by B. B. James

Created on: May 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

In a remarkable 2007-08 NBA season, no storyline was more stunning than the 22-game winning streak compiled by the Houston Rockets. The second-longest winning streak in NBA history came from one of the least likely sources - an average team that lost its best player to a season-ending injury. Rather than giving up, the Rockets players got more determined, and they began to thrash their opponents night after night for nearly two months.

The background. For the past six years, the Rockets have been defined by the presence of Yao Ming, the 7' 7" center from China. Yao has developed into one of the game's best players, and he is among the leaders in scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots. Despite some criticism that Yao isn't a dominant as he could be, no one questions the importance of Yao to the Rockets, nor his membership among the league's elite.

With Yao and guard Tracey McGrady, one of the most gifted scorers in the NBA, the Rockets could be counted on each year to win 45-50 games. But they were not a serious challenger to the top teams.

The 2007-08 season looked like more of the same. The Rockets were good, but not great. On Jan. 27, the Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz, leaving their record at 24 wins and 20 losses.

Then, something magical happened. On Jan. 29, the Rockets beat Golden State. Then they beat Indiana, Milwaukee, and Minnesota within a week. None of the teams were particularly good, and the Rockets' streak was unnoticed. But the team next reeled off four quick wins at home, went to Cleveland and beat LeBron James' team, and flew back to Houston to trounce Miami. The streak was at 10 wins.

But at that point, Yao was hurt, and he was declared out for the season. Houston's streak and its entire season was up in smoke...or so everyone thought. Instead, the Rockets played even better. Their next nine wins were each by at least 10 points - considered the NBA standard for a rout. And in fact, no team in NBA history had ever beaten nine consecutive opponents by at least 10 points. Houston, with a collection of unknown and underappreciated players, achieved something that the game's greatest assemblages of talent never did.

Houston's roll was suddenly getting noticed. As the attention grew, Houston kept winning, capping its remarkable run with a victory on March 16 over the Los Angeles Lakers, the team that ended the season with the 2nd best record in the league.

A few nights later, the Boston Celtics, the top team in the league, ended the streak. But for more than 6 weeks, nobody had been able to stop the Rockets.

The accolades poured in for Tracey McGrady, who was playing the best basketball of his life. In game after game, McGrady scored 25, 30, 35 points - whatever it took. Two rookies, Luis Scola and Carl Landry, pitched in with fearless rebounding and timely scoring. Shane Battier returned to his All-Star form. And nobody ever said quit.

By the end of the season, Houston had reached 55 wins, its highest total since Yao joined the team and comparable to its championship years in the 1990s. But the absence of Yao came back to haunt the team in the playoffs, when it lost to Utah. But even in that series, Houston showed its mettle with a Game 5 blowout of the Jazz, sending the talented Jazz to its worst defeat of the season.

Although ultimately Houston's streak came to an end and the team did not advance in the NBA championship series, it redefined determination and grit in the NBA. With Yao back in 2008-09, McGrady and Battier as strong as ever, and the rookie players more comfortable in the league, Houston is already being eyed as one of the teams to beat next year.

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