Did You have to Laugh?

When the Texans figured out another way to lose on Sunday were you among those who saw the final pass batted right into the hands of the Jacksonville receiver who stepped into the end zone with the winning score and just had to laugh?  I was, while trying to add the word "unbelievable" to top off my astonishment.

These Texans if not good are at least very entertaining.  Their games tend to go down to the wire.  They don't get blown away for many full games--when they remember to play a full game.  It doesn't matter whether they are playing a good team or a bad one, they make things unpredictable.

Well, that is not exactly right.  It IS predictable that the Texans defense won't shut anyone down for a whole game.  Quarterbacks and receivers have big games against the Texans.  Running backs don't do so poorly either.  There may be no team in the league whose game films show receivers and defenders further away from each other.  Even so, the Texan offense has been good enough to keep things close enough.  It is just not good enough to score every time which is almost needed these days.

Hey, don't get me wrong.  I want the Texans to win and to be a big success.  Fortunately, for me, I don't live and die with each game.  I watch 'em all--the only football games I watch start to finish every week.  So, I am a follower of the team.  However, when I want comedy I will turn my TV to Comedy Central--not the Texans' game.

THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER IN ROCKETLAND

With two wins in a row on the road  (admittedly only against the Pacers and Knicks) the Rockets may be about to put a run of wins together.  They are playing much better defense--Chuck Hayes was a major star vs Amare Stoudemire and the Knicks-- while making the extra passes to find open men on offense.  Basketball is actually a very simple game.  If you pass the ball well you will normally get better shots and make more shots.  If you work hard on defense to make it harder for the opponent to do the same it adds to wins.

It doesn't matter who is on the court to make this work.  It just matters that this is what is needed to win more consistently.  If you don't do it you won't win as much.  Just look at the mighty Miami Heat.  They don't do either every night and even with the talent level they have they can't win every night.

Talent makes the difference when both teams are making the passes, playing the defense and hustling.  When that happens the more talented will win.  In the NBA with the long schedule, injuries and fatigue is is just not physically possible every night.

The Rockets team is certainly deep enough when healthy (and yes, I am including Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks, both favorite whipping boys by some fans) as part of this depth.  Can coach Rick Adelman mix the different talents from different players into a consistent winning unit?  Judging from just what we have seen against the Pacers and Knicks there is now hope.  Let us see if that is still the case in a week.  In the NBA--like MLB-- things can change greatly in a week. 

Unfortunately, in the NFL--especially with the Texans--it seems not much CAN change in a week.