The NBA preseason is already underway. Houston Rockets fans will have to wait for their team’s first outing on October 6th, though. The Rockets will play the Atlanta Hawks in Houston. Unfortunately, the game will not be most analyzed for the fit and progression of its new big three. Instead, it will be how they deal with their absences. One key, season-long absence of Fred VanVleet has been widely discussed. That isn’t where the Rockets’ injury report ends, though. The franchise may have a grueling season ahead.
Rockets Preseason Opener Injury Report is Concerning
The Houston Rockets’ title chances have already been rocked by the expected season-long absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet. Their chances of upsetting last season’s title winners on opening night are expected to be affected by at least one other absence.
The Rockets will play the Oklahoma City Thunder to tip off the season proper on October 21st. They will very likely be doing so without free agent acquisition Dorian Finney-Smith. Currently, he is listed as a game-time decision on the injury report. However, even with an optimistic estimated return date of October 21st, the Rockets will not be enjoying his services in preseason.
Finney-Smith had ankle surgery over the offseason. His availability to start the season was already widely speculated on when he was signed. A few missed preseason games would hardly seem to matter then. But his absence will contribute to the mystery around a starting lineup that is very much in flux.
Rockets Starting Lineup
Finney-Smith is just one of several players who could be bumped up to a regular starting spot because of the VanVleet injury. The teams’ stars, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun, are a versatile group who could be complemented in various ways. Jabari Smith Jr. is essentially guaranteed to be a part of that. The six-foot-eleven stretch big did come off the bench for several games towards the end of last season. However, the Rockets have since swapped two starters, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, for one, Durant. Not only is that a significant scoring talent upgrade, but it also clears the way for Smith to return as a regular starter.
Now, though, after the VanVleet injury, the final starting spot will have to be earned. Six-foot-two sophomore guard Reed Sheppard is the obvious choice and will certainly get opportunities in the role. He had opportunities in lesser roles last season and couldn’t find the consistency to hold anything down. Rockets fans are hoping for an offseason leap. Short of that, he may quickly slide into a backup role.
Aaron Holiday would be the next obvious choice, considering he’s the only other guard on the roster. But head coach Ime Udoka‘s track record suggests a leaning toward Finney-Smith. Between Durant, Thompson, and Sengun, the starting line-up should have enough “scorers”. There isn’t anybody on the roster who can replace VanVleet’s ball handling and passing anyway. So Finney-Smith’s three-point shooting and nominal spacing are as good as anything else available. Most importantly, as far as Udoka is likely to be concerned, Finney-Smith is the most versatile defender.
Will Sheppard Be Available?
Still, in preseason at least, fans could expect Sheppard to get the starting nod. That is, if he’s available. At the time of writing, Sheppard is also listed as a game-time decision on the Rockets’ injury report by ESPN. However, the comment is from July 21st relating to the Summer League. His estimated return projects him as available, and there’s been no reference to an injury as recently as media day. If it’s a mistake, hopefully, Rockets fans can be allowed to breathe easy, and it will be amended soon. The Rockets will certainly be hoping the youngster doesn’t miss out on these precious few, low-stakes opportunities to test his fit in the starting lineup.
The Last Word
When the Rockets built the jumbo-sized roster the way they did, they essentially gambled on VanVleet’s availability. That was always likely to bite them at some point in the season. They rolled snake-eyes before the first game, and now they’ll be trying to extract the venom all season long. The Rockets will also have an aging Durant, concerns about Tari Eason and Steven Adams‘ availability in back-to-backs, and the normal wear and tear of the regular season. Unfortunately, the Rockets’ absence-defined pre-season opener may be a portent of the season to come. As far as Houston Rockets fans are concerned, though, it’ll just be good to watch some basketball again.
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