Forget Atlanta. This was a GREAT win on the road with EVERYONE
contributing down the stretch. Luke. GP. Slava. Shaq. Kobe. Fisher. Simply
amazing. Way to stick it out, tough it out and pull it out in the end.

I thought that when it came down to it, the difference was that Houston
still hasn't learned how to play playoff level basketball. The refs
swallowed their whistles at the end (well, except for that ticky-tack foul
on Slava) and the men took the game from the boys.

Yao is almost there - you can see him trying to grab Shaq's MDE title. And
Jim Jackson hit a couple of clutch shots, but you can't hold the Lakers
down when they want it.

On the strength of this game and the NJ game - both message games after
the debacle against Suckramento, I am no longer worried about us in the
playoffs. The attitude I had last year that didn't work out - turning on
the switch - I'm back to that position. Once Karl gets back, I think we'll
be OK. B Cook and Luke are getting some good minutes and we still have
wiley vets like Fox and Russell in the hole. No longer 2-deep - we're
about 10-deep now.

The only concerns are injuries, Karl trying to rush his return and not
wanting to play with a brace, and Kobe having to miss games because of the
trial. But I think by then GP will be getting more minutes and playing him
with Walton will be enough to keep the offense running smooth.

Sure, I may have the rose colored glasses on now, but who cares. That was
a great win.