The Rockets are about to give the Mavericks an early test, and Dallas coach Dusty May already sounds ready for a tricky one.
Houston and Dallas are set to meet later this week in Macao as part of the NBA China Games series, and the matchup could offer an early glimpse of Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg sharing the floor. Irving is working his way back from a season-ending ACL injury, while Flagg is entering his sophomore year in the NBA.
May didn’t sugarcoat what Houston brings to the table. Per Dallas Sports Journal, he said the Rockets can force problems in a hurry.
“Well, they’re going to expose some things because of the way they play and how hard they play and their athleticism and their switchability, but also then their skill on offense will challenge some parts defensively. So it will be a fact-finding mission.
We want to win every drill. We want to win every shooting competition.
But winning is not going to be the primary objective.”
Houston comes in after a 52-30 season, and the roster gives the Rockets plenty to sort through before the games count. Fred VanVleet is expected to play in at least one of the two Macao contests, and his return is one of the biggest storylines to watch. VanVleet, like Irving, was sidelined for the 2025-2026 season because of an ACL injury, though he has been a full participant in training camp.
Even with VanVleet expected back as the starting point guard, that job is far from locked in. His status is the most vulnerable part of Houston’s projected lineup, especially with the team likely managing his workload to avoid another setback. The 32-year-old also saw his scoring drop to 14.1 points per game.
And the Rockets have options pushing from behind. Marcus Smart, Reed Sheppard and Bruce Thornton are all in the mix, with Sheppard looking like the strongest candidate to force his way into a bigger role. The 22-year-old averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals across 82 games last season.
Ime Udoka may not have a ton of room to shuffle the top of the roster, though. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson all have the kind of upside that could put them in All-Star conversations in 2027, which leaves the Rockets with more questions about the bench than the starting five.
That second unit could still be a useful part of the preseason evaluation, especially if Bogdan Bogdanovic and Steven Adams are involved. For Houston, this trip is about more than one exhibition game. It’s a chance to sort through lineup decisions, test different combinations and start answering the offseason questions that still linger.
In Other News...
Ime Udoka Faces A Pressure Houston Fans Can Feel Growing
Ime Udoka enters this season with the kind of scrutiny that comes with coaching a team that is expected to win now. ESPN recently placed him near the top of its pressure list for NBA coaches, and it is easy to see why in Houston. The Rockets have reached the playoffs multiple times under Udoka, but the group has yet to get beyond the first round, even with a roster that has been loaded up with talent and a long-term extension already in place for the coach.
Houston has also made clear it is done waiting around, investing heavily in the core while expecting cleaner offense and sharper execution when games tighten up. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson give the Rockets plenty to work with, but the pressure around the group only grows if the spacing still clogs up and the late possessions remain shaky. For Udoka, the next step is no longer about simply getting the Rockets back into the bracket. It is about proving this version can handle the moments that decide whether the season becomes progress or disappointment. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Using This Trip To Answer One Big Roster Question
The Rockets made a small roster move this week, waiving two-way center Rafael Castro as training camp and preseason evaluations continue to shape the edges of the roster. It is the kind of decision that says as much about the teams internal confidence as it does about Castros standing, especially with Houston already leaning on a crowded frontcourt and still sorting through how best to fill out its developmental pipeline.
For a team trying to balance present-day depth with long-term flexibility, the open two-way slot now becomes the next little decision worth watching. There are multiple names in play, and the Rockets have some options already in the building if they want to look inward, but this is the sort of choice that can quietly reveal how they view the back end of the roster before the season hardens. [Read more 🡒]