Comfortable on road

During the 1996-97 season, from Nov. 2-30, 1996, they also won eight consecutive road games. In the 1993-94 season, from Nov. 7-Dec. 2, 1993, they won a franchise-record nine consecutive games on the road.

"We know we can play on the road," Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said. "We know how good we are on the road. At home is what we have to take care of. That's what we need to really focus in on. We know we have great confidence playing on the road. We're real comfortable playing on the road. We know we can win in any building. The way we played on the road, that same focus, let's do that at home."

The Rockets' previous seven-game winning streak came in the playoffs during the 1995 championship run. But this streak, the players said, could be an important part of getting back to the playoffs.

"Whenever you win eight straight on the road, whether you're playing the best team or the worst team, road wins are key to your pursuit of trying to make the playoffs," Rockets guard Rafer Alston said. "You have to win your share on the road."

The Rockets' remaining four games before the All-Star break — Feb. 7 vs. Cleveland, Feb. 9 vs. Atlanta, Feb. 10 vs. New Jersey and Feb. 13 vs. Sacramento — are at Toyota Center.

Super fun for team

For years, if the Rockets were on the road on Super Bowl Sunday, Rockets trainer Keith Jones put together watch parties only to have a few players make brief appearances. This season, Jones said most of the team attended from start to finish, and he did not think it was just because the game was close.

"That's typical of this team," Jones said. "We have good chemistry with the guys. The game happened to be good, but I think the guys just all get together and hang out."

Rafer Alston said that most of the team, with the exception of Shane Battier and broadcaster Bill Worrell, pulled for the Giants, who won 17-14 to end New England's bid for an unbeaten season, but that New Yorkers Mike James and security director Butch Grant were particularly "obnoxious."

"It was good to get together and watch the Super Bowl," said Alston, who is a New Yorker but a Cowboys fan. "I enjoyed myself. This group, we love being around each other. We have a lot of laughter, a lot of practical jokes we play on each other."

火箭笔记

舒适的客场之旅

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

火箭以92比86战胜森林狼让他们客场八连胜，这是他们球队历史上第二长的客场连胜记录

在1996-97赛季，从1996年的11月2日到30日，他们同样获得了客场八连胜，在1993-94赛季，从1993年的11月7日到12月2日，他们获得了球队历史上创纪录的客场九连胜。

我们知道我们能在客场打好的。”火箭的后卫特雷西-麦克格雷迪说道，“我们知道在客场我们打得很好。在主场打球我们得必须特别小心。所以我们得格外集中注意力。我们知道在客场我们得充满信心才行，在客场我们打得非常舒服。我们知道我们能在任何情况下获得胜利。我们要保持这种在客场这种集中的注意力，并把它带到主场来。”

火箭队最近的一个七连胜发生在1995年季后赛夺冠的那个赛季。但是队员们说，这次的连胜对于球队重返季后赛有着重要的作用

“无论你什么时候获得客场八连胜，无论你是在一个好队伍还是差的队伍打球，客场获胜对于你努力进入季后赛都有着重要的作用”火箭后卫拉弗-阿尔斯通如此说道“，”在客场你必须做好你的本职工作”（555这句不知道翻译到位没有….）

在全明星赛之前火箭队还有四场比赛，分别是2月7日对克利夫兰，2月9日对亚特兰大，2月10日对新西兰，以及2月13日对沙克门托——都是在丰田中心进行。

非常有趣的队伍

以前，如果是火箭的客场而又有超级碗的星期日的比赛，火箭的训练师基恩-琼斯会把大家召集起来看比赛，但通常只有一部分球员会出现。这个赛季，琼斯说大部分的球员都会从头看到尾，同时他不认为这仅仅是赛程密集的原因。

“这就是我们团队的特别之处” 琼斯说道，“我们大伙之间有着很好的化学作用。比赛因此变得更好，但是我认为这是因为我们大家经常在混在一起并且相处愉快。”

拉弗-阿尔斯通说队里大部分的人，除了沙恩-巴蒂尔和广播员比尔-沃尔沃，都喜欢Giants，这个以17比14终结了New England 本赛季的不败金身队伍，但是纽约人麦克詹姆斯以及安全主管Butch Grant 却特别的“不高兴”。

“聚在一起看超级碗的感觉真棒”阿尔斯通说，他本人是纽约人却是一个牛仔迷。“我很享受自己在这个队伍里的感觉。在队伍里我们互相关爱，我们有很多笑料，我们也经常互相开玩笑。”