The next opponent of the Rockets is the Pacers, although the Rockets are playing at home, but before the game, the Rockets reporter Jonathan Fagan also brought a bad news, according to the report, in addition to Reggie Bullock may continue to be absent due to illness, the status of the Rockets' forward Tari Eason in this game has become doubtful again.
According to a report by reporter Fagan, Ethan has only a 50% probability of playing in this game because of left calf soreness, and it may only be before the Rockets and the Pacers game that Udoka can decide whether Ethan is likely to play or not. What's even more troubling is that Eason is the Rockets' most efficient player, and if he is not there, the Rockets' forward and interior strength will be greatly reduced.
The Rockets have played a total of 27 regular season games so far, but unfortunately Ethan has only played in 18 of them, and nine of them have been sidelined due to injury. In 18 games, Tari Eason has played an average of 21 minutes per game and can contribute 92 points 71 rebound 1With 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, he shot a whopping 39 from three-point range5%, one of the Rockets' best three-point shooters.
Judging from Ethan's stop-and-go state, Ethan's calf injury seems to have never healed. In the games where Eason is absent, the Rockets always win less and lose more, especially in the game between the Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks a few days ago, the Rockets' interior center Shen Jing was beaten by the Hawks center Okongwu and Capela combined, if Eason was involved in that game, the Rockets would not have lost, let alone be completely blown up by the opponent on the inside.
This is Ethan's role for the Rockets, although he is a very low-key newcomer, but Ethan's contribution to winning in the Rockets can be described as extremely high, even higher than some of the main players, after all, in the previously released Rockets players per 100 rounds net efficiency list, Ethan is a cliff ahead of other Rockets players.
The problem now is that if Ethan plays, he needs to carry the injury to the game, which will affect Ethan's state to some extent. What's more troublesome is that if Ethan plays with an injury for a long time, a small injury will become a major injury, but if Ethan can't play for the Rockets, then Rockets coach Udoka will have one less winning trump card in his hand, and the Rockets' record is closely related to Ethan's non-play.
In order to win more, Coach Udoka must also send Tari Eason in the game, otherwise it will be difficult for the Rockets to win like the Rockets Hawks game. In fact, in everyone's opinion, Eason of the Rockets has an injury, so he should rest a few more games until he recovers from all the injuries before returning to the game. Udoka is also very entangled now, let Ethan take care of his injury, the Rockets' record may decline sharply, or even fall out of the top 8 in the West, don't let Ethan rest to recuperate, the Rockets must bear the risk of Ethan's injury getting worse, so it seems that Coach Udoka is in a dilemma. The health of the players is important, but so is the Rockets' record.