"For all the times in April, it was impossible for the Rockets not to look over at the Eastern Conference standings and think of how different life would be if they were still in the NBA's lesser half, that feeling came early this season.

The big advantage, of course, would be that all those winning teams that failed to make the playoffs – the Rockets have done it an NBA record five teams – would have advanced. The Rockets would not have had to even sneak in considering some of the teams that get in the postseason in the East these days.

After consecutive days against the Wizards and Pistons, the real loss might be only getting to play them a couple times each season. The shame of Tuesday's rout was that they are done with the Pistons for the season."