Caution pays
The Rockets had their usual preseason allotment of six players out for Friday's game in San Antonio. But the strategy of playing it safe with nagging injuries such as Kenny Thomas' plantar fasciaitis, Glen Rice's sore back, Walt Williams' lower back strain and Moochie Norris' right hamstring strain seems to have worked.
Rockets trainer Keith Jones said each should be ready for Tuesday's season opener against Atlanta. Center Jason Collier, out with shinsplints, seems likely to join Maurice Taylor on the injured list. But that will leave the Rockets with one player still to move to the injured list or release, a decision complicated by the injuries.
Though Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said things could be better, they have been worse, and he was encouraged to get Rice back Friday.
"It could always be better," he said. "But you could probably ask me that all year and there will probably be somebody here, somebody there. It was good to see Glen out there. I was really pleased with the way he played. He showed he wasn't a one-dimensional player. He did some good things defensively.