With the Rockets off to a 5-0 start and the Comcast Sports Network bankruptcy case at last seeming near its end, team owner Leslie Alexander took a break between Wednesday's court date and Thursday's Toyota Center game with the San Antonio Spurs to discuss matters ranging from coaching to television carriage and from last offseason to the next postseason.

Q: What is your reaction to the team's fast start, and what we should take from it?

A: Obviously, we're a very good team. Time will tell how good we are, how good is good. When we play the really top teams, we'll see what happens.

Q: Do you feel redemption following the criticism you and the team received in the offseason?

A: I don't want to answer it that way, but I think we made good moves. I think (Trevor) Ariza was a real good move to come here. He's helped the team in many ways. I think (Kostas) Papanikolaou has helped us dramatically. On both sides, he's been really good. And the players who were here last year are improving. I don't think we diminished the team the way people think we have.

Q: How difficult was the offseason - nearly getting Chris Bosh, making the decision not to match Chandler Parsons' offer sheet? How difficult was that for you?

A: It was a very difficult offseason. There were big decisions that really didn't go our way. It was tough. It was tough going through it and hoping you'd be able to rebound and have a really good team. I liked the moves that we made. And we still have flexibility to make other moves, which I believe is important.

Q: So what do you do with that flexibility?

A: I can't tell you that. I don't know. It takes two teams to make a move. We'll see.

Q: The first decision of the offseason was on the first day, when you brought back Kevin McHale for his fourth year. How do you feel about that decision and the idea he is now a lame duck in the final season of his contract?

A:I think the team is playing really well, and he's done a very good job. I like the way the team is playing. We are defending better. Obviously, our stars are playing very well. Everything looks better when you shoot so well, but they're doing a very good job.

Q: Do the Rockets have to succeed in the postseason for him and his staff to be back?

A: We don't judge people like that. We judge by how good a job we think people have done during the year.

Q: Are you happy with your front office?

A: Yes. Nobody is perfect. Every decision does not work. I do like the way they work, the way we arrive at those decisions. I think we have very good people.

Q: Several of your players - James Harden, Francisco Garcia, Kostas Papanikolaou and Donatas Motiejunas - played in the World Cup and other international events, and you've had many players on national teams over the years. How do you feel about their participating in those events in the offseason?

A: Country first. I've always felt that. Country first.

Q: How do you feel about the resolution of the Comcast case?

A: I'm thrilled that it's over. I'm thrilled that everybody in Houston who has DirectTV and AT&T, as well as Comcast, will be able to see the games. Especially, it's very important for the franchise, even long after I'm gone, for the kids in town to be able to watch the games. That's who your next fan base is going to be. When kids watch when they're 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, they become your next diehard Rockets fans for life, even if they don't live in the city. It's very important to me for that to occur.

Q: Do you regret the network endeavor?

A: I don't regret the endeavor. I regret the problems that we had. I like the idea. I still like it. Now we'll have the games on for everybody.

Q: You were co-owner of a business that declared bankruptcy. Is that a failure?

A: It's business. It's not like losing, because you move on. Now we're going to be able to bring the games to everybody. That's how business goes sometimes. I still like the concept.

Q: If you could make a change, if (NBA Commissioner) Adam Silver said he would make a change of your choosing, what would it be?

A: I really can't answer that because I haven't ever thought of it that way. I do talk to Adam. I would rather he would hear anything I thought of from me directly first. (Alexander was barred from discussing anything that could be considered related to collective bargaining, including future salary-cap structures.) One thing I would like would be a time limit on replays. I don't like the delays. I like the game to keep moving. Put a clock on it. If you can't reach a decision in two minutes, the call on the court stands.

Q: Would you like coaches to have challenges as in football?

A: No. Again, that would delay the game.

Q: This is your 22nd season as Rockets owner, and it has been 20 years since the second championship. How difficult has it been going from those highs to so few playoff wins since?

A: I'll phrase it this way: In the 22 years I've owned the team, there have only been two losing seasons.

Q: How much of that is because you have chosen not to rebuild by bottoming out and chasing the best possible draft position?

A: Losing is very distasteful. I don't like watching my team lose. Also, we've had 20 winning seasons, but injuries probably cost one or both of the losing seasons and probably cost more than that.

Q: What do you expect of this season?

A:We're off to a fantastic start. There is a lot of enthusiasm. It's just great for the team, the city and the fans. It's just terrific.

Q: Are you contenders?

A: I think we are. Time will tell, but right now I think we are.