Tracy McGrady was a core player in the Houston Rockets 22 game win streak back in the 2007-2008 season, and has no qualms in saying that the Rockets’ win streak was more impressive than the Heat’s 23 straight wins.
As reported by ESPN McGrady’s frankness wasn’t without a full-on explanation of just why the Rockets, according to McGrady, were superior with their win streak:
“I’m enjoying watching because of the unknown,…But the way we did it was a lot harder. Having Yao [Ming] go out [due to injury] around the 12th game and Dikembe [Mutombo] filling his role was huge for our team. And we didn’t have three guys making $100 million.”
What may initially sound like a hint of sour grapes isn’t totally without merit, as McGrady was the glue that held up the Rockets, who arguably did not possess the same level of talent as the Heat of today. Given an injured Yao Ming and a 41-year-old Dikembe Mutombo, one could very easily agree with McGrady’s statements.
But now that the Heat’s wins have crossed the 22 mark and onto its own place in history, have the Heat differentiated themselves from the Rockets’ mark on NBA history? Or are they simply basking in the glow of being an all-world assembled team, clicking on all cylinders in a very weak Eastern conference?