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Tuesday February 17, 2009 12:29 PM

Rockets Ready To Make Second-Half Run

Players and coaches focused on finishing strong

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - "It’s time. For us, it’s been time since before the All-Star break. Each game is a must-win game if you don’t want to drop from a possible fourth seed to not even making the playoffs."

- Rafer Alston, upon being asked about the Rockets’ post All-Star break mentality

And with that, the Rockets’ point guard said it all. He dipped into the past, resurrecting Houston’s “It’s Time” marketing campaign from a year ago, while perfectly illustrating the challenge facing his club during the season’s final 29 games.

No more excuses. No more mulligans. The Rockets know they can’t do anything to alter their roller coaster start to the season, but what they can do is finish with a flourish, thereby banishing any and all negative vibes to the nether regions of their rearview mirror.

Step one of that process: Getting away for a few days during the All-Star break to re-focus and recharge.

“I think it’s always good to get away,” says Coach Rick Adelman. “[During the season] there is no weekend. There usually aren’t days off. So when you have a chance where you know you’re going to get three or four days to get away from it a little bit, it’s always refreshing and now you’ve got to come back rested with a new resolve to finish the season off strong.

“We all know what we have to do: We have to push each other. This is an important stretch for us. We have 29 games left and have to see what we can make of it.”

Of course, great play doesn’t just magically materialize on gameday; it begins on the practice court and, by all accounts, the Rockets had one of their best practice sessions of the season on Monday.

“We practiced like there was [a sense of urgency],” says Alston. “We came in with great focus right out of the gate and we want to see that transfer over [to games]. It was probably the best practice we’ve had since training camp. There was more focus, everybody’s attention span was there, and thus we had a great practice. I think guys understand that that’s a better way to go about our jobs.”

So what do the Rockets figure to be focusing on down the stretch? Coach Adelman says he’s currently locked in on three primary points of emphasis:

“First of all, we definitely need to get our defensive identity back. We have to defend better night in and night out and we have to find ways to make sure Yao is the main guy we’re going to. We want the offense to be more efficient and Yao is certainly the starting point there.

“I also really am trying to find a way to get a little bit more energy off the bench. I’m trying to incorporate Aaron a little bit better so we can attack the other team. When we go to our bench we need to have that energy coming in.”

No question, the need for the Rockets to successfully incorporate each of those focus points has been heightened due to the uncertain nature of Tracy McGrady’s injury. T-Mac is soliciting second opinions on his troublesome left knee this week, meaning his potential return is completely up in the air at this point. So while the Rockets remain hopeful for the best, they also know they have to move forward and start their playoff push with the pieces they currently have at their disposal; which, given the team’s talent-laden roster, should be more than enough to get by.

“The team you’re going to see now, you’re going to see us get after it,” says Ron Artest. “I think we entered the break on a good note. I think we’ll be fine.”

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