With no scrimmage stats available, we're going to change up for format a little bit today.

Eric Gordon goes down with ankle injury

On last week's episode or Red Nation Hoops, I talked with SI's Michael Shapiro about what we were looking to get out of these scrimmages from the Rockets. Shapiro and I came away with the same answer: "How does Eric Gordon look?"

We both said this because we know the Rockets have a playoff ceiling without Eric Gordon. When he's playing well, he turns them into a different, more dangerous team and their entire micro-ball concept relies on them having multiple capable ball handlers like him. Gordon had also been pretty bad this year, presumably due to injuries, so it was natural to be curious how he would look after a four-month layoff.

So then the scrimmages started and Eric Gordon shoots 2 for 8 from three-point range in his first game. No big deal, right? It's the first sanctioned NBA game in months, and he wasn't the only player that was rusty. Then he shot 0 for 6 against Memphis in the second game and while it was a little head scratching, it still was pretty easy to write off. Before turning his left ankle against Boston, Gordon shot 1 for 6 from three-point range.

"Uh-oh," said Rockets play-by-play announcer Craig Ackerman on the broadcast. This was naturally my first response as well as a slew of panicking Rockets fans weighed in on the injury on Twitter. Then the broadcast replayed the play where Gordon turned his ankle. Then Gordon was shown being helped off the floor, but he was noticeably able to put some weight on the ankle.

Let me be clear: I am not a doctor, but as someone who's watched a lot of basketball over the last 10 years, the injury didn't look that severe in the moment. I say all of this to say, before the X-ray results came in and before we were briefed by Mike D'Antoni post-game with an update on Gordon, I had a thought that may be somewhat controversial:

As long as Gordon is able to safely return to the floor in a month, this may end up being good for him and the Rockets as a team.

Again, let me reiterate what I said at the top of this diatribe - the Rockets need Gordon and they have a playoff ceiling without him. However, temporarily as the Rockets are trying to find a rhythm on both ends of the floor, it may be better for Gordon to be re-introduced to the group later on, when they are rolling.

"Of course Eric is a huge part of what we're doing and what we're trying to do," said James Harden after the game. "Hopefully he can get his ankle healed as soon as possible. But we've been dealing with adversity all year. It's an opportunity for guys to step up."

Players like Danuel House, Austin Rivers, and Ben McLemore can sufficiently fill in the gaps for Gordon until the playoffs roll around and these players may benefit from the extra reps themselves.

For example, someone like Austin Rivers, who seems to struggle as a tertiary ball-handler, seems like an obvious temporary beneficiary with an expanded role. It's a really dark thing to say, but Rivers' highest of highs with this Rockets team have come when he's been the third guard - meaning when there was an injury in the guard rotation. I sort of expect that to happen now.

When asked who will start if Gordon is unable to return, Mike D'Antoni was pretty vague.

"We'll see," said D'Antoni. "I started Ben [McLemore in the second half] for a couple reasons. One is it's an easier rotation because Danuel [House] has to backup Covington at forward so it's better. Danuel also thought he could start. We'll see."

Mike D'Antoni is big on role definitions, and he's actually said that he likes Danuel House as the sixth man and backup forward a few times throughout the season. It's possible Ben McLemore starts on Friday. However, if I were to venture a guess, I would say D'Antoni caves and inserts the better player into the starting lineup at some point during Gordon's absence. Either way, both House and McLemore will see more playing time.

Eric Gordon has not been particularly strong defensively this year and I suspect the Rockets will temporarily be better without him in the rotation.

Again, I don't think the Rockets are better in the long-run without Gordon, but I suspect they will see temporary benefits because of how poorly he's played.

Bringing Gordon off the bench in a minutes restriction before playoff time sounds more natural than force-feeding him over thirty minutes a game when he's struggling so badly.

James Harden is ready for real basketball

If you were ever worried about James Harden's conditioning or ready-level for the resumption of the regular season, he crushed those worries about 15 minutes into his first scrimmage. Harden has been firing on all cylinders in Houston's training camp and it's actually quite incredible to watch - even after all these years.

90 points

25 assists
20 rebounds
5 steals
2 blocks

23 of 46 from the field
16 of 29 from three-point range
28 of 33 from the free throw line

74.4% True Shooting

+47 in 90 minutes

These are cartoon statistics that feel like they have to have been fabricated. Harden credits his offseason conditioning and doing things like sprints and stairs after practices for how well he's played. Whatever the case, the 30-year-old guard certainly looks ready for games that count.

Jeff Green has been solid

I want to careful as I'm writing this because Jeff Green has a tendency to get fanbases across the NBA excited only for the up-and-down nature of his game to upset them. However, so far, Green has been a really solid pickup for the Rockets.

"Oh yeah," said Mike D'Antoni when asked if he could see Green playing in Houston's playoff rotation. "Jeff's going to play. Jeff's a heck of a basketball player."

Green posted 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the field and 3 of 4 shooting from three-point range against Memphis. He's been averaging 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks on 73.9% True Shooting per 36 minutes ever since he signed with the Rockets. He's been solid on the small-ball forward/center role he's been asked to play for the team and it may be a situation where this is what he is as a basketball player from now on.

Again, it's only been 10 games with Houston and Green is infamous for his inconsistency. It's something to monitor and acknowledge for right now.