‘Full strength’ eludes team

OKLAHOMA CITY — Though the Rockets have filled in for the constant rotation changes that have come with injuries and illness, they had hoped the final weeks of the season would bring a chance to get a rotation together and get players accustomed to their roles.

They have not been at full strength since Joe Johnson signed, with Eric Gordon and then Ryan Anderson going out before Johnson missed Tuesday’s game with an illness.

Brandan Wright is out as the Rockets work to strengthen the area around his right knee.

Anderson said he plans to step up his workload to test his sore left hip Wednesday in Milwaukee, hoping to play on the road trip with games Friday in Toronto and Sunday in Dallas. Coach Mike D’Antoni said Johnson could also return on the road trip.

Though the Rockets have the depth to make up for missing players, they lose margin for error with key players out and time to grow accustomed to one another and the changes.

“You want to have some consistency,” forward Luc Mbah a Moute said. “It prepares you for when stuff happens. I think at the end of the day, you want consistency to know how you play, who you play with. So far, this season has been kind of hectic. There is always someone out. At the beginning, Chris (Paul) was out. We’ve been able to fill in with other guys. I want to say it prepares us better. It’s good for us in general.”

With Johnson, Anderson and Wright out Tuesday, Rockets players have missed 96 games with injuries or illness.

“I think we’re still doing pretty well and getting there,” D’Antoni said of getting his revised rotation set. “Hopefully, there will be enough time toward the end. We’ll get these two guys well, hopefully this week, and go from there. There’s a couple final steps we have to make.”