Chron: March to playoffs needed; Swift gets ready

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3692535.html

After a fine February, Rockets need another smashing month

By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

If the Rockets had not turned the corner in what had been a miserable season, they were at the least peeking around the bend when the Phoenix Suns visited Toyota Center on Monday night.

By the time the Suns finished darting around the Rockets, a meager winning streak — and triumphs over Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, Orlando, Utah and Golden State — were put in a sobering yet proper context, and they finished the month 10-3.

"Part is schedule. Part is health. Part is good play," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "I think all three of those things have had an impact on playing a little bit better. But this is a whole different level, this (Suns) team. This is upper-echelon, top-five team."

During the next two weeks, the Rockets will have the opportunity to fatten up on the have-nots. They host Philadelphia, Denver, and Indiana — teams that, like the Rockets, are hovering around .500, and a home game against 18-38 Portland is set for Sunday.

The Rockets will travel to Minnesota next Tuesday to face the Timberwolves, who like the Rockets are grappling for a postseason berth.

Regional rumbles

Then things will get interesting. In mid-March, the Rockets have a defining stretch of games punctuated by five meetings with three Southwest Division rivals.

The Rockets bookend the week of March 12-18 with games against the San Antonio Spurs. They will host the Mavericks on March 15 before a trip to Dallas six days later. Their final meeting with New Orleans/Oklahoma City will take place two days later at Ford Center.

And here is the rub: The Rockets are 0-9 against Southwest Division opponents. They've dropped 16 consecutive games in the Alamo City, were whipped by 27 points at home against the Mavericks on Jan. 18 and have been riddled by guards Chris Paul and Speedy Claxton in the New Orleans/Oklahoma City series.

Throw in the Grizzlies, whom the Rockets host on April 15 and against whom they've yet to score more than 81 points in three meetings this season, and it is clear Van Gundy's team will have to play better to fulfill playoff aspirations.

"Those are teams that, if you do make it to the playoffs, you're definitely going to see," Rockets forward Juwan Howard said. "Sure enough, we know we're going to have to face the San Antonios and Dallases, and they are games that we have to win, and these are games that we need to win."

Playing the Spurs and Mavericks a combined four times over 10 days this month is daunting, and it makes the Rockets' season-ending stretch against Memphis, Denver and San Antonio — against whom the Rockets are a combined 0-6 — seem tame by comparison.

As much as the Rockets could focus on their shortcomings, they recognize that their playoff push will come in small steps. Lamenting their misstep against the Suns would be counterproductive.

A lot of work ahead

"We've got a lot of work to catch up, and we don't have time to worry about this game," Rockets guard David Wesley said. "We'll worry about another Phoenix if we run into another Phoenix. Right now we have to worry about Philly."

The Suns series is done, but plenty of stout competition awaits. The pressing question for the Rockets is can they handle it as easily as they beat the Knicks.

mk.bower@chron.com

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ROCKETS SUMMARY

Wesley plays through pain

The Rockets got a scare Monday night when guard David Wesley asked out of the game with 6:34 left in the first quarter. Flanked by trainer Keith Jones, Wesley limped to the locker room.

Wesley returned with a compression sleeve on his left thigh and started the second quarter. He played 28 minutes in a 111-94 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

"I felt a knot in it," Wesley said of his left hamstring. "I felt like I was either getting ready to pull it or pulled it a little. If I hadn't pulled it yet, I didn't want to chance possibly pulling it. It was just a knot at the time — or it just felt like a knot and some tightness. So I went in the back, checked it out and made sure."

Wesley is the only Rockets player to have appeared in all 57 games. Bothered by his hamstring Monday, he shot 1-for-7 and had four points and three turnovers.

"It's still there," Wesley said. "Obviously, I didn't play worth a damn, but I was out there."

Swift gets ready

Rockets forward Stromile Swift, who has missed the past four games with a sprained left ankle, said he expects to be ready to return tonight against the 76ers.

Swift was hurt in the last minute of the Rockets' game Feb. 16 in Phoenix when he stepped on Suns guard Eddie House's foot.

"I thought I was going to be ready (Monday)," Swift said. "I did some running, some cutting, some basketball stuff.

"It was still a little sore. But I should be ready Wednesday."[/b]

JONATHAN FEIGEN and MOISEKAPENDA BOWER