The Houston Rockets are trying to keep their perfect start rolling, and the rematch with the Atlanta Hawks comes with one key name on the injury report: Marcus Smart.
Houston is 3-0 to open the season and already handled the Hawks once a few days ago, leading for much of the night before weathering a late push and finishing the job. Now the teams meet again, and the Rockets are again dealing with availability questions in the backcourt.
Smart missed that first game while managing a forearm injury, and he’s listed as questionable for the rematch. That makes his status one of the main things to watch as Houston gets ready for another crack at Atlanta.
The Rockets were also without Fred VanVleet in the previous meeting, leaving them short on guard help. Getting Smart back would give Houston another defensive presence who can also space the floor from deep, which is exactly the kind of impact he’s known for. His ability to affect a game with his defense is a big part of why Houston wanted him in the offseason.
VanVleet’s return would matter just as much. Kevin Durant pointed to what the Rockets look like when both guards are available after Houston’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.
“Last year we started in our backcourt, Twin (Amen Thompson) and Josh Okogie. And a lot of the time those guys are being left at the 3-point line.
And their men are helping guard guys in the paint. So when we've got Fred and Marcus Smart out there who can keep the defense honest at the 3-point line and then Twin just roaming around just doing everything.
Grabbing offensive rebounds, making assists, dunks, floaters, everything,” Durant said.
If Houston can get both Smart and VanVleet on the floor at home against Atlanta, it gives the Rockets a much tougher lineup to deal with.
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