NEW ORLEANS - The Rockets had done this before, many times before.

Too many times. They beat a good team, in this case one of the best, then lose to a team far on the wrong side of .500.

Finally, Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff watched his team make all the same mistakes Saturday night, bogged down by the same poor defensive effort and sloppy offensive execution and said the problem is greater than anything that happens in those 48 minutes.

The Rockets followed their "playoff atmosphere" win over San Antonio on Friday with a predictable 110-108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, a defeat Bickerstaff said pointed to the Rockets' "core issue."

"We have to solve the core of our issues," Bickerstaff said. "There's a reason why this team is so up and down. There's a reason why when things are really good, things are good. And when things are bad, things are bad. To a man, starting with me, we have to solve the issue.

"Our issue is doing things right because it's the right thing to do, not because it's going to get me a bucket, not because it's going to get me a shot, not because I get the glory. That's not what this is about. That's what our problem is right now."

Bickerstaff would not elaborate or be more specific, but was clear the Rockets' priorities are not always on winning.

"We played San Antonio last night and we played a wonderful game," he said. "We played a beautiful game on both sides of the ball. We come out here tonight, things aren't easy, things don't go our way and we turn into the ugly Rockets. It's frustrating for me. It's frustrating for all of us.

"Over and over again, we've disrespected the game. Our priorities need to be clear, and I need to do a better job of playing people whose priorities are clear."

Disrespecting the game

Asked what priority his players have had, Bickerstaff said: "Winning is the only priority that matters. That's the message that should be loud and clear."

The pattern was not unfamiliar. Just as in losses on the road in Denver, Brooklyn and Sacramento, the Rockets played as if happy to trade baskets, shoot 3s and hope to get enough to fall to get a win.

They allowed a team that is not as strong as teams the Rockets have beaten to get on an offensive roll that took them through a finishing kick while the Rockets made one of their final 11 shots.

James Harden made that field goal, a 3-pointer, but with 30.8 seconds left, his drive was blocked with the Rockets screaming for a foul. But the problems seemed larger than late-game misses.

"Individually, guys are doing their own thing right now," Harden said. "We're not together all the time. Offensively, defensively, whatever is going on in their head, it's not for the team.

"Guys have to be willing to listen and do what it takes. I'm focused on winning. That's the most important thing."

The Rockets did have a last chance after New Orleans' Tyreke Evans missed a 3 with the Pelicans up two. Harden raced up the floor but was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining, forcing the Rockets to inbound again.

The Rockets never could get a shooter open, with Trevor Ariza finally trying to pass to Dwight Howard at the top of the key. The ball never reached him.

"I feel we all want to win," Ariza said. "(We are) not continuing to do the things it takes, not staying even keel. Continuing to go up and down.

"If you watch basketball, you understand there is winning basketball and losing basketball.

"If you play winning basketball, we're moving the ball, we're flying around for each other. When we're playing losing basketball, we're not doing that."

'Losing basketball'

Even when they were leading Saturday, the Rockets played "losing basketball." They lost the game in the final seconds, but played that way much longer and often before.

"I know the heart of this team," Pat Beverley said. "Everyone in the core of this team wants to succeed and wants to win."

The question is whether they will do what that takes.