Rockets Report

Welcome fellow NBA fans to the first installment of the Rockets Report, a weekly discussion of all things relating to the Houston Rockets. Fortunately for us, we get to start on a positive note given the last few weeks.

Yao Ming, sidelined for 32 games due to a broken leg, has been back for nine games. While he was out, the team performed well above expectations going 20-12, but no one would dispute the fact that the team stands a much greater chance of success in the long term with the big fella in the middle. Since his return, Houston has gone 7-2 and has averaged well over 100 points per game.

The past week has been particularly good to the Rockets going 4-0 including the most lopsided road win in franchise history against Philadelphia. They even managed to grind out a win against Indiana on Tuesday despite shooting 39 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range. Yao did his part chipping in 32 points and 14 boards while Tracy McGrady poured in 20 to go with 10 assists.

Tonight, the Rockets face the Detroit Pistons, the best team in the Eastern Conference and an odds-on favorite to make it back to the NBA Finals for the third time in four years. Like the Rockets, the Pistons are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are among the league's elite in defense holding opponents to 93 points per game.

The Pistons are suffering through some injury problems of their own with point guard Chancey Billups returning tonight from a groin pull and guard Rip Hamilton nursing a thigh injury, but the Rockets will have their hands full with the best in the East.

After Detroit, the Rockets play three of their next five on the road against teams battling to make the playoffs including a pair in Los Angeles against both the Clippers and the sinking Lakers.

Photo from Flickr user dannypresson.

Jeff Balke is a regular contributor to both Houstonist and Houston Rockets fan website ClutchFans.net.