"For those so inclined, it would not be difficult to diminish the Rockets turnaround. They beat bunches of bad and injury-depleted teams. They beat the Spurs without Tim Duncan, the Hornets without Eric Gordon, the Timberwolves without Michael Beasley, Martell Webster, Wesley Johnson, J.J. Barea and Brad Miller. The Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony. The Wizards were without a clue.

All that might be true, but it ignores larger points.

The Rockets did what they were supposed to do, winning nine of 10 games to climb to the top of the Southwest Division and to fourth in the West. And as they move on to a tougher portion of the schedule, they are a better team than when they limped to a 3-7 start.

The Rockets have figured out how to defend as they must, without the breakdowns of those early-season games and with more aggressiveness, especially on the perimeter where they can be disruptive while knowing that Samuel Dalembert has their backs."