Rockets Announce Preseason plans,Durant Among Confirmed Starters
HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets will begin their preseason schedule Monday against the Atlanta Hawks with several key players set to see action,though with varying degrees of participation. Steven Adams is expected to play Monday but will rest Wednesday against the Utah Jazz as a precaution following his return from a long-term injury, mirroring a similar approach taken with Jabari smith Jr. last season. Dorian Finney-Smith will not play in any preseason games as he continues recovery from offseason ankle surgery.
Notably, kevin Durant will be available for all preseason games. The Rockets have already identified four players as penciled-in starters: Durant, Amen thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün. Coach Ime Udoka indicated the fifth starting spot will be rotated throughout the preseason.
“Obviously with the lineups, the changes that we made, and Fred going down, we have some new starters in there playing together for the first time in a real game,” Udoka said. “They look good in practice, and (we’ve) had every type of lineup and rotation in practice, but to see them against somebody else in live game action will be good.”
The Rockets plan to utilize more realistic lineups and rotations in their final two preseason games – October 14 at the Pelicans and October 16 at the Hawks – as dress rehearsals for the regular season. Monday’s game will focus on evaluating adjustments made following point guard Fred VanVleet’s ACL injury and assessing player chemistry and new play implementation.
