The real test

The Rockets have won 21 consecutive games, the second most in the league history, rivaled only by the 1971/72 Lakers team which won 33 straight with the help of their center, Wilt Chamberlain. They went and beat the Knicks in the finals to lift the trophy.

Now, Rockets are without their center, and also the star player of the team. Yao Ming leads in scoring and rebound for the team, and when he went for surgery a few weeks ago, a lot of people wrote down their chances. No way they can continue the streak without Yao.

But 9 games later, they are still winning. Now they sit at the top of the Western Conference, sharing the lead with the Lakers. Lakers have been revitalized with the arrival of Pau Gasol, climbing their way up the table and becoming yet again a force to be reckon with.

Of course, there is also the Kobe factor.

Tomorrow, it's going to be Rockets vs Lakers. Clash of the top two teams. It's going to be an important game for the Rockets, because this is where their mettle will be tested. This is when their championship credentials will be proven. This is The Game.

And after the Lakers, it's going to be the Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA now, then another encounter with the Hornets. Then it's going to be the Warriors and the Suns.

These are going to be tough games for them. Their shooting percentage has been dropping lately, and they've been relying a lot on their defense. And also unexpected heroes. McGrady has been tanking for the team, but in every game, there have always been the unlikely heroes. Landry and Scola did his part, and so did Novak and Mutombo. And in yesterday's win against the Bobcats, it was Michael Harris, who was one of Rockets' final training camp cuts. And I haven't even heard of him until yesterday.

I will be watching the game closely tomorrow, from the net. And hopefully, at the end of it, I'll be jumping up and down and grinning wildly.

33 in a row? Sounds impossible, but with some luck and hustle play, it can happen again.

And the Rockets might just rewrite history.