Steven Adams is set to be sidelined for at least a week or two, according to Ime Udoka after Houston’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Udoka gave the update in his postgame press conference, saying, “Marcus is day-to-day, game-to-game. We’re hoping to have him back, possibly next game. Steven will be out for at least a week or two.“
That timeline puts Adams’ return somewhere between the Celtics game on November 2 and the Nuggets game on November 9.
With Adams out, the Rockets are left with a bigger question about what they can count on moving forward: Can they trust him to be a reliable piece of the rotation? It’s the third season in which he’s missed time because of injury.
The situation also puts a spotlight on Houston’s roster decisions. The team has leaned heavily on a 33-year-old Adams, and if it didn’t trust Clint Capela to handle a similar role, then Rafael Stone would have had another chance to add a backup center at last year’s trade deadline or during the offseason.
At the same time, this isn’t something that can be solved in a snap. The NBA doesn’t work like NBA 2 K, where a trade can just be tossed together and made real immediately. There are contract issues and logistics that make these moves more complicated than fans often assume.
Still, Adams has been a player worth having around, and his absence is a tough one for both Houston and for him personally. Injuries are simply the worst part of the game.
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