Rockets hold another players-only meeting after blowout loss to Clippers
After Wednesday night's embarrassing defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers dropped the Rockets back to .500, Houston's players decided to take matters into their own hands by holding a players-only meeting on Thursday.
Starting point guard Patrick Beverley appeared to believe the meeting was productive, to the point that he pities the Rockets' next opponent.
"I feel sorry for the team we play tomorrow," Beverley said, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.
.@patbev21 is hopeful players-only meeting today will help the #Rockets going forward. pic.twitter.com/3c12NCQyfV
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 17, 2016
This is not the first time Houston has held a players-only meeting this season, assembling one back in November after starting 2015-16 just 4-7. In fact, according to center Donatas Motiejunas, the Rockets have been meeting regularly throughout the season, to seemingly little effect.
"This is the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth time we had a meeting," Motiejunas said. "Talking shouldn't be the one thing we do."
The Rockets' issues are mainly a product of their lackadaisical defense, a problem that was on full display during Wednesday night's 122-106 loss. After ranking sixth in the NBA in defensive efficiency in 2014-15, Houston has dropped to 23rd this year.
Related: James Harden caught napping on defense yet again
A lot of Rockets' message to one another after last night was about starting better. They have led at the end of 1st quarter once in 18 gms.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 17, 2016
With just 14 games remaining on the schedule, the Rockets will need to get back on track soon, or risk losing their playoff spot to a Utah Jazz team that has won its last three contests.