Who knew that the Rockets could get out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs without Tracy McGrady?

With the Rockets up 3-1 on the Portland Trailblazers, Yao Ming and Luis Scola are on the verge of getting the Houston Rockets out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

And with McGrady out, it’s no surprise that Yao Ming has become the focal point. “(Yao’s) our foundation.” said Shane Battier.

After Yao Ming shot 9-9 from the field and 24 points in the Rocket’s game one blowout, the Trailblazers’ defense has since been geared to stop Yao and forcing other Rocket players to step up.

With Yao Ming limited to just 13 shots in games two and three, Luis Scola has benefitted from the focus on the Chinese center.  The Blazers have left Scola wide open for 15-foot jumpers and Scola has taken advantage of that opportunity.

Through four games against the Blazers, Luis Scola has hit 54% of his shots, and is averaging 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds in 34.5 minutes with just three turnovers.

“We have a lot of weapons,” said Yao

“We play as a team,” added Scola. “So because of that, we can afford for Ron (Artest) and Yao to have a bad night and we still win. And that’s a good thing to have”

In game four of the series, Yao and Scola teamed up for 38 points and 20 rebounds in squeaking by Portland 89-88.  The win gave Houston a 3-1 lead over the Blazers, and broke the Rockets’ six-game losing streak in game fours.

But even with the Rockets up 3-1, they know they have to close out the series.  The Rockets were up 3-1 on the Dallas Mavericks back in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, only to lose three straight and were ousted in the first round.

“We still have one to go,” Yao Ming said. “We’ve been in this situation before.”

The Rockets can finally wrap up a first round series with a Game 5 win in Portland on Tuesday, April 28.

Links and Resources: Yao just fine with quiet role in playoffs (Yahoo!), NBA Rockets edge Trail Blazers to take series lead (AFP), Scola there to pick up slack (Houston Chronicle)