Bickerstaff livid after Rockets' loss to Pelicans: 'We've disrespected the game'

Rookie NBA head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had some strong words after his Houston Rockets fell to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, the team's second loss in three games.

"We've disrespected the game," Bickerstaff said after the 110-108 defeat, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. "Our priorities need to be clear. I need to do a better job of playing people whose priorities are clear."

The Rockets turned the ball over with less than a second remaining to seal the loss, but were outshot and outrebounded over the course of the game.

"I feel we all want to win," forward Trevor Ariza said. "If you watch basketball, you understand there is winning basketball and losing basketball ... if you play winning basketball, we're moving the ball, we're flying around for each other."

Western Conference finalists last year, the Rockets are hanging around the .500 mark this season and playing mostly uninspired basketball. Bickerstaff is 12-9 since taking over after Kevin McHale was fired on Nov. 18.

Center Dwight Howard continues to take the brunt of criticism, seeing his numbers fall off as he shoots down rumors of discontent in Houston.

"We have to solve the core of our issues," Bickerstaff said. "There's a reason why this team is so up and down. There's a reason why when things are really good, things are good. And when things are bad, things are bad."