If it had to happen, it's good it happened now. This has been such a lousy rotten year, fraught with natural disasters, heinous crimes and gross corporate malfeasance, that wasting time anguishing over a little ol' 15-game losing streak is guaranteed to get a guy branded superficial.

Therefore, let's try to look for the positive. At least the Rockets made history Tuesday night in losing 101-92 to Portland, the last opponent they had beaten -- 28 days ago.

If you're going to be stinko, you might as well do it up right.