Houston Rockets

Jabari Smith Jr. is taking on more of Houston's rim protection. "It's just on me to go try to protect the rim more," he said at practice, vowing more contests and more help defense near the basket. On his defensive technique: "I feel like it's all coming together."

From the Rockets' practice: Marcus Smart was sick, by a brief, partly garbled account. Ime Udoka said Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams have "no restriction," but some players will miss back-to-backs early in the season while Houston leans on its depth.

"Reed will be a huge part of what we do." Ime Udoka on Reed Sheppard, despite a Rockets backcourt now including Marcus Smart and Fred VanVleet. Sheppard has improved everywhere, especially on defense. Udoka wants a 10-man rotation early, saving some developing players.

Ime Udoka doesn't expect Marcus Smart's preseason edge over Reed Sheppard to last into the regular season: the two "complement each other and can play together." Smart, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason are a defensive unit the Rockets coach keeps "in our back pocket."

"I got more offensive responsibility in those lineups." Amen Thompson says his role grows when the Rockets go to second-unit groups with Tari Eason and Marcus Smart, because he trusts those two to handle the defensive matchups.

Worst in the league in the last 6 seconds of the shot clock, good in the first 6: Ime Udoka says the Rockets aim to play faster and take the first quality shot. They also want more threes, having shot well on few attempts, and passes out to shooters over forced putbacks.

Kevin Durant will not play the Rockets' next game. Ime Udoka said the plan was to shut him down at halftime, but Durant wanted more reps with Fred VanVleet. The bigger aim: cut his minutes after a heavy load last year and "use our depth and not have to rely on him as much."