If the Rockets want to be a playoff team this season, they're going to have to defend like a playoff team.

They are the third-most prolific offensive team in the league, but are battling to stay in playoff contention because of a defense in the bottom 10 in opposing scoring, field-goal percentage and points per possession.

The Rockets have won the last 15 times they held an opponent below 100 points, with those foes averaging 89.8 points and 41.4 percent shooting. That includes wins this week over the Suns and Bobcats amid signs the Rockets have begun to put together a defense that won't embarrass their offense.

"Going off the last two games, it's getting better," Chuck Hayes said. "Our effort has always been there in the last month on the defensive end. These last two games, we've really taken some strides and taken pride in our defense."

"We don't need to be a great defensive team. We just need to get stops when they're needed — late in the game, to stop a run, at the end of the shot clock," Hayes added. "If we get the stops at the crucial parts of the game, it should be OK to win. But to be a great defensive team in this late playoff run? We are who we are."