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Who could argue with the results? Yao was clearly the new "most dominant" big man on the planet and Houston was winning. So, despite being one of the most gifted offensive players in the league, McGrady took a back seat.

Temporarily.

Line of the Week Gilbert Arenas (Wizards) January 3 vs. Bucks 32 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists Game-winning 3-pointer

On Dec. 23, Yao injured his knee. With the Houston center expected to be sidelined up to eight weeks, the Rockets turned to McGrady to carry more of the offensive load.

So far it has been no Yao, no problem as McGrady has been up to the challenge and then some.

With the exception of Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, T-Mac is playing as well as anyone in the NBA.

McGrady, who missed seven games with back spasms before returning to the lineup on Dec. 26, has never played better. The Rockets were 2-5 in the stretch without McGrady.

McGrady has scored 30 or more points in six straight games, averaging 35 an outing over his last five. And it's not like he has been scoring his points in blowouts, dropping in 25 in the second half of Houston's 84-77 win over Chicago on Monday.

While most experts thought the Rockets would struggle without Yao, who was averaging 25.9 points per game, they are 6-2 with the center out of the lineup.

And McGrady is the No. 1 reason why Houston, with a 22-13 record, has been able to keep pace in the Southwest Division.

The formula for the Rockets is simple: If McGrady is on, a win is to follow. In the 47 career games he has scored 30 or more, Houston has won 38.

Here are the player rankings for the season through Jan. 8.

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Race to the MVP - Overall Player Rankings

1. Steve Nash, Phoenix PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 19.9 3.2 11.0 0.8 0.1 .524 .888 Last Week's Rank - 1 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily What's going on Steve? Your numbers for the past week were good but not great --15.5 points, nine assists and 3.8 turnovers a contest. I thought you of all people would be more productive with the return of the old ball. Regardless, six straight wins for Phoenix.

2. Gilbert Arenas, Washington PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 30.6 4.6 6.4 2.0 0.1 .442 .829 Last Week's Rank - 2 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Does this guy know how to celebrate or what? Arenas scored 29 of his 35 points in the first half and added 12 assists to lead the Wizards past the Clippers on Friday. Afterwards, he rushed off to his star-studded 25th birthday party.

3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 23.9 9.5 3.1 0.7 0.7 .495 .906 Last Week's Rank - 4 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily I guess all good things have to come to an end. After stringing together a 12-game winning streak earlier in the season, Dirk led the Mavericks to 13 victories in a row this time before falling to Kobe's crew Sunday.

4. Carlos Boozer, Utah PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 21.5 11.8 3.1 0.9 0.4 .548 .714 Last Week's Rank - 3 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Boozer did what MVP candidates are supposed to do on Saturday. After the Jazz had their 19-point lead cut to one, he went off for 14 of his 24 points to help seal the 96-84 win over the Nuggets.

5. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 28.4 5.3 5.5 1.2 0.4 .473 .849 Last Week's Rank - 5 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Simply put, Kobe gets it. It is getting pretty obvious that he trusts his teammates. Last week, he had 42 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Kings. He followed that up by scoring only eight points but giving out 10 dimes vs. the Nuggets and then posted 26-8-6 as the Lakers, winners of four straight, stopped the Mavs' streak.

6. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 22.4 12.4 4.3 1.2 1.8 .481 .816 Last Week's Rank - 8 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily What more can you say about KG, who was just named the Western Conference Player of the Week? The Timberwolves have won four straight thanks to Garnett, who averaged 27.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 blocks.

7. LeBron James, Cleveland PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 26.4 6.8 6.1 1.6 0.8 .478 .701 Last Week's Rank - 6 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Maybe the days of LeBron having to do eveything are gone. Cleveland has won four straight and currently has the top mark in the East. LBJ has "exploded" for eight and 19 points in the Cavaliers last two games, which were both victories.

8. Tim Duncan, San Antonio PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 20.1 10.1 3.3 0.8 1.9 .552 .629 Last Week's Rank - 7 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Okay Tim, now is your chance to shine. Tony Parker is hobbled with a strained right hip, you guys are 5-5 in your last 10 and everybody is singing the praises of the Mavericks, Suns and Jazz. Go out and remind people why you are a two-time MVP.

9. Dwyane Wade, Miami PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 27.7 4.4 7.7 1.9 1.2 .481 .816 Last Week's Rank - 10 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily Flash returned to the Heat lineup Sunday against the Trail Blazers after missing four games with a strained wrist and went off for 33 points, five rebounds and three assists in a win. Miami lost all four games without the superstar in the lineup.

10. Dwight Howard, Orlando PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 17.0 12.5 1.7 0.9 1.9 .570 .663 Last Week's Rank - 11 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot Howard has notched double-doubles in 11 of 12 games for the Magic, who have won four straight to take a one-game lead over the Wizards in the Southeast Division.

Close But No Cigar (season averages) 11. Zach Randolph (POR): 24.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.9 APG 12. Shawn Marion (PHX): 19.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG 13. Tracy McGrady (HOU): 22.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG 14. Jermaine O'Neal (IND): 19.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.2 BPG 15. Baron Davis (GSW): 21.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 8.4 APG 16. Caron Butler (WAS): 21.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.8 APG 17. Josh Howard (DAL): 19.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG 18. Yao Ming (HOU): 25.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.2 BPG 19. Allen Iverson (DEN): 29.3 PPG, 7.4 APG, 2.2 SPG 20. Chris Bosh (TOR): 20.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.2 APG

Running the Floor Redd It is not a good time to be a Bucks fan. Charlie Villanueva is out with an injured right shoulder. Also, in Milwaukee's loss to the Nuggets on Monday, Mo Williams hurt his left shoulder and last Friday, do-everything guard Michael Redd injured his left knee. Redd, who is currently fifth in the league in scoring with a 27.7 point per game average, is expected to be out for four-to-six weeks. Great news Heat fans, the Diesel is ready to return. Shaquille O'Neal, who has only played in four games this season because of a knee injury, is expected to rejoin Miami's lineup within the next week.