A Star Is Born

Now matter what happens on Sunday in Game 7, one thing is for sure, the NBA Playoffs have been Aaron Brooks' coming out party.

When Tracy McGrady was done for the season, I questioned the Rockets move to trade starting point guard Rafer Alston. The trade meant handing the keys over to the young Aaron Brooks. Brooks was unproven, inexperienced and at the time seemed not capable for the starting role. I was wrong.

Brooks has thrived as the starting point guard for the Rockets, and he's having the time of his life. In just his second season in the NBA, Brooks, 24, has helped lead the Rockets out of the first round and to an improbable Game 7 with the Lakers.

In a league dominated by great point guards-Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo,Tony Parker, to name a few-you can now put Aaron Brooks in that class.

From catching a half court pass in mid air and banking the ball in as time expired in the first half of Game 4; to showing off his personalty by doing his best valet impression with the red sports jacket and bowtie; Brooks has won the hearts of fans and media everywhere.

Brooks is putting veteran Derek Fisher on the verge of retirement. In Game 4, Brooks had a playoff career high with 34 points as the Rockets crushed the Lakers. Last night in the elimination Game 6, Brooks helped keep Houston alive by leading the Rockets with 26 points.

In the playoffs, Brooks has averaged 17.1 points, 3.4 assists, while shooting nearly 47% from the field, including 41% from downtown.

For many Rockets fans, last night's game had the feeling of going to a funeral. But Houston continued their amazing playoff run by jumping out 17-1 and then 21-3 against the Lakers.

I told you Luis Scola is probably the most obscure and underrated player in the NBA. And Shane Battier backs this up. All Scola did last night was put up 24 and 12, including 14 points in the first quarter.

Give Rick Adelman a lot of credit. What a coaching job this guy has done! You look down the Rockets' bench and see 3 All Star caliber players wearing suits. After losing by 40 points in Game 5, a great job by Adelman to rally his remaining troops and jump all over the Lakers last night.

As for the Lakers? I'm sure the majority of people don't see LA getting by Denver in the Conference finals.

Roy Leads Blazers To Even Series

The Portland Trailblazers adjusted from Game 1's blowout loss. The adjustment, stop Yao Ming. Ming got into trouble early in the 3rd quarter and Portland was just barely able to take advantage.

After going perfect in Game 1, Yao only attempted 6 shots in Game 2 and finished with just 11 points, as the Blazers were able to hold on to a 107-103 victory.

The series is now even at one apiece with Game 3 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Brandon Roy led Portland with 42 points, tying Clyde Drexler for second place for most points in Blazer franchise history.

Drexler actually was courtside providing commentary for Houston's local affiliate. Drexler and the rest of the Houston press criticized the officiating throughout the entire game. True, the game was called a lot tighter than Game 1 and even seemed to favor the hometown Blazers, but Yao Ming allowing attempting 6 shots the entire game was the difference and had nothing to do with the officiating.

I could call out the officiating too, saying it was definitely one sided in favor of Portland, but I'm just not going to that. It was. And I could give you many examples.

At halftime, Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge had 35 of Portland's 53 points. When it was said and done, the duo accounted for 69 of the team's 107 points.

Von Wafer provide a huge spark off the bench for the Rockets, finished with 21 points. Ron Artest was hot from the start. He had 15 points in the first half, but was failed to show in the second when his team needed him most, scoring just 4 points.

After scoring just 2 points in the first half, Game 1 hero Aaron Brooks awoke in the second putting up 21. Shane Battier failed to show on both ends of the court with only 3 points on 1-2 from the field.

Both teams shot just over 50% for the game.

Yao Perfect As Rockets Blast Blazers

This was maybe the most anticipated series of the Playoffs. But in Game 1, the young Blazers looked way overmatched.

Yao Ming was perfect from the field going 9-9 and 6-6 from the foul line. Ming finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds while playing only 24 minutes as the Rockets cruised, 108-81.

The Blazers combo of Greg Oden and Joel "the Vanilla Gorilla" Przybilla were both overmatched and had no answer for Yao. Yao scored 9 of Houston's first 11 points and the Rockets never looked back from there.

Houston took the hostile crowd out of the game early as the Rockets went up 34-23 at the end of the first quarter. Houston shot 75% from the field in the first.

The Rockets were so dominant, that really didn't even need Yao in the second half. Dikembe Mutumbo put in some solid play off the bench grabbing 9 rebounds and blocking 2 shots.

And what a homecoming it was for Aaron Brooks. Brooks finished with 27 points and 7 assists, both game highs. Brooks also shot 5-8 from 3 point land.

For the game, the Rockets shot nearly 59% from the floor, compared to 42% for the Blazers.

Portland was a lethal 3 point shooting team on the season, but were only 1-11! last night.