Morey: Overall we were an average team. We want to be a top 10 team

The Houston Rockets talk about how they've moved on from Damian Lillard's buzzer beater that knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round in May. But the shot remains with the Rockets and is one of many motivations for a team determined to do more this season.
''Our focus is getting there, and losing in the first round was disappointing for all of us and still hurts,'' general manager Daryl Morey said of the postseason. ''We don't want to go through that again.''
Houston has made two straight trips to the postseason after a three-year layoff, but the team hasn't advanced to the second round since 2009.
''We learned a lot the whole year,'' Howard said of his first season with the Rockets. ''Especially understanding that each moment of the game counts.''

''Overall we were an average team, we want to be a top-10 team,'' Morey said. ''If we can be a top-10 team on both sides of the ball that's the entry card to compete for a championship.''
The Rockets beefed up their defense by adding Trevor Ariza in an offseason trade with Washington.
''The season is probably going to come down to our defense,'' Morey said. ''We need that to be championship caliber.''