Houston We Have Lift Off

Notice the allusion right off the back? I wonder how many times we heard this in a movie and/or book possibly where a protagonist somehow reaches the climax of the plot. For the Houston Rockets this is the exact same scenario. In previous seasons it has been do or die for the Rockets. It was do when Tracy McGrady was brought into town for the uncoachable Steve Francis and his sidekick, Cuttino Mobley. When Jeff Van Gundy couldn't succeed in taking Houston past the the depthless Utah Jazz he was fired and replaced by Rick Adelman. Of course team owner, Leslie Alexander thought it was do for Adelman, but he too was unable to incorporate an offense revolving around McGrady and Yao Ming. Other players on the roster became stagnant and were unable to take advantage of their small roles. However, Rockets' GM Daryl Morey had a plan. A plan with little fault. A plan so fool proof not even a fool could mess it up. It had been well calculated and formulated into a blueprint of perfection. It was almost as guaranteed to work as a Joel Osteen self-bettering book. Through cunning trades and sly draft picks, Morey kept the Rockets relevant. While powerhouses in the NBA's Western Conference slept peacefully at night, Houston was at their children's bedside; petting their hair and properly tucking them into bed softly promising "Everything is gonna be ok. Don't worry about daddy. He's gonna have to learn not to sleep on us anymore. Its not your fault, nor his. What do you expect him to do? He's absent minded." And before they kissed them on the forehead goodnight, they left a note to the parent, warning them that they in fact know where their children sleep at night. But they guessingly figured Houston was playing a game of poker. What would you do when an enemy who seems all but a threat to your goals is potentially bluffing? 22 wins in a row and a 7 game second-round series with the eventual NBA champions later nothing has changed except the renovation of the culture in Houston's locker.
Ron Artest is gone. Rafer Alston is gone. Tracy McGrady is gone. Dikembe Mutumbo is gone. Carl Landry is gone. Von Wafer is gone. And Yao Ming is sidelined with a serious foot injury. With Luis Scola clearly the best and most experienced player on the roster since acquiring Kevin Martin from the Sacramento Kings, the Rockets look like they're in position to make a run next year at the NBA Championship when Yao returns to full health.
The back-court provides much youth and a loaded offensive explosiveness. Even though Martin, Aaron Brooks and Trevor Ariza are each "shoot first ask questions later" type players; they have much versatility and can compliment each other well on the court. Another special quality they share is their work ethic early on in their careers. Neither of the 3 were lottery picks coming out of college and not much were expected of them in the NBA. But they eventually found their place and have now come together to challenge any defense in the league. Brooks is arguably the best shooter on the team but has tendencies of taking low percentage shots. Martin is not the world's best defender but is undoubtedly the best scorer on the Rockets. He plays with a knack for drawings fouls and getting to the free throw line, where he shoots a high percentage, but doesn't usually create much offense for his teammates. Ariza, on the other hand, is the most exciting player Houston has seen since McGrady was healthy an uncertain time ago. He too has bad shot selection but is showing signs of his play-making potential with solid statistical numbers. He is a superb defender who bothers opponents with weapons such as athleticism, length, and a harassing style of play. His intangibles are highly appreciated. In regard to all these facts the engine that gets the Rockets going is Kyle Lowry. He is a special individual, with a tough game, he also defends well and collects a considerable amount of rebounds for his size. He can create instant offense, whether coming off penetration or drawing defensive fouls. He and Brooks have caused havoc in the past as one of the fastest duos the league has to offer.
Scola, who deserves his own paragraph, has taken on an entirely new role as the Rockets go-to guy after the departure of Landry. This has built his confidence tremendously and he hasn't let anybody down. Ever since his rookie season in the NBA, Scola has put every amount of effort he could into every single play. As a defender he tends to annoy the opposed and create turnovers against the other team. He can also guard the pick and roll to disrupt any flowing offense and force teams into bad shots. As an offensive player he has been credited for being one of the better scorers from out to 15 feet, where he has a reliable mid-range jump shot and a trickery array of moves in the high and low post. He has also proven to compliment Yao very well, whereas without the ball he can cut and help his guards by setting good screens.
As of right now it looks like this team will be able to make the playoffs if only a miracle can occur suddenly. This season hasn't been a full waste. Morey has built better, much more youthful compliments for the Great Wall to play around. Houston fans have plenty to look forward to next season as this summer may be even busier than most fans and analysts predict or hope it will be due to the progress of this team that has been a era in the making. So if the Red Nation can please step this way, I'm very afraid the flight has been stalled.