5 Questions Ahead of Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets tonight, where one team will get their first win of the season.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 27, 2023

5 Questions Ahead of Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs /

In this story:

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs (0-1) are back in action tonight as the Houston Rockets (0-1) come to town.

To learn more about tonight's opponent, we spoke with Inside The Rockets editor Coty Davis.

1. The Rockets played the Spurs twice this preseason. What can you take away from those games that could apply itself in tonight's game?

It's hard to say because each preseason game had to be taken with a grain of salt, given that neither Ime Udoka nor Gregg Popovich used their in-season rotation at the same time. But the one takeaway I did notice was, the Rockets need to make sure they play Devin Vassell tight on the defensive end. In the Spurs' 117-103 preseason win against the Rockets, Vassell shot 5-for-10 from behind the arc for 25 points. Houston cannot allow Vassell to have another great night of shooting.

2. Which matchup are you most looking forward to for the game?

Of course, Jabari Smith Jr. vs. Victor Wembanyama. During the Rockets' final preseason game in San Antonio, Smith and Wembanyama gave everyone a small sample size of what could become a great Southwest Division rivalry. Smith appeared to be in full-season mode during their first meeting, as he finished the game with 20 points while shooting 50.0 percent from the field.

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson / © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

3. What's one thing people should know about the Rockets that cannot be found in a box score?

They are a better defensive team. I know when looking at their season-opening defeat to the Magic, one might say that the Rockets are still a bad defensive team. But Houston, under coach Ime Udoka, has instilled new methods that have improved their play on the defensive end. Unfortunately, applying Udoka's defensive philosophies will take time.

4. If the Rockets win on Friday, what will be the reason why?

It might be hard to do, given Wemby's 7-foot-4 stature, but the Rockets must clean the boards tonight with their rebounding. They were outrebounded 54-32 in Wednesday's embarrassing loss to the Magic, which played a major factor in their 0-1 start to the season.

5. What’s your prediction for the game?

Let's try this again, Rockets 113, Spurs 108

Published Oct 27, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.