It has been inescapable. For 12 years, the Rockets' seasons ended before the second round began. They lost in the 1997 Western Conference Finals, and then lost six-consecutive first-round series. The seven-series losing streak tied the longest in NBA history. Few Rockets players had ever been out of the first round.

Even if they were not a part of that long losing skid, they knew it and they carried it with them until finally breaking through with the first-round win against the Trail Blazers.

"I've been here three years and I can appreciate the frustrations of the city," said Shane Battier, whose nine rebounds matched his career playoff high. "When you go out, you just felt they want a winner so bad here. You feel the frustrations of the last 12 years.

"Even though they didn't really blame us, the guys on the team right now, it will feel good to hang out in the summer and say, 'Hey, this is the start of something really big.'"

For Yao Ming, the burdens of the post-season slump were especially heavy. He had been with the Rockets for seven years, longer than any of his teammates. He had played in three of those first-round losses, and was hurt for another.

Asked how difficult the playoff history was to carry, he let out a long sigh and said, "I cannot give you an example," he said. "I do feel the pressure."

When it was clear that he would finally advance, with only the final few bench-clearing minutes left, he wore a broad smile around the court and raised his fist triumphantly.

"It tasted great when that clock was running down," Yao said. "I still did not believe it was coming true."

ROCKETS 92, TRAIL BLAZERS 76: The Rockets hit the Trail Blazers with a hard second-quarter punch and suddenly they could see the second-round more clearly than they had in all those years trying and failing to get there. There was no way they were going to let it get away from them again. Instead, they grabbed it and held on to it until they could celebrate finally breaking through, ending 12 years of frustration and a seven series post-season losing streak by clinching their first-round series against the Blazers, 4-2. The Rockets led by 15 at halftime and as much as 20 in the third quarter. They never let the Blazers close to fewer than 13 points, ending the series the way it started, with a rout. With that, however, their season will go further than any since 1997, having defeated their own demons as much as the Trail Blazers.