(on the Rockets' defense) "Well, our individual defense is not great and our pick and roll defense is not great and we're small in the back court, so we had to double-team in the post. We didn't have to, I chose to and in retrospect, we're just going to have to learn how to guard in there by ourselves a little bit better."

(on the Rockets' 3-point defense) "Well, they had 11 (3 pointers), take
(Richard) Jefferson's last one (3 pointer) away...you get broken down individually or in the pick and roll and scrambling around, so our individual and pick and roll defense is what really leads to our inability to guard the 3-point line. That being said, we didn't make enough (baskets) at the other end. It saps your energy a little bit defensively when you miss."

(on the play of the team) "I didn't think Yao (Ming) was particularly as good as he has been tonight. But, there's obviously a huge burden on his shoulders right now. But, we're capable of making (shots) and we didn't tonight. Obviously our perimeter shooting has been a non-strength this year, so on those nights that we do make (shots) from the perimeter, we'll be able to compete. If we make as few as we made tonight, it's hard against a quality team like Jersey. I give them (New Jersey) a lot of credit too defensively. They're very good. They're very, very good defensively."

YAO MING

(on the Rockets' ineffective play) "We're not playing good enough to get this win. We gave them (New Jersey) too many open 3s, penetrations and offensive boards."

(on the impact of being without Tracy McGrady and David Wesley) "Those are good players and very good teammates that we're missing and, obviously, that's bad for us, but we have to live with it. We can not ask them back right now because they have serious injuries. What we need to do is to find a way, whatever way it is, to find a way to win."

(on what the Rockets need to do to turn things around) "Play better defense.
Our team is a defensive team and I think that in the last 2 games, we haven't been defending well and we've been giving them (opponents) too many penetrations. We need to focus on our defensive game."

RAFER ALSTON

(on the loss) "Tonight we had some looks that we should have made...lay-ups, mid-range jumpers, 3-pointers. Yao (Ming) once again tonight was hitting, doing his deal for us like he has been since the All-Star break. We've got to give him a little more help and support on the offensive end and the defensive end."

(on how the Rockets can improve) "You've got to get in there and work and shoot. You have to get some shots in practice and more reps on our shooting.
We have to play more intense(ly) on defense and stay with our schemes."

(on whether the defensive play is affected by the team's poor shooting) "It shouldn't, but it does. That's the mystery about basketball. Even though it's not going well for you offensively, you should find a way to be strong on the defensive end. Unfortunately, as players, it bothers you like it did tonight."

(on the Rockets' struggles in the latest back-to-back series) "It's never fun losing. One thing I can say is we're competing. Back-to-back nights, once again, it's the 3rd quarter that kills us. If we played a little stronger and little sound and a more determined 3rd, I think we'd have a better outcome."

RICK BRUNSON

(on the Rockets' struggles in the 2nd game of the back-to-back series) "I just think guys just have to get ready. On a back-to-back, you've got to be ready to shoot the ball and get your legs and your body ready."

(on the Rockets' poor play) "They (New Jersey) had a back-to-back and we played earlier and they played later (yesterday), so there's no excuse for us. We work hard every day on our shooting and we just have to have confidence and keep shooting."

NEW JERSEY NETS HEAD COACH LAWRENCE FRANK

(on the game) "I think after the first 8 minutes of the game we played pretty well. We fought our tails off and got great play from our bench. Some of our guys that usually score, didn't score a lot and they still defended and that was key for us. Cliff (Robinson) really gave us a big lift off the bench. He and Vince (Carter) really took over the game with their pick-and-roll plays. We had a stretch at the end of the game where we didn't play well."

(on his team's play) "You have to do whatever it takes to win the game, and that was the bottom line."

LAMOND MURRAY

(on his play) "I think I definitely helped a lot with my rebounding and on the defensive end. I did the best I could with the opportunity I got. We made some key adjustments at half-time that helped turn the game around for us."

(on the key to the game) "Our guys off the bench did a good job, and Coach
(Frank) mixed up our lineup at different times. I got extended minutes because of the foul trouble of our bigs."

VINCE CARTER

(on his play) "I wanted to be aggressive and be a play-maker, or whatever it took. Our guys were hitting their shots, and it was a fun game."

(on Yao Ming) "We didn't want Yao to dominate down low, but we wanted to make it as tough on him as possible. If Yao was going to get his shots, we didn't want the other guys to go off. I thought, overall, we did a good job."

(on the team's play) "I want to win every game from here on out. Our effort and execution were the keys to our victory. If we play like that, we're tough to beat."

CLIFFORD ROBINSON

(on the team's play) "When we win, we usually keep the ball moving and we get a lot of assists. I was able to get some open shots and it felt good."

(on defending Yao Ming) "I thought we played him (Yao Ming) well. Anybody with that size and ability, you are not going to stop them. I look forward to playing against all those big boys. When you play Yao (Ming), you want to keep your bigs on the move and make him move his feet as much as possible."