COAST TO COAST

Happily, everyone agreed that Houston had no shot without Yao Ming.

So no one has to be embarrassed about the inspired Rockets winning their first six without Yao to make it 18 n a row, not even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who announced he wouldn’t even discuss a non-playoff team.

With Tracy McGrady and a deep roster rebuilt from the ashes of their early struggles, they’re running on momentum and chemistry, not to mention disbelief.

Houston, you don’t have a problem?

“When you have everyone on your neck whispering sweet nothings in your ear, telling you how great you are, it makes your job tougher,” Shane Battier told the Houston Chronicle.

“Our job’s easy now. No one is believing in us. They’re not whispering.”

If only they were in the East. Unfortunately, they’re in the West, where romance runs way behind reality.

T-Mac’s world

McGrady is one of the most personable superstars, which, unfortunately, counts for little against first-round exits in all six postseason appearances.

“If it doesn’t happen for me, it doesn’t define who I am and I’m not going to let it,” he told the Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.

“My drive is to take this team as far as possible. I think my teammates really believe I want to accomplish that. I think they want to do that for me. They know all the heat that I’ve been taking over the years.”

In other words, help!

Suggesting the Suns’ agony going from their old free-flowing offense to their new confused one, the burden falls on the shoulders of two-time most valuable player Steve Nash.

Nash’s turnovers are up. Of course, so is the Suns’ defensive average -- to 112 a game with Shaquille O’Neal.

“It’s nice when you get Pau Gasol dropped in your lap,” Nash said. “They [Lakers] could sit Pau down and they’re the same team. . . .

“It’s going to take time. That’s the only way I can articulate it without confusing the issue.”

Tall, sad story

It’s not good to mess up all the decisions concerning your big players, but the Bulls did.

In 2006 they traded Tyson Chandler, who didn’t get along with Coach Scott Skiles -- who was fired this season -- to clear the way for free agent Ben Wallace.

Meanwhile, they were also trading the draft rights to 6-10 LaMarcus Aldridge for prickly 6-7 1/4 Tyrus Thomas, who was suspended last week for skipping a practice and when active, backs up newly acquired Drew Gooden.

Said TNT’s Hubie Brown of their recent trade sending Wallace to Cleveland:

“I know they have a big picture I’m not privy to. Maybe they know there is a center they can get as a free agent.”

Ka-ching!

To make its 2000 deal for Jermaine O’Neal work, Indiana had to sign Portland’s Joe Kleine, who was retiring, to a $1.5-million deal.

Says Indiana President Donnie Walsh: “I told him, ‘Out of respect, if you want to come to training camp, you can.’

“He said, ‘No way!’

“He was out driving when his agent told him the contract came across. He stopped and went into one of those shops where you can get it faxed to you so he could sign it.

“He said, ‘No way I’m letting this go by.’ ”

-- Mark Heisler