As I sat and watched this late heroics horror unfold, with the Denver Nuggets playing the role of the Washington Generals to a tee, I couldn't believe the franchise would have so little foresight. Rockets broadcaster Bill Worrell was positively giddy, shouting, as if Tracy McGrady had just gone for 13 in 31 seconds again, that this was the "upset of the season" for the Rockets.

"Upset" was the key word.

Did Worrell really feel that the fans at home were happy right along with him? Does he really believe that any Houston fan that is in this thing for the long haul thinks that the Rockets did themselves a favor winning this way?

I'll be honest with you - I personally want the Rockets to lose. In analyzing a weak NBA Draft class, the early thought is that there is a big talent dropoff right around pick 7, possibly 8. Given where the Rockets were and the crowd of teams in the same position, I feel every loss is important.

However, if the Rockets are developing their young guys, giving them significant time to get a strong look at them for next season, and those guys are making winning plays, I can live with that.

That's not what is happening.

I don't need to see that the 33-year old Juwan Howard is still capable of scoring 31 points when he gets every shot for a lottery team. I don't need to watch Dikembe Mutombo, a 39-year old going on 50, getting more playing time at this stage than Stromile Swift. Ditto the 35-year old David Wesley over Luther Head.

And Mr. Van Gundy, I certainly didn't need to see Yao Ming playing heavy minutes in a meaningless game just one day after he injured his foot.

I wouldn't mind seeing Maciej Lampe, just to get some sort of idea if the 21-year old, 275-pound seven-footer has any sort of future in Clutch City, but apparently this deal was merely Gerald Fitch Part Deaux.

And why can't he get a look? What is Van Gundy worried about ... losing? I got the strong feeling last night that Mr. Happy would have thrown Jon Barry out there in a suit if it meant the 'W'.

To close the 2001-2002 season, the Rockets lost 15 of their final 18 games, setting themselves up to get Yao. Be honest -- you probably didn't remember it was that bad. All that you really remember is that we got Yao. You don't remember the games, what lessons were learned, what "winning culture" was implemented, what Rocket players or coaches are still left on the team.

Just Yao.

Which is all the more reason that Van Gundy should have been looking past a meaningless game in Denver and focusing on next season, because mark this down: By the time the Rockets franchise gets back to the Western Conference Finals, much less the NBA Finals, there won't be more than 3 current Rockets on that year's squad -- and Yao and T-Mac aren't even active right now.