<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> After the Rockets spent Monday working on repairing their damaged offense, point guard Rafer Alston said the problem in the Rockets' disappointing 12-12 start has not been about any part of the game, but rather because of a lack of desire.</p> "We don't have the energy, we don't have the hustle, we don't have the intensity," Alston said. "The bad thing I'm seeing is the passion and desire. Once we find those, it will help us.</p> "A lot of people keep stressing the offense. It doesn't have anything to do with offense when you're losing games by 20 and you're giving up 30 points in a quarter. It has to do with defense and the will to compete. I think right now, we're lacking in the competing factor of the game.</p> "Every time I look at the film of the games over and over again, there's certain possessions out there, a lot of telltale signs out there. We have to want to compete. When the game is close, teams turn it up on us. We don't seem to want to match their intensity and their energy."</p> Alston has missed three of the past four games — all losses — with a strained groin muscle and was held out of Monday's practice. He said he expects to be able to practice today and to play Wednesday.</p> But with Wednesday's game beginning a stretch of four games in five nights, the Rockets are being cautious with Alston's injury.</p> </p> <h3>Back for Magic</h3> Rockets guard Tracy McGrady sat out Monday's practice with a bruised right knee, but said he expects to play Wednesday against his former team, the Orlando Magic. McGrady said the knee has been sore for about two weeks and was aggravated with a fall Saturday.</p> "I'll be fine," McGrady said. "I'm taking these two days to rest it up and let the pain and the swelling to go out of there a little bit. It will help me a lot."</div></p> Source: Houston Chronicle</p>
