Rockets bench continues to shine

The most points ever scored by a Rockets' bench squad was 70 points on Feb. 9. They did it twice, on Feb. 9, 2000 and Feb. 9, 2009.

It should not have come as a surprise then, that the Rockets' bench rolled again on Feb. 9, outscoring the Phoenix reserves 57-13, with every player coming off the bench scoring in double-figures and making at least half his shots.

The coincidence of timing, however, was not what made it something they could expect. They scored 66 bench points the night before in Phoenix. They had 42 the game before that in Denver.

They have reached the point that they don't consider their production from the second unit useful or a welcome addition, but as much a strength as Kyle Lowry's passing or Luis Scola's lost-post moves.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale is so confident in his bench that he will let anyone finish a game, including all five reserves. That has built outstanding chemistry in the group, making them that much more effective when they are together.

"We are like family on the court battling for each other and it feels great," guard Goran Dragic said. "I think we have the same chemistry when I was with the Suns when we made the conference finals."

The Rockets are not predicting that, but they do have the depth of that sort of team. For a team with no stars, being able to have nearly 10 players capable of playing like one has helped fill that gap.

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