After winning their first game of the season, the Houston Rockets can now turn their attention to finding their preferred style of play and improving cohesion. Today, they will be tested by the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto is 1-3 on the season. After a surprise beatdown of the Atlanta Hawks in their first game, they have lost three straight to the Bucks, Mavericks, and Spurs. Against the Spurs, they were outplayed in the first half but stayed engaged and never really let the Spurs run away until late. Toronto has a number of good young players and some above-average vets, and that’s how they can beat Houston. On the other hand, if the Rockets can control the glass against a disinterested Raptors squad, they should take care of business.
Note: this game has a funky start time (5:30pm CT). I’m not sure why (the World Series, perhaps?). But it continues the on-again off-again trend of Houston’s games in Toronto being at odd hours. At least this one isn’t an 11am tip, I guess.
Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)
The Line (as of this post)
Looking ahead because we can
Saturday night in Boston against the Celtics