Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks preseason game preview

SB Nation

The Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks will play for the second time of this preseason. These teams won’t play each other until late January, so it makes sense for them to want to schedule each other. Obviously,

geographically they’re pretty close but there’s also there’s a lack of worry about giving an opponent an advantage when you don’t play them for three months.

There’s been much discourse about how good Jabari Smith Jr. has looked in the preseason. He was stellar against the Pelicans, and any improvement he makes this season will make the contract extension that Houston gave him look fantastic.

What’s more, his jersey was retired last night at his high school, which is a huge accomplishment. Seemingly the entire team was there to celebrate with him, which says a lot about this team and how they feel about each other.