<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Rockets believe they have accomplished the first part of turning around their record — playing better. Now, they must work on the next and more difficult part, actually winning games. Still, the Rockets believe they have improved. "The second half of the Detroit game (on Sunday), we had no energy left after the four in five nights," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "The other games we played better. We played more like we want to play; now you have to build on it. We go back on the road (to Memphis), and then two at home. "You keep pushing through it. You never know when it's going to turn. You can see it in this league all the time. You get teams that are losing suddenly start winning. It goes the other way, too. We've got to keep fighting through this part of this schedule until the schedule breaks a little better for us, and, hopefully by then, we're playing a little better." Going into games against Memphis, Toronto and Golden State, the Rockets have not won consecutive games since Dec. 5 and 7 and said that if they can get a win, they have to be better at following it up with strong play the next game. "Yeah, obviously these three teams have beaten us, but it's important for these games to get us going, get our momentum going," forward Chuck Hayes said. "We have to learn to feed off it because whenever we think we've got it going, we revert to our old ways of not executing, not approaching the game the same way. Just learn to feed off momentum and positive energy and take it to the next game." A valuable break The Rockets held a late practice Wednesday to allow players scattered around the country to return in time from a brief Christmas break. Each player returned to Houston on time, Rockets coach Rick Adelman said, but Rockets guard Bonzi Wells missed the practice with the flu. Given the Rockets' struggles, injuries and illnesses, they welcomed the two days off followed by two practices days. But they also said the break was valuable for more than rest. "I hope guys got a chance to think about the season," guard Rafer Alston said. "More than a third of the season has gone by. (We know) what we've done and what we need to do to go forward. Obviously, we have to improve and improve fast. I hope guys had a chance to enjoy their Christmas but also to understand the job we have ahead of us."</div> Source: Houston Chronicle
