Maybe the reality no one noticed during Jeff Van Gundy's dead-on, the-truth-hurts evaluations of his team was that he was the real optimist all along.

He could rip his team in media sessions, believing in the value of accuracy and that there is no use in saying one thing to his players and another to the public. He can point out blemishes. He can grow dark enough to look at a pot of gold and notice the tarnish on the pot.

When Van Gundy offered his analysis of the Rockets this season, it was not difficult to sense the cringing around Toyota Center all the way to owner Leslie Alexander's office.

But real optimism is to see things as they are and still believe in what they could be.

Alexander ended the season selling the notion that the Rockets' problems were largely about their injuries. A case could be made that while Alexander might be looking at the bright side, he was not wrong. He went so far on a conference call with season ticket holders to say that with a few good moves and good health, the Rockets could be "championship contenders." Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, he said, were not "All-Stars," they were "superstars."

But when Van Gundy pointed out flaws, he might actually have been the most optimistic among the team's leadership. Because despite those shortcomings, he was the one expecting more from his players and the franchise.

The guy trotted out a bunch of other teams' castoffs and still expected to win. Expecting to win with the team the Rockets had through much of the season — now that's an optimist.

Anyone can wish for success. Even after a bad season, many NBA teams, the Rockets included, can imagine parts coming together to turn things around. The real trick is to believe while seeing what is wrong. Real faith becomes so when it is tested. Looking the other way does not test faith.

For the Rockets, much of the tension about Van Gundy's unwillingness or inability to spin mediocrity is about ticket sales. While the organization is pleading for customers, it cannot enjoy having its spokesman clouding the message.

But now that this season is over, now that Van Gundy and Alexander have had their meeting to discuss their future and the Rockets' rebuilding, it might be time not just to accept Van Gundy's frankness but to embrace it.

Raise expectations with "championship contention" talk, and customers will either be disappointed when a team falls short of that or merely satisfied even if the team wins big. But if fans feel as if they are part of the process, they can be a part of the ride.

And with great success, rather than be satisfied, they can be thrilled.

Unless the Rockets don't really believe they have that chance.

James still rules

Since LeBron James still exceeds the hype that keeps on coming his way, the hype keeps getting bigger.

Scottie Pippen, asked if he saw Michael Jordan in James on Saturday, went further. He said he saw Jordan and "every great player" he had ever played against in James after the first playoff game of his career.

James — who had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the Cavaliers against the Wizards — inspires such hyperbole because, as undeniable as his physical gifts are, his feel for the game and his vision might be greater.

So Gilbert Arenas spoke for many opponents to come when he asked, "How can one person get all that?"

Barbosa: I can't win

With the Suns holding Steve Nash and Raja Bell out of their last regular-season meeting with the Lakers, Leandro Barbosa spent much of the game matched up with Kobe Bryant. That was enough for Barbosa to beat Lakers coach Phil Jackson to his usual efforts to get in the officials heads.

Asked what he learned from his guarding Bryant, Barbosa said, "I learned that you can't touch him.You touch his hand, it's a foul. You touch his back, it's a foul. If he runs you over, it's a foul (on you)."

No longer Jazzed

First Karl Malone, then John Stockton and now Greg Ostertag. The Jazz, however, will not erect a statue to honor Ostertag upon his retirement, if only because he had been so much of a statue when he played.

Ostertag, however, went out gracefully, and with a classy sendoff from Jazz fans. He decided to retire for the very reason he never amounted to the player he could have been. It just didn't matter enough to him.

So after playing in only five of the last 22 games, he woke up in a hotel room not knowing where he was and decided to call it a career.

"It's a lot of bus rides, a lot of plane rides, a lot of hotels," Ostertag said. "And I realized that I just don't want to do it anymore. ... Fans will remember me for a lot of ups and downs. I've had good games, and my share of bad ones, too. But it's time for me to go."

A con, Artest? No way

Ron Artest said he believed the Kings could win the championship and ESPN treated him as if he had maracas for brains. But what else could he say?

The Kings face the Spurs, the defending champions, and though few would predict it, especially after the Spurs pummeled them on Saturday, the Kings could win the series.

It's not terribly likely, but they should certainly expect to win. And if they can beat the Spurs, they could reasonably expect to beat anyone. When traded to Sacramento, Artest announced that the Kings would make the playoffs. So when asked, Artest should believe his team can win a championship.

Artest should not be expected to speak like the television talking heads who are always 100 percent sure of every game's results before it is played.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

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Rant of the week: Minor transgression brings noise, fuss

IT'S kind of hard to rant to match Billy King's profane tirade last week. It seems Allen Iverson and Chris Webber were late to the pregame of a game they were not going to play. They did not miss any of the meaningless game. They just were not around much before it started.

This would have been barely worth anyone's notice, but when coach Maurice Cheeks was informed by the media, he acted as if he didn't know Webber and Iverson were out. When King was told, he snapped.

But when everyone was through stomping their feet, one question was unanswered: Who cares? If the Sixers didn't throw such a fit, would anyone have?

The Sixers' farewell to their underachieving season and all the blame that was heaped on two players showed how much is wrong beyond Iverson and Webber not being around to watch their teammates get dressed.