Rockets Wrap Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams in Bubble Wrap for Back-to-Backs

The Houston Rockets are already waving the white flag on back-to-backs for their veteran core before the season even tips off. Head coach Ime Udoka announced that Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams will sit out consecutive game sets to start the year, according to a report from Will Guillory.

When VanVleet takes his scheduled nights off, Marcus Smart will slide into the starting point guard role. This turns the Houston rotation into a predictable timeshare right out of the gate and gives opposing scouting departments a massive head start on game prep.

"Udoka: Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams will sit out back-to-backs to start the season. Marcus Smart will start at point guard when VanVleet sits."

You cannot really blame the Rockets for treating their veterans like fragile museum exhibits. VanVleet missed the entirety of last season recovering from a knee injury, while Adams had his campaign abruptly ended by ankle surgery in January.

Houston won 52 games last year and still got bounced by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Udoka has made it clear he wants this team to make real noise this spring, which apparently means wrapping his most important adults in bubble wrap from October through April.

For anyone firing up daily fantasy lineups or looking at player props, Smart becomes an instant volume play on those rest days. Just keep your expectations grounded, considering he shot a brutal 38.9 percent from the floor and 31.1 percent from deep last season while averaging just 9.8 points per game.

Houston opens their season on October 21 against the Dallas Mavericks. Keep an eye on the schedule to see exactly when the load management protocol officially kicks in, because Smart is going to have the absolute green light to build a brick house whenever VanVleet sits.