A day after the scheduled opening game of the 2020-21 regular season for the Houston Rockets was postponed due to COVID-19 issues, it became clear that more games could be in jeopardy, too.
It was postponed Wednesday because Houston fell below the lowest level of eight active players, largely as a result of inter-group communications led by John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Their situation seems to be going back to an extended goal. Per Shams Charania of the Athletics, that group opposite quarantine seven days, which is likely to last through next Tuesday, December 29th.
Currently, Houston ‘s next scheduled games are set for Saturday, Dec. 26, in Portland and Monday, Dec. 28 in Denver. Even with the haircut group out, the Rockets were expected to be back to at least eight active players with the return of James Harden, who let the NBA out of its own quarantine (over on a separate event) by Saturday.
However, Charania reported late Thursday that more communication tracking was being done as a result of a separate positive test for an employee including Eric Gordon guard and others. That could fall Houston lower than eight active players again.
Among 15 Houston healthy players under contract. at least eight are known to be subject to some form of self-quarantine as a result of a positive or perceived ability test, confirmed by contact detection. Those players are Ben McLemore, KJ Martin Jr., James Harden, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Jae’Sean Tate, Mason Jones, and Eric Gordon.
As Wednesday was canceled, Gordon was not on that list. So while Harden ‘s projected return would allow the Rockets to play, if all else equal, Gordon’ s loss (and possibly others, according to the Charania report) against that and he would put them back in the same place.
In the worst case scenario, Houston should have enough players to play by next Thursday, Dec. 31, as that is outside the one – week window of the largest quarantine group. The Rockets plan to host Sacramento Kings at the Toyota Center on New Year’s Eve, in what was originally slated as the fourth game of their 2020-21 star season.
But the previous games on Saturday and Monday could be in jeopardy. Until late Thursday, the NBA had not yet formally announced the status of each game.