

You mind telling us what city you’re from? I’ve always thought you were from Houston.

David, I was born and raised in Houston, but I now live in Austin where I went to the University of Texas. Luckily Houston isn’t too far away. If I did live in Houston, then chances are I would never get anything done in my real career since I would be going to Rockets games all the time. I talked to the guy who runs ClutchFans.net a few months ago, and he said there’s no way he can go to the Rockets games, either, because it would actually take more of his time when you factor in driving to the game, parking, driving back, then writing about it (although he doesn’t write as much as he used to do). — John

THERE’S A LOT OF FANS NOW THAT THE ROCKETS PLAY BETTER BECAUSE YAO IS OUT…BUT WHAT PEOPLE FORGET IS THAT THE STREAK STARTED WITH YAO IN THE LINE UP FOR THE FIRST 12 GAMES!!!

I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHEN THE STREAK IS GOING TO END, BUT OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO END AT SOME POINT…HOPEFULLY I AM WRONG, BUT I STILL BELIEVE THE ROCKETS WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…PASS THE FIRST ROUND, AND MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THIS SEASON WITHOUT YAO!!!

BUT FOR NEXT SEASON…THE ROCKETS WILL WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH YAO BACK HEALTHIER, STRONGER, AND MORE DETERMINED!!!…

Anyway - I still have a li’l concern: we still cannot stop CP3! T-Mac makes it up this time, but I don’t feel like we can rely on that too much for every nite. Besides CP3, we also have to worry about D-Williams and Tony Parker! Can Aaron Brooks handle this?

Another thing: John, you haven’t write about the Yao effect yet the last couple of games:) The last time we beat the Hornets, Yao had 28/14, a big difference. If we had him, the Hornets would think twice about using the Zone… This time we beat the Zone by being smoking hot from outside, but once again, we shouldn’t rely too much on it.

Anyway… I savour every game and every win, it’s ben a long time since I have this nice feeling! Can’t wait for the Lakers game!
Go Rockets! Do it for Yao!

You’re right about my not commenting on the Yao effect. Last night was difficult because I was up so late and the last person to leave Toyota Center, so I didn’t have time. It definitely would have been easier with him in the game. As far as other games (like Dallas), it wouldn’t have made too much of a difference since they played so well without him. — John

It must be out of the world to be present in the crowd last night; I wish I had a chance like you - but I am in the great white north covered in two feet of snow right now!

Thank you for the great report - as always, John. They are always a fun to read.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights with us. It is a great time to be a fan of both Yao and Rockets! I wonder if the Rockets will be able to do what the Goerge Mason University did in NCAA - a black horse to all the way to the NCAA final. If they place like this, everything is possible. Hopefully, they keep playling like this, everything can happen, including Yao Ming comes back to join the final games of NBA final. It is the Time.

However, if they do so, they need to minimize any errors, such as those made by B Jackson. Hope it will not take the coach RA very long to realise this, as he did for starting Luis.

In this 18 streak history making time, we all should give Yao the credit, even when he is absent from the last a few games.

He is the one who started this winning streak by crying out to his teamates after the Philadephia lost (”softness”) when the Rockets was at the bottom of this season; he was the one who continues to deliver by playing hard with heart regardless good time or bad time; he was the only Rocket who has been there to experience the evolution of the Rockets in the past 6 years. He will be there always. I am sure he will be extremely happy to see what his beloved team is doing.

A great time to follow the Rockets.