<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets are hoping that there are enough games left for Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady to lift them into the postseason.Yao scored 29 points and McGrady added 26 as the Rockets began their push for the postseason season with a 106-102 victory over the slumping Los Angeles Clippers.David Wesley scored 21 points for the Rockets (23-31), who have won four of their last five games and eight of 10. Their last two victories have come against the Clippers.Both Yao and McGrady have been sidelined with injuries this season. The Rockets are 5-16 without Yao and 0-13 without McGrady. As a result, Houston is 4 1/2 games and five teams behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.When the All-Stars have been together, the Rockets have clicked. Wednesday's win improved Houston to 17-8 when Yao and McGrady are in the lineup.The 7-6 Yao was virtually unstoppable, making 11-of-16 shots and pulling down 15 rebounds. He also blocked a pair of shots.McGrady, who scored 36 points in Sunday's All-Star Game, made 9-of-23 shots and added five assists and two blocks. He scored nine of Houston's last 11 points in a 29-7 surge in the second quarter that gave Houston the lead for good.The Clippers were within 94-88 with 4:31 remaining after two free throws by Elton Brand, who had 32 points and 12 rebounds. Yao made a free throw, McGrady made two and McGrady answered a basket by Cuttino Mobley by putting home a lob pass for a 99-90 lead with 3:18 remaining.McGrady blocked a drive by Shaun Livingston, leading to a breakaway layup by Keith Bogans that gave Houston a 103-92 advantage with 2:22 to go.Rafer Alston had nine points and 11 assists for the Rockets, who improved to 11-1 when scoring at least 100 points. They have won 11 of their last 12 meetings with the Clippers.Mobley scored 30 points for Los Angeles, which has dropped a season-high five straight games.The Clippers trailed, 59-45, at halftime. They closed to 80-76 entering the fourth quarter but got no closer until the final minute.</div>good game by yao and t-mac. looks like the all-star break gave us a little push? :rock: good win to make a run for getting into that last playoff spot.. this is it guys. here we go. lets hope we put our foot on the peddle and never let go.. :worthy:
Rockets also need other teams to lose to make the playoffs. They dug themselves a hole, and will only catch onto the playoffs if a team falls apart.
^Wrong. All they need is the teams they are looking up at to stay .500. If the Rockets can win around 60% of their next 30 games, they will make the last playoff spot.Honestly, I have said it all along, they will be in the 8th seed when playoffs roll around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>^Wrong. All they need is the teams they are looking up at to stay .500. If the Rockets can win around 60% of their next 30 games, they will make the last playoff spot.Honestly, I have said it all along, they will be in the 8th seed when playoffs roll around.</div>For those teams to stay .500 they must lose games, so how am I wrong? Rockets winning, and those bottom teams winning, cross each other out.
Before the break, Lakers were sketchy. As were GSW. Right now, Kings are the only team I am worried about. Ron has really boosted that team to respectibility.
hahahah nitro i like that last part on your sig..anyway our chances of getting into the playoffs are slim. we have to win so much.. and our team hasn't been winning as much as we'd like.lets just hope you're right.
