One of the most questionable trades in Rockets’ recent history came back to haunt them Wednesday night when Bonzi Wells torched his former team for 20 points in the fourth quarter and 25 points overall to lead New Orleans to a 90-69 win over the Rockets. The win propelled New Orleans to a 1/2 game lead over Houston, pushing the Rockets from 1st to the 3rd spot in the Western Conference playoff standings.

As much as Rocket fans may be gloating they got one over on a division rival like San Antonio by stealing Luis Scola from them, Hornet fans may be doing the same thing toward the Rockets. Houston hasn’t been that charitable to New Orleans since providing help after Katrina.

I knew that trade was questionable at best when it happened, even if it got rid of Mike James‘ contract, because you just don’t want to help a team you’re trying to beat in your own division with a player who can play very well when motivated. By the look of things Wednesday night, they are at risk of Bonzi creating even more damage against Western Conference foes.

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Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston celebrate as the Rockets distance themselves from the New Orleans Hornets Saturday night and ultimately win 106-96. McGrady and Alston combined for 61 points to extend Houston’s winning streak to 18 games in one of the most exciting games of the season. Unbelievable. Click here for more photos from the game.

After each Rockets win during their current winning streak, it has become increasingly difficult to come up with new things to say. You can’t criticize perfection too much. That’s why I decided the other night to make the trip to Houston to attend the Rockets-Hornets game in the flesh since last season’s disappointing Game 7 against Utah.

IF the Rockets were to win Saturday’s game, I wanted to see if there was anything different I could write having been there, especially against a very good New Orleans team.

Well, it was worth the 320-mile round trip drive (at $3.09 cents per gallon, I might add) to watch one of the most exciting regular season games the Rockets have played this season, even during their 18-game winning streak. Rockets 106, Hornets 96.

Absent Carl Landry because of a swollen knee (he should be out only two games, hopefully) the Rockets were now down TWO big men: Yao and Carl.

That meant the other Rockets would have to step up even more, and that coasting to a victory was very improbable. You can only lose so many rotation players before it starts to take its toll. They were going to have to scratch out a win, even with Hornets’ All-Star David West out because of a sprained ankle.

We hadn’t seen it in such a long time because of all the balanced scoring the Rockets have had during the streak, but Houston decided to go back a bit to the “JVG way” of winning games by having one guy put the team on his back. In this case, it would be Tracy McGrady. It was probably the safest bet to get the victory: ride the hot guy, especially if he’s motivated and wants to prove he can be the guy to do it.

Earlier in the day, McGrady learned if the Rockets beat the Hornets that they would move into the third spot in the Western Conference playoff seeding. That was enough for McGrady to do whatever it took to win this game. Coach Rick Adelman knew they would need McGrady to step it up, especially without Landry to keep the Hornets off balance.

McGrady delivered in one of the best performances I’ve seen from him, which is saying a lot given how well he has been playing during the streak. 41 points on 17-of-27 shots. 3-of-8 from three-point land, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. And he played all 48 minutes.

It was interesting to hear at the end of the game when McGrady stepped to the free throw line to hear “MVP! MVP!” chants from the Houston crowd. I don’t think that has happened since he was introduced to Houston fans at his initial press conference after the Orlando trade. We all know the odds of him winning MVP are virtually impossible given how Kobe has been playing this season. But if Houston were to finish ahead of the Lakers in the West, you never know…

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Yao Ming goes after one of his game-high 14 rebounds in a game where the Rockets made a statement by beating the Western Conference leading New Orleans Hornets. Yao would also finish with 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting as the Rockets on their 11th game in a row. Click here for more photos from the game.

I admit that I’m very cautious and conservative when it comes to heaping praise on the Rockets. We have learned from past experience that right when you want to get excited about the idea of the Rockets dominating the league (remember that 6-1 record to start this season?), reality sets in followed by a big letdown.

So during the Rockets’ recent 10-game winning streak, I haven’t been completely convinced the Rockets had proven much since none of their opponents were world-beaters. I would bet many of the players felt the same way. That’s why the Rockets game against the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night was HUGE. If the Rockets lose the game, then we would know we still need to keep our optimism at safeguarded levels.

If they win, then it would be a statement game to the rest of the league, and themselves, that they are for real. And maybe it would give everyone peace of mind that it’s okay to start getting a little crazy. No better place to start a party than in New Orleans, right?

That’s exactly what the Rockets did, dominating the Hornets in their own gym 100-80 to win their 11th straight game. And the way the Rockets did it, I think it gives them even more confidence that maybe they can actually win the whole thing. After all, New Orleans is no slouch. They had a 5-game winning streak of their own coming into the game, and had won 22 of their last 26 by recently beating quality opponents like Dallas, Phoenix, Denver and San Antonio.

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Yao Ming shoots a long beautiful jump shot over New Orleans’ Tyson Chandler. Yao was geat in scoring 30 points, snagging 16 boards, and rejecting 4 shots, but the Hornets were too much to handle in an 87-82 loss, halting Houston’s 5-game winning streak.

When thinking of providing my comments on the Rockets-Hornets game Sunday afternoon, I was going to try to do another podcast, but the pain in my shoulder is even worse, so I will just type up something brief here using one hand in shorter sentences. It took me longer than I thought to type this, so please forgive any typos.

The Hornets were the better team Sunday in stopping Houston’s 5-game winning streak right when they started feeling good about themselves. They hit shots and the Rockets didn’t. Yao was a monster, scoring 30 points, grabbing 16 boards, and 4 blocks. He did miss some chip shots he would normally make, including a jump hook in the lane with 18 seconds remaining. But without him, it would have been bad.

He also had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer, of all things, with 7 seconds remaining, but it fell just short. It would have been something if he had made it. Not only would that shot have been on ESPN Sportscenter, but he could have become a legitimate 3-point shot option for game-winning or game-tying shots in the future. Remember, with him being 7’6” and shooting a high trajectory shot like that, no one can block his shot from way out there. I think it was just as good of a shot as anyone else could have attempted. No one else seemed to be moving around to say “I’m open,” and Yao being the leader he is, he took on the responsibility. It wasn’t meant to be.

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Yao tries to defend the Hornets’ sensational point guard Chris Paul Saturday night in Houston. The Rockets beat New Orleans/Oklahoma City for the first time this season, which was big in the Rockets’ quest to win home court advantage against the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. Yao had 30 points in the win, while T-Mac scored 25, including 11 in a row in the pivotal fourth quarter. Click here for more photos from the game. Click here for pregame photos during the shootaround.

What else can you say about the Rockets’ 123-112 win against New Orleans Saturday night in Houston? It was one of the biggest wins of the season in defeating a team that had beaten them each time this year, and kept the Rockets’ quest to win home court against the Jazz in the playoffs alive.

We really learned much about how well the Rockets might perform in the playoffs by doing what they had to do to win this game, despite all the telltale signs that this was a game they would probably lose

The Rockets and Hornets were trading blows all game long like it was a prizefight. But not until the fourth quarter when T-Mac went on a tear to score 11 points in a row did the Rockets put the game away. T-Mac finished the game making 8 of his last 9 shots, and 9 of his last 11, after only making 2-of-7 in the first half.

Just like T-Mac had iterated in a Houston Chronicle article on Friday that now “it’s time,” he put his money where his mouth was and came through by hitting huge buckets when the Rockets really needed them. He essentially willed his team to a win down the stretch.

The Rockets needed all the help they could get because they couldn’t stop the Hornets’ offense. The Hornets were incredible, racking up 62 points in the second half, the highest number of points the Rockets had given up in a second half all season long, and shooting 54.2% from the field for the game.

David West scored 33 (his third 30+ point game in a row), Marc Jackson 22, Devin Brown 21, and Chris Paul 20. And they did all this without Desmond Mason, and potential most-improved-player-of-the-year candidate Tyson Chandler (sore big toe) who can give Yao problems down in the post.

It’s hard to believe the Hornets aren’t going to make the playoffs. Their 37-43 record is not indicative of how good they are. That just goes to show how competitive the Western Conference is this season. But some years are like that. I remember during the Rudy T. era the Rockets finished 45-37 one season, and they still missed the playoffs, which was one of the best records for a team that didn’t make the playoffs.

Without Chandler in the lineup, Yao had his way with one-on-one defensive coverage on him most of the night. Yao scored 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and 8-of-11 from the line. He also had two blocks. But the one stat that several people (sportswriters, Van Gundy, even Yao himself) made fun of was his two rebounds.

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The Hornets’ Tyson Chandler takes it strong to the hole against Yao Ming Sunday night in Oklahoma City. Chandler got the better of Yao statistically, and his team also got the win. Click here for more photos from the game.

The Rockets-Hornets game Sunday night tapped my emotions from the highest high to the lowest low.

In the first quarter the Rockets were that well-oiled offensive machine we have grown accustomed to seeing lately in the first quarter of games.

As a team they made their first 7 shots. Yao started off 4-for-4 from the field. T-Mac hit his first five. The Rockets moved the ball around for open shots, resulting in 12-of-21 shooting and a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 30-20.

Good job. The Rockets we’re on their way to finally getting the Hornet “monkey” off their back, a team they hadn’t beaten this season in two previous match-ups, and hadn’t beaten in 4-of-5 attempts the past two seasons.

This was the new Rockets we were watching. That underachieving bunch of the past was the old Houston. This was going to be another “statement game,” one of several they have had this season that seemingly holds so much promise in the playoffs.

But then it all came tumbling down. The Rockets fell into some old patterns and folded like a tent, losing 106-94. Yao’s shot inexplicably left him, and he ended up missing 15 of his last 18 shots. That’s unheard of. I can’t believe it. Yao scored only 16 points on 7-of-22 shooting, grabbed only 7 boards, and had 1 block. Meanwhile, his opponent Tyson Chandler scored 14 points, but only needed 11 shots to do it (he made 6), and he grabbed 10 boards and blocked 3 shots.

Part of the reason Yao was having a hard time was because the refs kept calling fouls against him, but no fouls against his defenders who hacked away without fear of a whistle blowing. Yao only went to the line an unbelievably low TWO TIMES! What the hell is going on? In the 10 games since his return from his leg injury, he has averaged going to the line 8.2 times. RONNIE NUNN — WHERE ARE YOU?

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Yao pounds fists with Dikembe Mutombo in Saturday’s practice in Houston. Mutombo won’t play in Sunday’s game against the Hornets because of knee issues, and neither may Tracy McGrady. Click here for more photos of Yao at the practice. Click here for photos of other Rocket players during the practice, including Bonzi Wells, who may be activated for Sunday’s game.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Tracy McGrady has been battling the flu, so he is questionable against the Hornets Sunday. Also, Dikembe Mutombo is definitely out because his knee still is bothering him. So that may leave Yao as the main offensive option, and he may have to log more minutes than normal since Deke is unavailable to provide relief minutes to Yao. Look for seldom-used Jake Tsakalidas to get some playing time on Sunday.

If anyone had any thoughts the Rockets don’t need Yao because of how well the they have been playing lately, all they need to do to understand how wrong they are is look at the Rockets’ 87-74 loss to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets Saturday night. That’s the 20-26 Hornets, the same team that had lost 11 of their last 12 road games, and is the league’s lowest scoring team.

Remember that loss to Denver five weeks ago that gave the Rockets a dose of reality? That’s nothing compared to this loss.

It was an ugly offensive showing for Houston. They scored only 15 points in the first quarter, a season low, as well as 30 points in the first half, another season low. By the third quarter, Houston was shooting only 32%.

This game also showed just how much the Rockets might need Rafer Alston in order to win, a scary proposition since Alston only shoots 36.9%. But after he got into some tough talk with Desmond Mason for hammering T-Mac on a layup attempt in the first quarter, both he and Mason were thrown out.

I didn’t really think it would affect the Rockets’ offense too much since Luther Head is a capable backup point guard and T-Mac is still very adept and finding the open man.

I actually had a little bit of respect for Alston since he didn’t back down on Mason, and wasn’t going to let his superstar teammate get assaulted like that without hearing about it. I’m glad somebody did.

Ironically, former Rocket Mike James showed the same fire in that Mavericks playoff series a couple of years ago. Van Gundy wasn’t too pleased with James losing his cool about the refs blowing several calls in a crucial Game 7, and even though the game had long been decided in a blowout loss. That off-season, James was traded for Alston. So should we expect another trade of the latest rendition of a Houston hothead for someone more ‘composed,’ like Seattle’s Earl Watson?

I doubt it. Alston has been playing better lately, even with the poor shooting, racking up all kinds of assists and turning the ball over very little in comparison. And although I’m sure Van Gundy will be tough on Alston for getting kicked out of this game, the loss of continuity would be too damaging to the offense.

Without Alston, the Rockets’ offense bogged down, even with T-Mac having shaken off the pain in his left wrist following the hard foul by Mason. Repeatedly the Rockets settled for 3-pointers, but hit very few of them (4-of-20 through the 3rd quarter). Live by the three, die by the three.

Meanwhile, the Hornets weren’t doing much better offensively, only leading 33-30 at halftime. But in the 3rd quarter they started hitting their shots, and led by 18 points at one point late in the third quarter, but thanks to a Bonzi Wells three-point play and a very long T-Mac 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer, the Rockets cut the deficit to 14 points, 63-49, heading into the third quarter.

But the Rockets couldn’t close the gap to start the fourth quarter, so in a last desperate attempt, Van Gundy said enough is enough with Juwan Howard and Chuck Hayes, and put in seldom-used Steve Novak and Scott Padgett. I applaud the attempt to mix things up, but it didn’t work.

Novak and Padgett really didn’t do anything, and on one Hornet possession, Novak got mixed up on defense and left Jannero Pargo open for a 3-pointer to push the lead up to 70-51. Van Gundy was visibly upset that Pargo was left so wide open, called a timeout, and pulled Novak out.

The Rockets ended up scoring their lowest number of points for the season (74). They were out-rebounded 49-36, and the Rocket starters were outscored by the Hornet starters 49-29.

The only bright spot was Bonzi Wells providing some low-post scoring, scoring 13 points (8 in the fourth) to give them a small chance to come back. But without Yao being the go-to guy when T-Mac couldn’t really take over (7-of-16 for 18 points, well below his 29 ppg over the last 17 games), all Rocket fans were reminded how much they missed the Big Man once the Rockets’ shooting confidence plummeted.

Yao shoots over New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s Tyson Chandler on Sunday night in New Orleans. Yao picked up 3 early fouls in the game’s first five minutes, which limited his playing time, leading to the Rockets losing 96-90. Click here for the story. Click here for more game photos.

For the second game out of the Rockets first 3 games of the season, Yao has reverted to getting in foul trouble again, something we thought he had conquered late last season when he went on his phenomenal run.

It’s questionable if some of the fouls being called on him are legit, but it’s clear Yao needs to understand once again that he is more prone to having the refs call fouls on him simply because he’s a bigger guy who will attract more attention from the refs’ whistles.

On Sunday night in New Orleans, Yao picked up 3 fouls in the game’s first 5 minutes, and it restricted him to just 27 minutes of play and 11 shots, leading to just 17 points coming on the heels of his huge 36-point game the night before against Dallas. The Rockets could have used his help, who lost to New Orleans 96-90.

But it’s not all Yao’s fault. The rest of the team struggled, too, hitting only 40.5% of their shots collectively and turning it over 20 times while New Orleans shot much better (47%) and kept much better control of the ball (15 turnovers).

Tracy McGrady continues to struggle, making only 5-of-15 shots and committing 5 turnovers. Perhaps T-Mac is having a hard time adjusting to the new Spalding basketballs. Like Jeff Van Gundy said after the game, I believe in the greatness of McGrady and I think he’ll straighten things out soon.

Luckily the Rockets have more scoring power at other positions to help out this season when T-Mac struggles, as we saw Saturday night against Dallas. Shane Battier hit 5-of-13 three pointers to lead the Rockets in scoring in this game.

But unlike the Dallas game, no one else really stepped up. Rafer Alston, who looked so good Saturday night, reverted to his old ways by missing 3 shots (including a layup) in the first quarter, and committed 3 turnovers. Overall, he finished with 13 points (5-of-12), only 3 assists, and 4 turnovers.

One trend is starting to become evident in this young season. Last year Houston was very strong on the road, finishing with a better road record than home one. This year is shaping up to be the opposite. They are 0-2 on the road, and 1-0 at home.

Yao scores two of his 22 points on a nice dunk Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The Rockets finally snapped their 6-game losing streak, and 0-for-13 record against Southwest division foes, beating the Hornets 93-92. Click here for more photos from the game.

by John

THURSDAY, 3/23/06 - I’m writing this while I’m in the middle of pulling an all-nighter on some work stuff. As busy as I am, I wanted to jot a few notes about the Rockets-Hornets game Thursday night. I was able to watch the fourth quarter and was pleasantly surprised at how well the Rockets played down the stretch to pull out a 93-92 win in a very hostile Oklahoma City arena.

The win snapped a 6-game losing streak, and they finally beat a team in their own division this season after losing their previous 13 games against them.

Yao was money, of course. He hit 3-of-4 shots and scored six points in the fourth quarter to complete a 22-point, 8-rebound , two-block game.

So was Rafer Alston, who hit clutch jumpers late in the game to be the difference. He equalled Yao’s 22 points, and actually shot above .500 for once (9-of-16). Good for you, Rafer.

The difference in this victory was not only the big shots at the end of the game, but also the 26-10 third quarter advantage the Rockets enjoyed after trailing 54-45 at halftime.

Amazingly, the Rockets were out-rebounded on the offensive boards 21-3. Normally that would have meant another loss. But for once their shooting was excellent, hitting 49% of their shots, and 95% (20-of-21) from the free throw line! Where has that kind of shooting been all season? Meanwhile, the Hornets only shot 36% from the field.

You’ve also got to give props to Juwan Howard, who had another solid game with 16 points (5-of-7 from the field, 6-of-6 from the line) and 12 boards.

Even more incredible games…

As exciting as the Rockets victory was in the fourth quarter, I can’t help but write about two extremely exciting “Sweet 16″ college basketball games that were being played simultaneously while the Rockets were playing. Yes, I was switching channels among all three games, and my fingers got tired.

I’m sure many of you hoops fans saw the college games I’m talking about, or at least saw the highlights. My undergraduate alma mater, The University of Texas, pulled out a dramatic victory with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat West Virginia. That final three-pointer made me jump out of my chair!

But less than 30 minutes later, I was in store for even more unbelievable excitement. My post-graduate university, UCLA, pulled out the most astounding comeback I have seen since T-Mac scored all those points (13?) in 35 seconds against San Antonio last year.

Down 17 points in the third quarter to Gonzaga, and trailing 9 points with less than three minutes remaining, UCLA was dead in the water. But they kept battling, and came up with a steal in the final few seconds remaining in the game, and scored on a layup to win one of the most incredible college basketball games in recent history! Man ,oh man!

I really felt bad for Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison, though. He was devastated, and his emotions after losing were as raw as you have ever see an athlete display. It was painful to watch it, and I feel bad for him. But I am excited about two of my favorite college basketball teams being in the “Elite 8.” In some way, it makes up a little bit for this lousy Rockets season we’re all going through.

john@YaoMingFanClub.com

To see the boxscore from the game, click here.

To read the Houston Chronicle’s article about the game, click here.