PHOENIX - Even with seven players out, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni believed he could keep the players left in his short rotation from playing too many minutes. But with just seven players remaining from the eight that played on Wednesday, he has no flexibility, with the substitutions determined more on the predetermined rotation than anything that happens in the game.
"We can keep the minutes off," D'Antoni said. "Now, I'll get concerned if we get in foul trouble or somebody is laboring. Last game we did play eight guys. Tarik (Black) was the eighth. He played 14 minutes.