How Long Can The Houston Rockets Stay Alive Without Yao Ming?

Despite Yao Ming out for the remainder of the season, the Houston Rockets continue to dominate as their win streak has now reached 13 games in a row. With the Rockets playing Memphis tonight, make that 14 in a row (unless the Rockets sleep on them, but the West is so tight why would any team sleep on another team at this point?) The Rockets will make the playoffs, but the question is how long will they last? Will they get out of the first round finally?

The team rests solely on the shoulders of Tracy McGrady. Like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James, Tracy is an all-star who needs a supporting cast, or at least a right hand man. I consider Rafer Alston and Shane Battier to be decent players, but if you look at every other team in the West who currently has a spot in the playoffs, those teams all have more than one all star or a batch of very good players. For example, if the season ended today, the Rockets would have to contend with the San Antonio Spurs (not a contest). They most likely will not pass the Dallas Mavericks in the West and they won't fall behind the Golden State Warriors. They will finish in 7th place in their Conference and get knocked out yet again in the first round. They simply don't have the same firepower as the other teams.

Jason Kidd Is Officialy On The Dallas Mavericks

"It's done," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told ESPN.com via e-mail. "J-Kidd is a Mav."

The last proposed version of the deal that had been swirling for about a week had Kidd and New Jersey Nets teammate Malik Allen going to Dallas for 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop, swingman Trenton Hassell, guard Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn via sign-and-trade, first-round picks this June and in 2010 and $3 million in cash.

Keith Van Horn will most likely not play. In fact, he hasn't played in over two years. However, his name was still on the roster and is perfect trade bait as a means to cheat the system. Still, he's useless. It would make no difference if the Mavericks shipped a manikin or Keith Van Horn in the plane to New Jersey.