The Houston Rockets, winners of a dozen games in a row and 21 of their last 24 games, will be without their All-Star center Yao Ming for the rest of the season and postseason. Yao suffered a stress fracture in his left foot according to the Houston Chronicle.

Obviously, this is a big blow to the Rockets organization, especially after such strong play of late. However, in the Western Conference where currently the ninth place team is only six games out of first place in the conference, the Rockets will receive little pity. In fact, it wouldnt' be surprising if the other teams in the West were celebrating to some degree. Sure it's not fair play to think that way, but this is the West where most of the best teams in the NBA reside... any advantage will be gladly taken.

So, what does it look like moving forward for the Rockets? Tracy McGrady is going to have to carry this team. Not that he has to do it alone, but he'll have to be the touchstone that gets the Rockets over the hump. As long as T-Mac stays healthy, it's very possible Houston makes the postseason.

Only to have McGrady's streak of not getting past the first round of the playoffs continue. Sorry, but reality can be harsh sometimes, Rockets fans.

Yao brought a lot to the table as the team's leading scorer, rebounder, shotblocker, and in an age where the big man can shoot from the charity stripe, its leading free-throw shooter. So, all things considered - Yao's importance to the team, the West being as tough as it is, and relying on T-Mac to play several years younger and more durably, don't expect too much from the Rockets in the playoff run. The Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings are all primed to unseed any and all teams in the West.

Unfortunately, the Rockets are primed for the unseeding.

Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images