SAN ANTONIO - When the Rockets and Spurs struggled through road trips this week, they did not have the influence of their oldest, most-experienced players to help guide them with Nene and Pau Gasol out with injuries.
Both have been around at home games, but influence can be limited when veterans cannot play.
"I don't think players can have a voice when they're not playing," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "The guys playing look at them like 'oh yeah, right. You have to be on the floor and playing to have a big voice. You can help kids along and stuff, but your main guys will have that voice.