Coming off a loss in Minnesota, the Rockets cannot count on a game against one of last season's playoff opponents to provide the urgency needed with an 11-12 record in the packed Western Conference.

"Last game was the same way," Rockets guard James Harden said.

"We played a playoff (opponent) two days ago," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We just have to get our stuff together and play 48 minutes. We can see signs of, 'OK, we're getting there.' We have a ways to go yet."

Harden said the Rockets' struggles will provide plenty of urgency without reminders of last season's playoffs.

"For us, every game is a playoff atmosphere, a playoff type of game for us," Harden said. "We're behind right now. We have a lot of catching up to do."

The Rockets began Wednesday in 13th in the Western Conference, but with the teams so tightly-bunched, just a game and a half out of a playoff spot, five games from first.

"It makes it better for the teams that struggle early," D'Antoni said of the tight Western Conference race. "But if you struggle all year, you're in trouble.

"It's always been that way. When we were in Phoenix, we were in first and made a trade. By the time we got the person on the floor (Shaquille O'Neal in 2007-08) we were sixth. It's very precarious."

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