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.

Rockets Steal Game 1 In LA

OK, I said it before this series started, I really like the way Houston's starting 5 matches up with the Lakers' starting 5. Of course the bench is always key in the playoffs. I'm not surprised the Rockets won last night, but I still don't see this series going more than 6 games.

Houston probably played their best game all season. Yao was dominant with 28 points and 10 boards. He even forced himself back into the game when it looked like he was done when his knee collided into Kobe's late in the game.

Ron Artest finally decided to show up for the playoffs. He was big last night, 21 points and 7 assists. The Rockets need Artest to step up like this if they are to have any chance. Aaron Brooks looked nice with 19.

Maybe the most underrated, obscure player in the NBA is Luis Scola. Your average fan and just about everybody outside of Houston has no idea who this guy is. Scola had a quiet 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Pretty solid play from a no name power forward. Scola has a real nice jump shot, plays solid defense and never gives up.

The Rockets were fortunate to win this game when you look at the lack of performance by their bench. Von Wafer has really been the spark off their bench failed to score last night.

Kobe put in his standard 32 points but only went to the line 5 times.

Both teams were pretty dismal from downtown, the Rockets were 5-18 and the Lakers just 2-18. The deciding factor in this game was free throw shooting. Houston was 25-29 and LA just 12-19.

So who was the more aggressive team?

The Lakers' major problem in the first round vs. Utah was LA's lack of killer instinct. The Lakers would get up 20+ points and then let the Jazz go on a run and make the game close.

If the Lakers have any weakness, they are way too soft. And last night they ran into a hungrier more aggressive team.

Same Old Tune

Sweep!

I know it's only 2-0, but come on, the Rockets will be swept by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Not much of a prediction considering the Jazz are nearly unbeatable at home, losing only 4 games this year. One of the four losses happened to be by the Houston Rockets way back on Nov 1. Tracy McGrady had 47 points.

With all that being said, and T-Mac looking at his 7th career first round exit, you cannot! this year's defeat on McGrady.

First off, the Rockets have been playing most of the second half of the season without All Star Center Yao Ming. Rafer Alston has also missed the first two games of the series.

With Yao out, T-Mac did a brilliant overachieving job willing his team into the Playoffs as a 4 seed in what maybe one of the best season a conference has had all time. And lest we forget the 22 game winning streak the Rockets had this year.

Look at this Rockets' team, they're really not that good. How they made the playoffs in the Western Conference is amazing. If you haven't paid close attention to Houston, who else is on their roster? The only other person you could think of is maybe Dikembe Mutumbo. Dikembe Mutumbo! He's like 62! Mutumbo was brought in as a role player and averaged almost 16 minutes, 3 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. A lot of help.
Shane Battier has played great. He's always been known for his defense, but he really provided an offensive spark on a team needing it so much.

The rest of the roster, Bobby Jackson, rookie Luis Scola (had it not been for Kevin Durant, he'd be the rookie of the year), Luther Head, Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, rookie Aaron Brooks (should develop into a decent NBA player).

You talk about overachieving!

Yeah, so in the fourth quarter of the first two games, T-Mac is 0-7 with one point. Like I said, McGrady is pretty much the only scoring threat on the entire team. He's had to shoulder the load while Jerry Sloan has constantly double and tripled teamed McGrady. T-Mac still lead his team in points, rebounds and assists last night and was an assist away from the a triple double. The Rockets have no other options.

A key moment in last night's game came with the Rockets down 3 with about 45 seconds left to play. Bobby Jackson hit a wide open 3 (the assist my T-Mac would have given him his triple double) to seemingly tie the game. However a late whistle on Luis Scola nullified the dramatic play. Are you kidding me! This is the NBA Playoffs, you let the players decide the game, especially at a crucial moment in a crucial game. Scola tapped Andre Kirilenko and AK-47 did a brilliant acting job.

Watch the play (at about the 1:10 mark) and notice the referee watching T-Mac's feet to see if he were behind the line and then blows the whistle after seeing Kirilenko's reaction.

Anyways, come playoff time, you win games with free throw shooting and a solid bench.
The Rockets lost Game 1 93-82 and shot 62% from the line.
In last nights 90-84 loss, Houston shot 62%.
If there's anything we've learned from the college game, um Memphis, free throw shooting is the biggest key in the big games.
If the Rockets shoot 75-80%, they probably win both games.

Not to take away anything from Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz, they are a real nice team. I could see this team go to the Finals and even win the whole lot.
The Jazz lost at home by 6 points to the Celtics by 6. And about a month ago Utah smoked the Celtics in Boston 110-92.

Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are already being compared to Stockton and Malone. They have great role players in AK-47, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur and Matt Harpring. Williams is one of the best point guards in the game. The West is loaded with PG's; Chris Paul (My MVP), Tony Parker, Steve Nash and even Jason Kidd.

If Utah can sneak a game on the road, and they easily can, you're not gonna beat them at home. Maybe Jerry Sloan finally wins his first NBA Championship as a coach.