Houston Rockets' Last Two Preseason Games Should Tell Us More About the Rotation

The Houston Rockets recently secured a 140-127 victory over the Utah Jazz and have been on a break for several days, highlighting that preseason games typically involve minimal focus on statistics and records as teams employ basic strategies and limit playing time for key players.

In their win against the Jazz, Kevin Durant, despite his extensive preseason experience, led the offense effectively, showcasing strong chemistry with Alperen Sengun, suggesting they could form a formidable duo for the upcoming season. The entire starting five scored in double digits and shot over 50% from the field, largely due to Durant's presence, though they only played partial minutes with simple offensive sets.

During the first preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks, Durant was rested entirely, Sengun missed the second half, and no starter exceeded 26 minutes, with only Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith playing over 20 minutes, while all active players saw action. In the second game, Durant made his debut, and all starters played into the third quarter with over 20 minutes each, indicating a gradual increase in their involvement.

The Rockets plan to ramp up starters' minutes and adopt a rotation similar to the regular season in their final two preseason games against the New Orleans Pelicans and a rematch with the Hawks, as coach Ime Udoka intends to use these as dress rehearsals for opening night. This shift will likely reduce the number of players used from 14 in the first two games to around eight or nine, with starters expected to play into the fourth quarter regardless of the score.

The team is set to resume play by traveling to Birmingham, Alabama, to face the New Orleans Pelicans, continuing their preseason preparations.