http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_ai...-213630-34.html<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>HOUSTON -- Shortly after losing Yao Ming in late December, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy informed his players that their success would hinge on the team's defensive intensity and energy level.He's found himself preaching that point even more in recent days."We've played very poorly for a couple weeks," Van Gundy said. "It's on me to get it right. The NBA schedule is tough. The only chance we have is to be a hard-playing team and we're not right now. We're not."He's working on changing that.Since hitting a rough patch beginning shortly before the All-Star break, the Rockets have found themselves trying to restore their intense, hard-nosed identity heading into Saturday's showdown against the San Antonio Spurs.The Rockets (36-22) have dropped four of their past seven games, struggling to consistently stop opponents and keep them off the glass.Houston showed signs of pulling out of that recent funk Friday with an impressive 108-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets, but Van Gundy is looking for his team to consistently play with a high level of energy.The Rockets are well aware that one night doesn't solve everything."We want to get back to playing Rockets basketball," Rockets forward Juwan Howard said. "Rebounding, defending and attacking more on the offensive end. That's what we need to do."The Rockets weren't doing that before Friday night.Before visiting the Rocky Mountains, the Rockets had been outrebounded in a season-worst six straight games and had allowed four of their last six opponents to score at least 100 points.For a team that is among the league's best in points allowed and defensive rebounding, those aren't pretty digits.Rockets star Tracy McGrady said each member of the team simply needs to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror to turn those figures around."Everyone has to recommit themselves if we want to be the team that we've been," McGrady said. "It's just a matter of, 'How are we going to get ourselves out of this little funk that we're in right now?' Each guy has to get back to doing what they were doing before. Everybody has to recommit themselves and bring back that tenacious effort that we had."The Rockets would clearly like to see that effort show up on the defensive end.During the six-game stretch, the Rockets have had trouble covering teams that spread the floor. Boston scored 33 points in the fourth quarter Monday to erase a 12-point deficit and Toronto canned 57.1 percent of its shots Wednesday night, the highest shooting percentage that the Rockets have allowed this season. Both games ended up in the loss column.The Rockets are convinced that their defensive troubles are based on how they're playing -- not what the other team is doing against their defense.They showed as much by holding the Nuggets -- the league's second higest scoring team -- under triple digits on Friday night."They can be covered," Rockets point guard Rafer Alston said of defending teams that spread the floor. "We've proven that we can do that. We've got to get in front of their guards and not let them turn the corner on pick and rolls. We're constantly letting guys penetrate and that's collapsing our defense."Van Gundy might end up looking down his bench to find more answers.Before leaving for a quick trip to the Rocky Mountains, Van Gundy said he's consider tinkering with his rotation to find a solution.He used John Lucas III against Toronto and reserve center Jake Tsakalidis has received increased playing time over the past week. Kirk Snyder made an appearance against the Nuggets, but mostly because Bonzi Wells was out with a sore right foot."We need to a do a better job," Van Gundy said. "I've got to get us with a better plan and a better rotation that minimizes our weaknesses and maximizes our strengths."Van Gundy's team is well aware what's at stake.Before their recent slide, the Rockets (36-22) were talking about catching the Spurs and gaining home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.Clearly, that's still attainable. Houston is four games behind the Spurs in the Western Conference standings with about two dozen games remaining in the season.However, the Rockets can't afford to have many more nights where their energy is missing if they're going to make an ascent in the West."The overall picture is those guys have accomplished something that no one expected them to accomplish, which is to be right in the middle of the playoff scenario after going 37 straight games without Yao, Tracy or both," Van Gundy said. "They've done a good job getting themselves in a good position to have a hell of an accomplishment. But they've played very uninspired the last two weeks. Right now, we need to do a better job."</div>Records: Houston (35-22), Spurs (40-18) Day/Time: Saturday, 7:30 PM CST<u>Projected Starting Lineups</u><span style="color:#FF0000"><u>Houston Rockets</u></span>PG: <span style="color:#FF0000">Rafer Alston</span>SG: <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span>SF: <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span>PF: <span style="color:#FF0000">Juwan Howard</span>C: <span style="color:#FF0000">Dikembe Mutombo</span><u>Injury Update</u>C Yao Ming (tibia), G Bob Sura (knee/back) are out for the Rockets and Bonzi Wells (sore foot) is questionable for the Rockets.<span style="color:#808080"><u>San Antonio Spurs</u></span>PG: <span style="color:#808080">Tony Parker</span>SG: <span style="color:#808080">Brent Barry</span>SF: <span style="color:#808080">Bruce Bowen</span>PF: <span style="color:#808080">Tim Duncan</span>C: <span style="color:#808080">Fransico Elson</span><u>Injury Update</u>No injuries for the Spurs. LETS GO ROCKETS!!!!!!BTW, Im going to do more of the game threads that I did in the beginning of the season.
San Antonio jumped on them early, but T-Mac brought them back single-handedly. WOW, I love watching him play. He's easily one of the best and one of my favorite players in the league. But he has been really kind of having his way with Bowen out there. Taking him to the rack, making some great passes (especially the one to Snyder), getting to the line. The lead is cut to just 12 now. In the second half, Houston's role players really need to start getting something going here. Skip is settling for long balls and he's ice cold, Battier has taken 1 shot at most, Howard has been pretty non-existent. T-Mac had to carry that team himself, and he did so, but he can't do that for another 24 straight minutes. The other guys need to get something going as well.
God this game was horrible in the 2nd half. In order for the Rockets to win, our role players have to do something and play good.
