The Houston Rockets are on a quest to become the winningest team in NBA history.  They have gone 20 straight games without a loss.  Just to show how far the Rockets have come since the first half of the year, on New Year's Day their record showed 15-16, they are now 44-20. 

The Rockets' improbable winning streak is tied for the second-longest in NBA history, trailing only the 1971-72 Lakers' 33 straight for the all-time record (the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks also won 20 straight).  Even the 1995-96 NBA champion Chicago Bulls' team that went 72-10 on the year never had a 20-game win streak. 

But Rockets coach Ric Adelman worries a bit since All-Star center Yao Ming is out.  In fact, many people expected the Rockets' playoff hopes to be dashed since Yao's absence. "We don't have a low-post presence anywhere," said Adelman before their most recent game. "Trust me; not having that big fella to throw the ball into when you need it is a big item."  But the Rockets are truly a "team" rather than a group of individuals playing basketball. 

They have gelled together to win 8 straight games since Yao has been gone, showing that they do not only rely on only one player to get the "W" each night. "We have an amazing belief in each other and in our system," said Rockets forward Shane Battier. "Nothing great is ever accomplished without those two things. I think it's hard for people to understand who aren't with us every day, but that's just the truth."

But the Rockets are taking the streak one game at a time. "It would be uncharacteristic of our group to even think of anything past Friday," said Battier .  The Rockets are facing the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night. 

Dan Olson writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.