As Rockets head to Florida, P.J. Tucker plans for ’90 day road trip’

That 90-day period referenced by Tucker lasts into October, when the only NBA teams still playing will be those in the NBA Finals.

The Houston Rockets are set to arrive at the NBA’s restart location in Florida on Thursday night, and veteran defensive ace P.J. Tucker says on Instagram that he’s packing for a “90-day road trip.”

That time period would stretch well into October, and the only NBA teams still playing at that point would be those in the NBA Finals. The Rockets haven’t been there since winning their last NBA title in 1995.

Led by an All-Star backcourt of former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook, these Rockets (40-24) certainly have the talent to make Tucker’s prediction a reality. It all starts with Thursday’s arrival, followed by Saturday’s practice ⁠— which will be their first as a team since this season’s March 12 hiatus due to COVID-19.

The Rockets are currently scheduled to depart Houston at 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday and arrive in Orlando about two hours later.

While the vast majority of Houston’s traveling party (including players and coaches) will be on Thursday’s flight, it may not be everyone. For example, anyone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19 will not be cleared to enter the NBA’s bubble site until they have negative tests.

Rockets forward Thabo Sefolosha, who opted out of playing in Florida, said some of his teammates had tested positive for the coronavirus. However, he did not identify who, how many, or at what time. Thus, it’s possible that those players are already recovered and testing negative.

There could also be other reasons for not being on the team charter. The Los Angeles Clippers, for example, are reportedly allowing superstar Kawhi Leonard to arrive a few days late while dealing with a family matter. The NBA is requiring anyone not on the team charters to test negative three times for COVID-19 before traveling to Orlando.

For Houston, the journey begins with Thursday’s flight. We should learn shortly after their arrival whether anyone will be delayed.

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