"As the Rockets gathered Tuesday after practice, forward Luis Scola — the team's oldest and longest-tenured player — delivered a message more meaningful than the usual group shouts of "Rockets!"

"Shut the … up and play!" Scola said.

Guard Kyle Lowry followed that directive, refusing comment a day after saying coaches failed to "adjust" to Minnesota.

The Rockets did say, however, that Scola's message was about more than a few postgame quotes after a bad loss. They cited finger-pointing on the court during the game and "chitchat" during practice the next day."