"I let my team down," Rose said. "I admit that and I'm not going to hide from that. But I'm not going to do it again."

The Spurs can only hope Rose's actions will match his words. With David Robinson out for Saturday's Game 3 in Seattle, responsibility will fall on Rose to help keep the Spurs from slipping closer to a first-round exit.

"It's tough to say something to someone who's already their own biggest critic," Tim Duncan said, "but Malik has to be a big part of what we do.

"Malik will perform the way he needs to (Saturday). We all have that confidence in him."

Rose also has faith in himself.