What a nice game from the Rockets.  I miss Battier and Brooks, yes, but Martin, Scola and Co. have taken charge.  Kyle Lowry has taken to being a very solid point man for this team, while Chase Budinger and Courtney Lee have done a nice job on the wing as the 5th guy.  Addition by subtraction can always be a great asset.

Here are some things I'm convinced about with the Rockets:

1.) We have a team that I think can make the playoffs: Scola and Martin, while considered character guys, are not the anchors of this team.  Lowry and Chuck Hayes have been the anchors.  Every time I watch the Chuckwagon out there I am more and more impressed.  Think a shorter Ben Wallace with a bit more offensive game. 

2.) With that said, I also think we're a legit C from being a top 4 Western Conference team.  Patterson, Lee, Budinger, Lowry, Dragic and (if he can ever get 5 minutes in a game) TWill could be a good set of role players around Scola, Martin and a legit center. 

3.) Roy Hibbert was supposed to impress me, but he just left me disappointed tonight.  So did Danny Granger.  Granger is sort of like Kevin Martin: a solid guy who could be a star, but really isn't one.  Hibbert may be more Ralph Sampson than Shaq, so we'll see how that development goes.

4.) Hasheem Thabeet, I hope you play some Summer League ball this year.  Please PLEASE play, along with Patterson, Jordan Hill and TWill.

What do you guys think about the Rockets with 18 more games to play still?