Since Oct. 20, 6 of 6 newly listed Rockets sat out their next game, against 65 of 112 league-wide. With Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard carrying Nov. 2 return targets, that history matters for the Celtics game.
Since Oct. 20
By our count, all six Rockets newly given a short-term injury listing missed the team's next game. Across the league, 65 of 112 such players sat the next game, or 58%, with rest days included. In Houston, the tag has worked as a soft out, not a coin flip. The sample is small, but it is a clean one.
Oct. 26-28
Marcus Smart's forearm moved from out on Oct. 26 to a short-term listing on Oct. 27 and back to out on Oct. 28. Alperen Sengun went out with a back injury on Oct. 27. Houston still won both games it played, 120-110 over Atlanta and 132-100 at Milwaukee, which lifted its net rating to a healthy mark.
Oct. 30-31
Smart was cleared Oct. 30 and Sengun on Oct. 31. Both played against Oklahoma City in a 119-98 win. Smart scored 24 on 7-of-10 from three, and Sengun added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Sheppard's back moved from out to a short-term listing and back to out within the same day.
Nov. 1
VanVleet's right knee and Sheppard's back both moved from out to a short-term listing, each with a Nov. 2 return target. By our count, Houston has lost 562 player minutes to injury since opening night, 14th most among 30 teams. Steven Adams, out at 22.8 minutes a game, is the only player out today.
Nov. 2
Boston arrives at 4-1 with a +9.8 net rating, though Mitchell Robinson and Devin Carter are both out. Houston is 6-1 with a +12.3 mark over seven games. If the first six listings are any guide, plan for a thinner backcourt, and watch whether Smart's 11.8 points a game over four games holds as his role grows.
Will Fred VanVleet play against the Celtics on Nov. 2?
He carries a Nov. 2 return target for his right knee, but by our count all six Rockets newly given a short-term listing since Oct. 20 missed the next game.
How often do short-term injury listings mean a missed game?
League-wide, 65 of 112 players newly listed since Oct. 20 missed their team's next game, or 58%. For Houston, it was 6 of 6.
