Did you realize that 20% of the 2008-09 NBA season is already completed?
Most of the local mainstream media is locked into the Rockets narrative — i.e., "Tracy McGrady is a superstar and the Rockets can’t win in the playoffs without him, but he’s not the type of clutch superstar who can win in the playoffs, blah, blah blah." Thus, don’t expect to learn much from those sources about what really is going on in the NBA this season.
As noted last season, McGrady is long past being a bona fide NBA superstar and really is not much more than an average NBA player at this point except on those increasingly rare occasions when his injury-riddled body allows him to feel a bit like his formerly-dominant self.
Interestingly, however, even with McGrady sitting out several games and otherwise playing on a gimpy knee, the Rockets have muddled around well enough to lead their division through the first 20% of the season.
So, do the Rockets really have a chance to make waves in playoffs this season?