Rockets forward Tari Eason is nearing a return from the leg injury that has sidelined him for the first two weeks of the 2022/23 season, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). According to Feigen, head coach Ime Udoka said on Monday that Eason will practice on Tuesday and could be cleared to play in Wednesday’s game vs. the Lakers.
The second-year forward missed the Rockets’ final three preseason games and has been out for the club’s first six regular season contests due to a stress reaction in his left leg. Eason is one of Houston’s stronger defenders, so the team – which is riding a three-game winning streak – could use benefit from his presence on the wing.
“He’s a guy that kind of comes up with everything all the time,” Udoka said of Eason last week. “A great offensive rebounder. Just some grit and toughness that he brings. I think that physicality, obviously, is beneficial for our group. He does some things that are very instinctual and natural for him that we stressed.”
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- While he’s known for his defense, offseason addition Dillon Brooks is providing the Rockets with solid offensive play in the early going this season, Feigen writes in another subscriber-only story for The Houston Chronicle. Brooks has posted a scorching hot .593/.565/.938 shooting line through his first six games in Houston.
- In his second game with the Grizzlies on Sunday, Bismack Biyombo was the team’s starting center, replacing Xavier Tillman (knee) and logging 26 minutes. The big man helped Memphis secure its first win of the season by putting up eight points, 11 rebounds four assists, and three blocked shots. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal has the story on Biyombo’s instant impact in the middle.
- The Grizzlies signed Biyombo to his one-year, $5MM contract using a portion of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. The Grizzlies also could have signed Biyombo using a disabled player exception if they were granted one for Steven Adams‘ season-ending knee injury, but there has been no confirmation yet that the team has been approved for a DPE for Adams.
- The Spurs have a 110.9 defensive rating when Victor Wembanyama is on the court compared to a disastrous 129.4 mark when he sits, a remarkable split for a rookie, albeit in a small sample. Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link) and Kelly Iko of The Athletic take a closer look at the impact that the No. 1 pick is having on defense for San Antonio.
Full credit to Brooks, tbh. I was not a believer at all that he’d be a good fit in Houston or take to a less ball-dominant role, but he’s really slimmed down his shot diet and gotten more selective. He’s not going to continue this pace, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be league average or slightly better from an efficiency standpoint come the end of the year. That plus his defense is valuable, plenty to make him worth his contract.
Let’s see how Houston does vs elite teams, but the early returns are good. The kids are playing better with Brooks/FVV and Udoka running the show, much better looking team than last year. They’re playing with a plan.
FWIW I really didn’t like Brooks, but he’s playing well. Doing his job on D chipping in on the off without chucking up terrible selfish shots….. *cough* VanVleet *cough*…….And most importantly he’s so far keeping his jawing & idiot actions to a minimum.
Udoka has clearly got his style going, and I agree we’ll see against the Nuggets/Celtics of the world. But RN I’m impressed. I just wish Fred would move the ball more instead of eating clock looking for shots(his high assist return is deceptively decent, but he’s chucking up bricks when other guys are open).
I particularly enjoyed watching Brooks get put on skates by Curry last week.
That was one of the best offensive moves I’ve seen in a long time. But to defend the kid, unlike Steph, Brooks actually had a winning +/- in that game and even kept Steph the 6-16 shooting. It was just the Rockets falling apart and Stephs 4 dagger 3s down the stretch. Otherwise it was a good game for a team learning on the job.
Wonder what that says about Jenkins, allowing Brooks to do whatever he wanted offensively? Because, clearly, you can get him to buy into better shot selection.
I get that the Grizzlies weren’t exactly deep with offensive talent, so some of that could have been out of necessity. Still, it’s not a great look, especially in light of the team’s handling of Ja. Seems like a lack of structure.
It could have also been that Brooks wasn’t necessarily willing to until he got kicked in the teeth in the playoffs and the reports of the Grizzlies not being willing to bring him back at all. Could have just been a reality check.
Ja is his own issue. He’s been a problem child from the second wealth and fame got to his head. His issues go farther and deeper than the gun crap that got him suspended. Don’t forget the ongoing lawsuit/investigation that’s happening because he allegedly beat the sh*t out of a teenager and threatened him with a gun because the kid said some mean things.
I guess but the team already had Eason who is both a better shooter and defender than Brooks. Eason just doesn’t have Brooks bad boy reputation. Eason can be a star if he isn’t blocked by Brooks. That said nice start.
Tari is a stud, but he’s not there yet. He’ll deffo be something in the league. I thought he deserved more reps than Jabari last year. But I don’t think either he or Brooks will stifle him.
He’ll take Tates 6th man role for now learn to be better with the 2nd unit then eventually he’ll force his way into the starting line up. This team really has too much young talent!!
With Brooks starting at SF. And Whitmore there. I sure wouldn’t mind Knicks looking at Eason. He’s a real SF with size. Who’d look good in a Knicks uni.
He’d give them an actual PF as a backup to Randle, also, instead of over-relying on Hart. Solid jumper and good offensive rebounding to add to his natural, expected skills at the 3/4. What do the Rockets ask in return, though?
I’d take Cam if they want to keep Eason. My point is. Brooks is signed for years. Udoka has been brought in to win now. Cam can wait and grow behind Brooks. So they can afford to move Eason. Grimes is from Houston. A HS legend. He can backup Green. Plus a #1 pick …. I’d do it.
Think the Rockets have sorta established Eason as one of their core young players alongside Green, Sengun, Smith and Thompson. Would be strange to deal him unless it’s in a package for a star.