"I think everybody has a lot to play for and coach for," Jeff Van Gundy said on Wednesday. "We're going to play to win. We need to put a lot of pressure on our guys to see if they're just guys who can eat up a lot of minutes like middle relievers or if they can really play in a winning environment.

"I think (with this) being the third year (as Rockets coach), we've had a lot of changeover," Van Gundy said. "What you want to have established is a winning culture and how you do things and how important it is to do the things you're asked to do correctly and right. I think when you have as much changeover as we've had, sometimes that gets lost. You have to make sure everybody has the right amount of intensity and discipline and knowledge so they can play their very best.

"For all of our guys, this is a very important stretch. Even though it may not be reflected in the standings right now, it is (important) for their futures."