Rockets Injury Report vs Warriors: Tari Eason out, Fred VanVleet news

The Houston Rockets are among the deepest teams in the league. That depth has inspired a "next man up" mentality. As Dillon Brooks recently coined:

Sometimes me, sometimes you. Always us.

A sense of togetherness around this team makes them easy to root for. That said, there are still players whose contributions are impossible to replace. Two of those players are Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason.

How unfortunate.

Eason out, VanVleet questionable for Rockets vs Warriors

Some NBA games mean more than others. There are teams that fanbases want to beat, even if the stakes are low in the grand scheme.

For Rockets fans, the Warriors are one of those teams. Tari Eason has caught on to this. He's quick to antagonize Golden State, and Rockets fans love him for it.

In tonight's contest, Eason will not be available. He's in concussion protocol. Eason's altercation with a fan in the Rockets' last game is also being reviewed by the NBA - Rockets fans may be missing Eason for a while longer.

He will be sorely missed. His infectious energy has been a defining feature of the Rockets' identity in 2024-25. Still, life might be even more difficult without VanVleet.

At least there's a silver lining there.

Rockets can explore potential without floor general

As of this writing, VanVleet is questionable with a right knee contusion.

Nobody should ever celebrate an injury. We should all be crossing our fingers for a speedy recovery for VanVleet.

With that out of the way...

Plenty of Rockets fans feel that the team is too reliant on VanVleet. Whether he's a Rocket for two or ten more years, he is not as vital to the team's long-term picture as their young players.

Jalen Green has been dreadfully inconsistent this year. Does he need the ball? It's hard to figure that out when VanVleet is running the show. Finding more on-ball reps for the former lottery pick could help the Rockets decide if they're moving forward with Green or not.

How about Reed Sheppard? He's looked tentative - and frankly, a bit scared - throughout the 2024-25 season. Baptism by fire may be the best approach for Sheppard. If he's forced to sink or swim, who knows?

He may find his stroke.

The Rockets are not rebuilding. They are on a clear path towards the playoffs, and they'd surely like to win a series if possible. So, deprioritizing VanVleet for Green or Sheppard isn't an option as far as the 2024-25 season goes.

Still, there's a silver lining if VanVleet is forced to miss a game or two. The Rockets may find out what they have with Sheppard, and the clock is ticking for Green:

If he can't deliver, the Rockets are deep enough to replace him.