The new and improved Houston Rockets have had a stellar start to the 2007-08 season, but that unbeaten record has to end sometime. That happened last night at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks - an expected result, given Dallas’ fabulous regular-season record last year, but still, a bittersweet result for Rockets watchers who want to see the Adelman Offense tear apart the Southwestern Division. How cruel a basketball fate can it be to be considered the fourth- or fifth-best team in your conference…and the third-best in your division? Dallas and San Antonio cast a very long shadow towards Houston, but with the Rockets’ best start in a decade, you have to believe there are many more good things to come for this team.

Terry and Mavericks send Rockets to 1st loss (New York Times)

Rockets fail their first early-season test (Houston Chronicle)