Just two weeks ago, despite a 12-game win streak, the Houston Rockets' season seemed on the verge of collapse. They had lost one of the most talented players in the league in Yao Ming, and the national media began writing their obituary and questioning the long-term viability of the franchise with a constantly hobbled Yao.

What a difference 7 games make. In that time the Rockets have not only flourished without Yao, they have been downright perfect.

The Rockets have not lost a game since Yao went down and have extended their winning streak to 19 games, the third-longest streak in league history. And not only have they been winning, but they have been blowing people out, setting an NBA record with 10 wins in a row by at least 10 points. 

That is scary news for the other teams in the Western Conference. It may be bad news for Yao and the Rockets, as well, because next season they will have to figure out a way to integrate Yao into the fluid offense and smothering defense they are playing now. But there is no point in looking ahead. 

Instead of worrying about how Yao can assimilate with this team down the road, the Rockets are only concerned about playing consistent basketball and winning games. 

At the beginning of their steak, the Rockets were in 9th place in the jam-packed West. They now find themselves less than two games out of first place in the conference, with a huge game against the Lakers looming on Sunday night.

When Bobby Jackson came over to the Rockets in February he was quoted as saying that it takes players and a team about two years to be able to fully comprehend and implement coach Rick Adelman's offensive strategy. 

It looks like the Rockets learning curve increased in the past 8 weeks, because they are running the former Kings coach's offense to perfection. Adelman's system relies on cutting and slashing, spreading out the ball and allowing gaps for forwards to slide though.

The amazing development of rookie Carl Landry from Purdue has given the Rockets a  rebounding a backdoor cutting presence they have not had before. And with Yao on the bench, the aggressive defense of Dikembe Mutombo and Chuck Hayes have given the Rockets an inside presence on defense that they lacked with the 7'6" Chinese national.

The beauty of the Rockets balanced attack is that they now seem to be moving the ball and slashing the way Adelman always envisioned but are still playing the same Jeff Van Gundy designed defense that made them a nominal success the past three seasons. That balance has led to near perfection in 2008, with the Rockets going 28-4 this year.

Of course, it helps to have an All-Star in Tracy McGrady who can still drop 41 on any team in the league on any given night. But McGrady would not be able to do it alone. The development of Rafer Alston into a legitimate starting point guard in the league and the inspired play of Bobby Jackson, Luther Head, and the ever-consistent Shane Battier has given T-Mac complimentary pieces he has never had before.

Of course, regardless of winning streaks and home court advantage, the Rockets and T-Mac's season will only be considered a success if they can finally get out of the first round for the first time in over a decade. 

But that is the future. For now the Rockets will just keep playing team basketball and winning games. It is an amazing site to behold, especially since they were left for dead just two weeks ago.