His season had been ended by a stubbornly strained left Achilles' tendon. He would soon return to the free-agent waters. His one season experiment with the Rockets had been declared over and he did not want to make any declarations about whether he would ever wear their stripes again.

But the more he spoke of his season with the Rockets, and more specifically about how it ended, the more he seemed to grow convinced that he was ready to call Houston home.

He had spent his three seasons with the Clippers looking forward to the end and the freedom it would bring. His one season with the Rockets was always intended to bridge last summer's frustrating free-agent season and another try next summer.

But though he could not say how his next dip into the free agency pool would finish, he decided it would begin with him trying to re-up with the Rockets.

"I haven't come to that point yet," Taylor said when initially asked if he had a preference.

"It's a good situation for me here. It went well for me this year. This will probably be my first choice. In fact, it is my first choice. I love the people, the coaching staff, I love the people in the front office. As a free agent, this would probably be the best spot for me. It's an ideal situation for me."

Taylor was placed on the injured list and will miss the rest of the season. But he said overall, his one season in Houston had been a success for him and that even the Rockets' insistence that he is careful with the injury has made him feel more positive about returning.

"It's something I never had to deal with," he said. "Seven games will probably be the most consecutive games I ever missed in my career. The decision, I at first really didn't really agree with. But the longer I thought about it, the better I understood.

"I got to sit down with Rudy (Tomjanovich) and he was really making it clear. He said I didn't have anything to prove. I don't want to go into a game and make it worse. He made it clear that the organization was looking at my best interests. They just want me to get healthy. It made me feel good.

"After being with the Clippers for three years, seeing the feelings the organization has for the players really helped me out a lot. I think it went well, better than I expected early on. I got better and fit better in the system. I found out the system did help me."

Taylor averaged 13 points and just 5.5 rebounds. The Rockets would like to upgrade those numbers by winning Chris Webber's hand. But they also believe Taylor can do more with more time with them.

More than just Plan B, the Rockets might move into Plan A cautiously if they believe it could cost them Taylor.

Taylor has often said he understands the Rockets' interest in Webber. But Tomjanovich used his meeting with Taylor to emphasize that Taylor fits neatly into his plans.

"I just love that Mo wanted to play even though he was not feeling great," Tomjanovich said. "He went out and did a good job. It just shows he's the kind of guy that's not going to let something hold him out. I just think the smart thing now is to be safe.

"We love what he's given to this team. He doesn't have to prove anything else to us. I think it's been a real good mix, not only with the basketball, but the guys on our team. I think he's really happy, and we are too. I'd hate to see something happen to him if he did get hurt that he wouldn't be ready until this time next year."

Tomjanovich did not say where Taylor would be next season, but it would not come as any surprise if he is right where he was this season.

Personnel File

NO DOUBTING THOMAS: When Kenny Thomas stepped in for Maurice Taylor in the starting lineup, the Rockets moved on to their fourteenth starting lineup. Of the starting fives that have been together for more than one game, the current starting lineup of Hakeem Olajuwon, Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Shandon Anderson and Thomas has the best record, 4-2, going into Tuesday's game.

Thomas averaged 12 points and 10.3 rebounds in his three games as a starter since Taylor moved to the injured list with a strained right Achilles' tendon.

"Basically, I get around the ball faster and I'm productive faster because I know the minutes are going to be there," Thomas said. "I'm relaxed, anyway. I just try to do what I know how to do and do it well. I feel like I get more opportunities."

Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he has been happy with Thomas' play since returning to the starting lineup, but not only for his scoring.

"He's doing very well," Tomjanovich said. "He's doing the things he's done all year. I feel good about that position.

"Kenny can do a lot of things on a basketball court. The thing that's been exciting has been his defense. He's pretty good at holding his man off. He has a physical presence. I don't know that we can see it. But I know they feel his strength. He has a toughness, a meanness. He takes some pride that 'you can't come in here' that works."

MISFIRING: Guard Cuttino Mobley has struggled with his shot since he was named Player of the Week for the period ending March 18. He started well, making 11 of 15 shots in his next game, at Sacramento. But he has not made more than half his shots in a game since.

In the 10 games since his 30-point game in Sacramento, Mobley has made 58 of 148 shots (39.2 percent). His toughest shooting game might have been the 10th of that streak, when he made just 2 of 11 attempts in Utah, missing several wide-open shots in the first half.

Noteworthy

BALL CONTROL: If the final week of the season will be used to work on areas of the game, the Rockets already seem to have made huge strides in one of the areas that had been one of their most glaring shortcomings -- turnovers.

In the Rockets' last eight games prior to Tuesday, the Rockets had been averaging just 11.6 turnovers, reducing their season average to just 14.7, 12th best in the league. Most of the season, the Rockets ranked among the bottom third of the league in turnovers.

"It's the first stat I look at after every game," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. "We've cut way back this year. I think we have more chemistry. We're getting more shots this way, too."

"It's just time together," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "That's a stat that is just a mistake stat. Nobody wants mistakes."

CLASS DISMISSED: The Rockets rarely lose their confidence. But hit with all of the veteran precision and gamesmanship of the Jazz, they lost their composure and the game.

After losing a ninth-consecutive game in the Delta Center, the hope was that the young Rockets might have learned something valuable in that experience.

"Playing these guys is a good experience for our young guys," said forward Matt Bullard, one of two Rockets players to have won with the Rockets in the Delta Center. "They try to frustrate you. You have to learn to keep your composure through all the bumps and picks and everything else and not get angry when they get a lot of calls their way."

QUOTEWORTHY: "That's what I was saying. If you are healthy, don't talk about how old, talk about how someone is performing. What I was saying, with them (the Jazz), that's not even discussed. It is not an issue. Why with me?" -- Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon