[Chron] Difficult loss tests Rockets' mental toughness

Curing Jazz-induced hangover proves to be a challenge

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

THE Rockets naturally would love to move on, past the breakdown against the Jazz, past the lost lead and the damage it caused to their chance to catch Utah and win home-court advantage in their likely first-round series.

If only it were that simple.

The NBA schedule rolls on, with another game always coming to grab attention. But the Rockets must let go — and hold on. Forget — and remember.

They must move their thoughts to the Golden State Warriors tonight, leaving the frustrations and disappointments of their previous showdown game. But they also must be determined to learn from the game they would love to forget.

"For a couple days, we talked about this game (Sunday's against the Jazz) meaning a lot for us, for home-court advantage, about confidence, whatever," center Yao Ming said. "Now the game has passed. We need to move on. Throw everything away and get ready to face Golden State.

"The playoffs will be starting in 2 1/2 weeks. We will probably for sure play Utah. But that game does not mean anything for us. The only meaning for us is to learn from the mistakes we made in the game and try to improve for the next game."

But the need to improve and prevent those mistakes means the Rockets cannot "throw everything away."

"Right now, we're not good enough as we speak," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We have 2 1/2 weeks. We're not far from being good enough. If you understand you're not good enough right now but you could be, you will use the next 2 1/2 weeks to focus on improvement. One of our greatest improvements can be playing every possession, or getting as close to that as possible."

Immediate task

According to Van Gundy, "good enough" means good enough "to win big in the playoffs."

The Rockets' shortcomings against the Jazz were not new, with the breakdown down the stretch similar to the Game 3 and Game 4 home losses to Dallas the previous time the Rockets were in the postseason. But whether because they came against the team the Rockets expect to see in the playoffs or because the loss caused so much damage, repairing the inability to hold a late lead seems especially crucial.

"You think about the game and look back, as we did today," guard Rafer Alston said. "We've struggled lately finishing games. We had games (in which) all we had to do is just tighten up the 'D' and then go down there and execute on offense and finish up the game.

"We got away with it in L.A. two nights, and it came back to haunt us against Utah. We have to be able to sustain the lead and finish up games. We have to really concentrate and execute on both sides of the ball down the stretch, especially with four minutes and less left in the game.

"It's going to be more intense in the playoffs. That's where a lot of focus has to come in. Especially when you're on an opposing team's floor in the playoffs — sometimes it's deafening. You're going to have to really focus in.

"We know we'll see them down the line. We'll see them in about 2 1/2 weeks. We know what we need to do."

Until then, there are eight games. As remote as the chance to catch the Jazz might be, there is a chance. And the Rockets would like to hit the postseason at top speed.

Playoff intensity

"This league is all about how you react after every game. Do you handle winning, do you handle losing well?" Shane Battier said. "That's the measure of a great team — being able to respond after a tough loss. We know when we're playing playoff-level basketball and when we're not."

Getting to that level would seem motivation enough.

And as Tracy McGrady said: "It's not like it's the only loss we had this year. We lost the game. Move forward. We have eight more games left. We know who we're going to face. What we're trying to concentrate on is to try to finish out games, do a better job executing in the closing minutes of games, whether that's offense or defense.

"If we can strengthen ourselves mentally and physically when the game is on the line and we have a lead, to just keep burying our opponents, we should be all right. That's the only part I don't like about our team right now."

More than that, it is why they have to look back to be able move forward.

Senior citizens

With Kevin Willis signing a 10-day contract with the Mavericks, Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo is no longer the NBA's oldest player.

Mutombo, 44, said he was not surprised so much that Willis is playing but that he postponed moving to his fashion business completely.

"He and I talked a lot this summer," Mutombo said. "He was over at my house a few times to sell me some jeans. He told me when he was done, he wanted to move on to the business world.

"I really am quite surprised to see him trying out for the Mavericks to come back.

"If the guy feels like he still has something left in his tank and he feels he can go out and help some team win the championship, let him do it. I cannot be mad at him. He's the oldest one. I'm only 40."

With that, Juwan Howard shouted: "Deke's older than Kevin Willis. The real truth is going to come out now."

Asked Mutombo's age, Yao Ming said, "Like his number."

Mutombo wears No. 55.

McGrady checkup

Rockets guard Tracy McGrady spent Monday's day off with a visit to John Patterson, the rehabilitation specialist in Waco who helped him come back from back spasms.

McGrady said Tuesday that he was not having problems but had intended to have a checkup every month.

Because of the heavy Rockets schedule in March, Monday's visit to Patterson was McGrady's first since early February.

Head expects to play

Rockets guard Luther Head said he expects to play today after missing two games with a sore right shoulder.

They were the first two games he missed in his two seasons because of an injury.

"It was rough," Head said. "I couldn't stand to watch it.

"I tried to sit out (on the bench) at the Lakers game, and I couldn't sit out on the court because I wanted to play so bad. I went back and watched it.

"I practiced. It was a little sore after, but with more treatment and ice, it should be all right.

"I'm just going to try to go out and play hard as usual. If I get shots, I'll take my shots. There won't be any hesitation or anything like that."

Quick lineup

The Golden State Warriors could alter their lineup in a variety of ways, but they list 6-9 Al Harrington as their starting center, giving them an exceedingly small but quick and high-scoring lineup.

"Every team has their advantages, big or small," Rockets center Yao Ming, 7-6, said. "They can go like Phoenix, real small and fast.

"But who will use their advantage better?"

Warriors update

The Warriors could dramatically alter their small, high-scoring starting lineup to put some size on the floor or could force the Rockets to try to keep up with them.

The quick backcourt of Monta Ellis and Baron Davis can cause matchup problems. When the Warriors go with a more traditional center, Andris Biedrins is a solid option, averaging 10.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Check out

The Rockets' ballhandling. The Warriors lead the NBA in steals, and if the Rockets don't take care of the ball, Golden State will be fast-breaking the other way.

Statistically speaking

Among Western Conference teams, only the Grizzlies have fewer road wins than the Warriors, who are 8-28 away from Oracle Arena.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

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