How? Houston Has Hakeem

It’s easier to explain rocket science this morning than how the Houston Rockets will win back-to-back NBA titles.

Less messy, too.

But after Houston’s 117-106 win against Orlando Friday night put the Rockets up 2-0 in the NBA Finals, the curtain began rising and debate began starting on why the Rockets are again the team no one could beat.

Most theories center on Team Chemistry. That’s usually the case when there’s such little Team Biology.

Based on talent alone, Houston doesn’t even rank among the top five teams in the league. There’s Phoenix. Seattle. Chicago (when Michael Jordan returned). San Antonio (when Dennis Rodman played). Orlando is in this elite group, of course, and then way down there, somewhere among the Utahs and Indianas, sits Houston.

The Rockets have no power forward. They have no point guard to speak of unless the subject is Anfernee Hardaway’s highlight film. Houston starts Kenny Smith and Mario Elie because rules say they must start five.

I mean, who else is there? Look at the bench. Sam Cassell aside, it’s strictly practice fodder, guys who carry shovels behind the elephants.

The Rockets’ big trade got nationally lampooned this season, their lineup wasn’t set until three games ago - yes, Game 5 of the San Antonio series - and their coach still remains known more for having his face punched out by Kermit Washington.

Oh, one other thing:

Houston has Hakeem Olajuwon and no one else does.

Not San Antonio, which has David Robinson, who no matter what anyone says could indeed hold Olajuwon’s jock. In fact, he was left holding it after many Olajuwon moves.

Now, in the first two games of against Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal, Olajuwon is giving a lesson in durability. Again Friday, he outplayed Shaq, finishing with 34 points, 11 rebounds and most importantly four blocked shots.

Wilt Chamberlain was the most dominant player of any time. But was he more talented than Olajuwon? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won in two cities, with two names, and had the smoothest signature shot of any center.

But was he better than Olajuwon?

The Rockets aren’t winning this series. Olajuwon is. He’s just getting some help.

“He’s there every night for us, and what a tremendous playoff show he’s putting on,” Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.

Friday night, it was Cassell coming off the bench to help. Cassell played just 11 minutes in Game 1. He sat the entire second half.

So naturally Cassell scored 31 points Friday.Maybe they were focused Friday morning when Tomjanovich lit into them at practice.”This is a nice town with great weather and maybe we were getting too comfortable,” he said.”Rudy gave us a great talk, telling us not to let up, saying great teams don’t let up,” Cassell said.Was that the difference? “I don’t know.”Who does with this team?

So now Houston is up two games with the next three at home.

“I like our position,” Olajuwon said.

Explaining it is the hard part.