Taking the Rockets out in seven was extremely satisfying in 2007 - one of the best playoff series in franchise history. The rematch, without Yao in 2008, was fun but not entirely unexpected. Sadly, I think the 2007 Jazz were, all around, a better, more consistent team than this year's Jazz - and that Houston team had some wild mind games with McGrady never advancing beyond the first round (some epic chokes in the past, too, with the Raps, Magic and then the Rockets)...plus, it always felt like the Jazz was, hands down, the better team. They just had to work through their own mind games (this series was also the one where AK had a ****ing meltdown after game two in Houston or some **** like that). But it was an odd series. The Jazz dominated huge swaths of game one and two, only to relinquish the lead late in the fourth quarter, and then absolutely crushed Houston in Salt Lake City for all three home games. You could see game seven building and finally, the Jazz were able to stave off the inevitable Rockets run late in the game and won. I don't know if I feel as confident this team is on that level ... I really do believe Houston is the better team and, unfortunately, that often results in winning a seven game series.
