What happened
Marcus Smart debuted for Houston on Sunday and led the Rockets with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in a preseason loss to Dallas in China.
The article says Houston added Smart this offseason as a defensive-minded utility veteran who can play either guard spot, and if needed small forward, to give the team more ways to cover the backcourt.
Smart’s versatility matters while Houston is still searching for a steadier answer at point guard after Fred VanVleet’s injury. Preseason usage suggests he can share ballhandling and defensive duties, but the regular-season rotation is still unsettled.
Automated brief based on the linked report. Lineup context is analysis; official starting-five labels come separately from our game data provider.
Original reporting: Marcus Smart is the utility player the Rockets need — Yahoo Sports ↗