--The Rockets got the win and have won 12 of 15 games. Rockets coach Rick Adelman, however, was not happy. The Rockets committed 18 turnovers and let a six-point lead with 1:28 left slip away without getting a shot off. With the playoffs a little more than a month away, he knew the Rockets would have to do better, even if they did get the win.
"I told the team, if you're going to get to the playoffs and have any chance to succeed, we can't continue to make these mistakes," Adelman said. "We've been making them. You can call it youth, but youth's over with. We have 15 games left; we can't continue to do that." --Rockets coach Rick Adelman chose not to foul with a three-point lead with 7.2 seconds left, having more confidence in the Rockets' ability to defend the three-point line than secure the rebound of a missed free throw. His decision, however, was closely tied to his long-held distaste for the rule that allows players to charge in from the three-point arc when the free throw is released.
"There is no guarantee you're going to get that rebound because you can't box out on the free throw," Adelman said. "Everybody can get in there when the ball is released, from the three-point line to the paint and everything else. And we're not the greatest of rebounding teams at the free throw line.
"If the rule was different (prohibiting the shooting team from rushing in from the three-point line) I think I'd feel more comfortable. You put (Charlotte forward) Gerald Wallace out at the three-point line; he's going to beat everybody to that rim. And you can't box it out."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wanted the ball. I always want the ball at the end. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I thought it was a turnover, but Shane (Battier) made a big hustle play and he got me the ball. I always like to be in a situation like that." -- F Ron Artest.
