Tonight, the Houston Rockets get their first schedule advantage game of the season. The Boston Celtics played yesterday, but it was a matinee so they probably arrived in Houston before it got late.
This is a matchup of a 6-1 team against a 5-1 team. Both teams came into the season with…lower expectations than what they’ve achieved so far. Boston obviously traded Jaylen Brown in the offseason for Paul George, who is actually playing really well this season and probably will continue to do so as long
as he stays healthy.
It’s early so Small Sample Size Alert is in effect, but the Celtics are 15th in offensive efficiency and 22nd on defense. Remember that at this point last season, the Rockets were the best 3-point shooting team in the league. For now, Houston is tops on defense and 11th on defense. Knowing Ime Udoka -coached teams (as both of these fanbases do), you would expect those to move closer to their normal places in the next few weeks.
Houston’s job tonight will be limiting Jayson Tatum, George, and Boston’s array of above-average role players, including one of the best role players in the league, Derrick White. Payton Pritchard had a terrible shooting game in Orlando yesterday, so expect him to go absolutely bonkers. Mitchell Robinson could be back tonight, which makes rebounding a priority. Robinson and Steven Adams (out again tonight) are probably the two best offensive rebounders in the NBA.
Tip-off
7:30pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Clint Capela: GTD
Steven Adams: OUT
Reed Sheppard: GTD
Celtics
Mitchell Robinson: GTD
Devin Carter: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
HOU -5.5
Check here for updates
Schedule Advantage Counter
Rockets: 1
Opponents: 2
Looking ahead because we can
Wednesday night at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves
