"Ever since (he) came back, they've been playing well ... He's been knocking down the jump shot. I can't say we're not used to it or didn't expect it, but he's shooting better than what we kind of expected him to shoot," Brewer said. "We knew he was a guy who can get to the basket, and you have to respect the dribble-drive, but when he's stepping back knocking down deep shots of the glass.

"He's a tough player. And he gets all his teammates involved," Brewer added. "He gets T-Mac (McGrady) the ball in the right situations ... and then he's scoring, so it's another option for his team. He's really playing well, and for their team, they need him to play well. I think it was a different team when he wasn't out there."

TAPEGATE: As threatened, the Rockets really did send a tape — actually, DVD — to the NBA highlighting the Jazz's supposedly overly physical play in Game 4.

"I would say we develop themes of issues we think aren't being officiated correctly," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told the Houston Chronicle. "Then we put together the tape to demonstrate our point. I do believe it helps to work with the league in this way."

Rockets players sounded embarrassed.

"I have never been a fan of sending tape in and complaining," Alston told the Chronicle.

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Contributing: Linda Hamilton
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com