<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>HOUSTON -- Tracy McGrady is still mulling over a possible pitching career after his basketball days are finished.He might want to consider the closer's role.The Rockets star once again came through in a save situation as he lifted the Rockets over the pesky New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in the fourth quarter for a 123-112 victory Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Toyota Center.McGrady netted 11 of his 25 points in the final five minutes as the Rockets pulled away from the Hornets with a game-deciding 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter.The Rockets (51-29) moved two games ahead of the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz and can clinch home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs with another win or Utah setback."He is an All-Star, and one of the better players in the league," Hornets coach Byron Scott said of McGrady. "And he took it upon himself to get the Rockets the win."McGrady dished out 10 of the Rockets' season-best 33 assists and paced Houston to its second-highest scoring output of the season.Yao Ming added 30 points and Rafer Alston contributed 21 points and a season-high 13 assists. The Rockets shot a sizzling 58.3 percent."We can score," McGrady said. "We have a dominant big man down there now, and I can score. We just got to get stops in the fourth quarter. Right now, we're not doing that."That certainly proved to be the case against the Hornets.Despite all of the impressive offensive digits that they piled up, the Rockets still needed McGrady to come to the rescue in the fourth quarter.The Rockets led by 12 points in the final quarter, but the Hornets shrunk Houston's advantage to four twice in the final three minutes.That's when the Rockets put the game in McGrady's hands.The star responded by igniting the Rockets on an 11-0 run. He hit a pull-up jumper at the top of the key, beat Devin Brown baseline for a dunk that drew a foul for a three-point play and then set up Alston for a three-pointer that sealed Houston's win.In other words, just the usual late-game antics from McGrady."I just wanted to put my will on the game," McGrady said.The Rockets snapped a three-game losing skid to the Hornets and might have ended New Orleans' chances of reaching the playoffs.The Hornets are pursuing the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, but will be eliminated from contention as soon as Golden State or the L.A. Clippers win another game."I am very disappointed that we didn?t make the playoffs," Hornets point guard Chris Paul said after scoring 20 points and dishing out 15 assists. "I push it every game because I love to play. I'm happy to be here and happy to play in this league. I'm so competitive and I hate to lose and I always give 110 percent. I love this team and we stuck together and never gave up."The Rockets are now one step away from securing home-court advantage over the Jazz in their upcoming first round series.Since both teams will meet in the regular season finale on Wednesday, the Rockets would prefer to avoid any drama in Salt Lake City by beating the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.The Suns won't be resting any of their starters since they are still trying to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference."You don't want to squander that opportunity,'' Alston said. "I know how important it is, because you never know. If it comes down to (a Game 7), you would much rather it be on your court with your fans.''</div>http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/McGrady_he...-220927-34.html
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Apr 14 2007, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/McGrady_he...-220927-34.html</div>I think Houston could suprise a lot of people and make it to the WCf, although it's highly unliklely. It could be Rockets-Spurs or Rockets-Suns for the West title.