For a month, the Rockets have spoken of the need for a fast start.

Speaking of the new ball, they said they needed to adjust to it quickly to get off to a fast start.

Asked about their many new faces, they said they had to learn about one another rapidly to get off to a fast start.

Asked about everything from training camp in Austin to free throw shooting in Orlando, they brought up their quest for a fast start.

This could have been no more than a rallying cry to get the players through the rigors of the preseason. It is no revelation: Most teams prefer to start well. But it is the Rockets' fixation with the topic that has stood out.

"I think we have the team to make things happen right away," Tracy McGrady said last week. "That gives us confidence going into the season."

Now the preseason is over. The start approaches. Suddenly, that fast start idea seems far more daunting.

"It's going to be a test," guard Rafer Alston said. "We're playing against teams that are playoff-caliber teams, and one that is a championship-caliber team (Dallas on Saturday at Toyota Center). The test for us comes early. I think we prepared ourselves for that by having a great training camp and preseason.

"It's a lot for a team with a lot of new guys, but also, we're on a team that has a chance to contend. We're going to have to face these sorts of teams at some point. For us, if we can face them now with a healthy group, this could say a lot about us."

The Rockets open against the host Utah Jazz, another team considered a solid playoff contender now that it is over last season's injuries. For a home opener, they face the Western Conference champion Mavericks, then go on a three-game trip starting with the Hornets in the first of their six home games in New Orleans this season.

Rough stretch

Beginning with the Mavericks, the Rockets will play four games in five nights. In the first five games of the season, they have four road games. And once that swing and a home game against the Knicks are over, the Rockets will take on the Heat, Spurs, Bulls and Pistons.

If they get off to a "fast start" through all that, they would emerge not just with expert opinions about the championship contenders - they would be considered one themselves.

"Schedule plays a part in it," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We don't have any directional schools. If we had Southeastern Utah, I'd feel better than playing Utah.

"You'd like to get out to a good start, give yourself a cushion so if you run into a bad stretch, you're able to withstand it. And yet, all 82 (games) are equal in importance.

"It's not a false motivational tool. It's something you'd like to do. It's not as if we figured out this formula, starting off good. Usually, if you start out good, it means you are pretty good."

The Rockets went 6-11 to start 2004-05, then improved to 9-11. Last season, they limped to a 3-11 start and were 8-12 after 20 games.

Both seasons were set back by injuries. In 2004-05, point guards Bob Sura, Tyronn Lue and Charlie Ward were either out or playing with injuries. Last season, McGrady was hurt in the first regular-season practice; Alston went out after eight games.

This season, there are no significant injuries, though Bonzi Wells is still working his way into shape.

New names to know

The challenge for the Rockets could be starting quickly while still getting accustomed to a revamped roster. The team will have two new starters, Shane Battier and Kirk Snyder, and likely one rookie, Steve Novak, in the rotation.

"I'm a new guy, but I think I worked pretty hard to acclimate myself to the offense and defense and all the guys," Battier said. "I don't want us being new or being inexperienced to be an excuse. It's a cop-out.

"We've shown spurts in the preseason that we looked pretty good," Battier added."We haven't put together a full game yet. We still have a lot of things to work on. No one has their full complement of plays and full rotations they want to get into, either. If you can be a little better than your opponent that night, especially early on, you can steal a few and get yourself off to a good start."