Finney-Smith’s ankle surgery sidelines him early for Houston, compounding the Rockets’ depth issue after VanVleet’s ACL tear. With Finney-Smith out, Smith and Eason join Reed Sheppard in bigger early roles, while Adams and Eason’s workloads are carefully managed. The opening lineup around Amen Thompson is unsettled as Udoka weighs length vs. ball handling. Durant and Smith are cited as benchmarks for shooting, underscoring Houston’s need to replace veteran perimeter production fast.