The pictures and trophies are all snug in their bubble wrap.

The boxes are packed and taped. The banners are folded and sealed. The moving trucks are ready to roll.

Years of planning, politicizing and stress have gone into this week's Rockets move into the $235 million Toyota Center, whose ribbon-cutting is Thursday, with an open house Sept. 13.

Today, the only thing standing between the Rockets and their new home is a few miles of downtown hardtop.

How fitting.

Nothing could be more appropriate on this final leg of the Rockets' twisting journey to one of the premier arenas in basketball than Les Alexander's crew having to run over a few more potholes.

This is what the Rockets do and what they do well.