Houston Rockets End of Season Wrap Up

Predicted Outcome: 45-37, third place Southwest Division
Currently: 43-39, fifth place Southwest Division

The Houston Rockets finished better than three of the teams playing in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Unfortunately they are stuck at home watching the action for the second straight year. Blame the fact that Houston had the terrible luck being stuck in the deepest and most stacked division in the league. The Southwest Division probably made NBA history as all five teams sported above .500. Four of them made the playoffs leaving the Rockets on the outside looking in—a team with a winning record, but nothing to show for it.

The season started very rough for the Rockets as they started off 6-12. To add to their struggles. They also lost their star center Yao Ming yet again. After playing very sparingly—20 or fewer minutes a game, Yao suffered a freak accident spraining his ankle. The Rockets would be without their star player yet again and this time it was going to be for good. Yao would not be lost for the season and possibly lost to the NBA as well. He was finishing the last year of his contract and many believed that his days as a Rocket were numbered. His season ending injury ended a legacy of false hopes and shattered dreams.

Despite his achievements, being a seven time the All Star and posting career numbers of 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, Yao was never able to bring his team to the next level only making it past the first round of the playoffs only once in his career. Nor was he really a truly dominant player; his presence never really brought fear in the hearts of his opponents. He did break barriers as the first international player picked first in the NBA Draft along with being the first Chinese player to be picked first as well. Also he became a beacon of every young Asian kid that ever dreamed of playing the NBA. Unfortunately, that never translated to championship glory.

Now the Rockets would be finally without the man who had been the focal point of their offense and the literal face of the franchise for seven years. Now along with finding a way to win, they also had to find a new identity. No longer did they have a 7 foot 6 inch monster covering the paint of defense, while pumping in points on the offensive end as well. Someone had to step up and fill in the huge void that Yao had left. Luckily for Houston, it was not just one player, but the entire team that chipped in together to compensate for the loss of Yao Ming.  (To be Continued)