The Rockets‘ starting lineup is mostly set, but one spot will be up for grabs when training camp opens later this month.
Houston sent starters Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix, along with the 10th pick in this year’s draft, in the Kevin Durant trade. Durant will start alongside Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet, but coach Ime Udoka has several options with the fifth position.
“It’s to be determined,” Udoka told Ben DuBose of RocketsWire at a September 11 community event the team hosted this week. “I do think Jabari (Smith Jr.) showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury. But we’ll take a look at everything. We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.”
Smith began last season as a starter and kept that role for 39 games before breaking his hand in January. Thompson took his place and turned out to be too good to move back to the bench. Smith occupied a sixth man role for the rest of the season, but he may be the best fit with the other four members of the current starting unit. At 6’11”, he provides plenty of size next to Durant and Sengun, and he’s proficient enough as a three-point shooter to stretch defenses and create driving lanes.
DuBose notes that the Rockets enjoyed tremendous success with double-big lineups late last season, so center Steven Adams might receive consideration, at least against certain matchups. Adams only started three games during the regular season, but Udoka leaned heavily on him during the playoff series against Golden State.
Free agent addition Dorian Finney-Smith is a strong wing defender who greatly improved the Lakers’ defense after being acquired in a December trade. At 32, Finney-Smith brings a veteran presence to what’s still mostly a young team, and he shot 41.1% from three-point range last season.
Another option is fourth-year forward Tari Eason, who made a career-high 16 starts last season. Eason is a disruptive defender like Finney-Smith, but he’s not quite as accomplished as an outside shooter.
Houston is loaded. They look pretty strong to me. No reason why they can’t be a high seed again this year.
They are very dangerous and have a year of success under their belts.
Durant only playing 60 games will be the reason why.
@ Davey…bahahahaha hahahahaha hahahahaha.
Durant might only need to play 60 games with their depth, especially if Sengun carries the Eurobasket momentum over to the regular season. Keeping Durant healthy for the playoffs is the Rockets #1 goal this year
In principle it looks amazing. Surround Durant with size/athleticism/defense. All he needs to do is go out and get buckets. They are deep enough that even if he sits out a lot during the regular season they will be fine to make the playoffs. The question for me will be can he put together a string of big games during the playoffs, cause he will need to for them to make a deep run.
Aside from Amen and Sengun and whatever KD produces at this aging, injury-plagued point in his career, the Rockets aren’t very good and likely will not make the top 6 next year in the loaded West. The Spurs might be better than the Rockets next year.
Stick to the death penalty big guy. Ball isn’t your forte.
The duality of the little boy Davey J:
Him back before KD was traded to the Rockets:
– “KD and Jimmy straight up is the best deal to make and makes the Warriors a championship contender”
Also him after KD got traded to the Rockets:
– “KD is aging, injury-plagued at this point, will only make them top 6”
Source: Davey J “rumors only”
Rockets are likely to be either a Top seed or 2nd seed in the west at this point.
Davey is the worst type of fan. Has no ability to critically think. Just dumps on other teams/players. Shoot, he hates his own team half the time.
Pretty sure his frontal lobe isn’t fully developed yet so gotta cut him just a little bit of slack. He’s clearly a chronically online SF kid who can’t let his terrible non basketball opinions stay away from his terrible basketball opinions.
Just a lost kid who gets dunked on everyday in the one place he likes to be. Kind of poetic.
I honestly think you sound crazy. This Houston Rockets team is loaded.
Ime Udoka do have some hard decisions but I think he should go with a regular 9 man rotation.
Starters
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jabari Smith Jr.
C Alperen Sengun
SG Amen Thompson
PG Fred VanVleet
Bench Rotation
PF Tari Eason
SF Dorian Finney-Smith
C Steven Adams
PG Reed Sheppard
Bench Reserves
C Clint Capela
SF Josh Okogie
PG Aaron Holiday
SF Jae’Sean Tate
PF Jeff Green
@Champ
SF Kevin Durant – injury-plagued, old, maybe good but not 2017-good
PF Jabari Smith Jr. – massively overrated, Eason likely better
C Alperen Sengun – great
SG Amen Thompson – great
PG Fred VanVleet – production fell off a cliff last year, the second he turned 30 – a common issue amongst NBA vets.
Bench Rotation
PF Tari Eason – pretty good, he should probably be starting honestly, he’s prob in their top 5 players
SF Dorian Finney-Smith – one of the most overrated and not-good, players in this league, a nonfactor on both sides
C Steven Adams – old and coming back from injury, was terrible last year
PG Reed Sheppard – undersized, no defense, backup PG
Bench Reserves
C Clint Capela – aging, production fell off a cliff last year
SF Josh Okogie – awful player
PG Aaron Holiday – awful player
SF Jae’Sean Tate – awful player
PF Jeff Green – 900 years old, will only play like 5-10 MPG, a nonfactor
Rockets fans are such cornballs for real. You literally just listed your roster and your roster is mid as hell.
Aside from SGA, Jalen Williams, & whatever Holgrem produces at this point in his young injury plagued career the Thunder aren’t that great. Aside from D. Fox & whatever Wembanyama produces in his seasonal 50 games played injury plagued career the Spurs aren’t good at all.
Aside from James Harden, Zubac, & whatever Kawhi produces at this aging, injury plagued point in his career, the Clippers aren’t very good. See? I can do that with every team in the NBA. Because 1st you mention “besides” 2 young up & coming superstar caliber players, and 1 of the greatest basketball players of all time the rest of the team isn’t that good. Well your wrong there too as Tari is amazing, FVV is very underrated as a ball handler & facilitator that actually defends at a high level, DFS had the best plus minus on the Lakers last year, J. Smith Jr is a 7ft stretch big yet to scratch the surface of his potential, etc etc. But even besides all that you mentioned besides 3/5 of the starting lineup being good they aren’t good as a team….news flash if you have 3 really good players in the NBA you are gonna be a really good team regardless of the rest of the roster….moot point anyways like I said above as the rest of the roster is one of the deepest in the NBA lol. You must a Spurs fan to have said that, don’t lash out at the Rockets because Wemby prefers Koby over Duncan, they didnt make him say that…but I will give you a 100% fact that alot of people can’t see Hakeem>Duncan….. hands down.
The only real argument you have is that Udoka is really good and he is the one who might get Houston over the line next year. They still aren’t a top 6 team, maybe 7-8.
Interesting.., I was just speaking with someone the other day about Hakeem and Timmy.
Duncan is rated higher more often than Hakeem in those top 20 all-time lists, but I think as did my buddy, that Olajuwan would be rated higher when speaking with guys who are a little older and have seen different generations.
I’m 49 so I’ve seen both in their primes and its close. I hate picking between players as they’re both all time greats. If I had to pick one for his entire career it would be Duncan if I had to pick one for his peak it would Olajuwon.
You make great points. But Timmy had a better supporting cast as evidenced by the five rings. Elijah had Allen Leavell, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, Jim Peterson. I know I’m probably forgetting a big name.
But yeah, you’re not wrong.
False. But GS thanks KD for the rings. I don’t like KD but that was a stupid post. lol not top 6.
Not top six? What six teams will finish ahead of the Rockets?
KD is injured every single year now and is 37. It’s stupid to think he is still a powerful force in this league. As of now, KD isnt even top 15 anymore. Argue with a wall.
If the Rockets finish 7th or worse will you apologize and admit my predictions are the best on here?
If they finish 6th or better will you leave forever??
I recall someone having a bet with him abouting shutting up if KD gets traded elsewhere. Cant trust the little boy with how he is.
Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard at PG isn’t good enough. Poor Durant is going to have to do everything. Brooklyn all over again. With Fred and Reed they will be joining Holiday on a early holiday. Sorry Durant
Fred and picks for a better veteran PG
Trading for KD was such a bad move. But Udoka is the best coach in the league so he’ll make it work
I disagree. Jalen needed a change of scenery. He has massive talent, but the Rockets weren’t at a place to let it come through patiently. They needed a scorer. Aaron Brooks might be the bigger loss, due to how he was with the team (not as talented as Jalen). His mentality will be missed.
KD sucks
Dillon? Aaron retired awhile ago…
PG — JVV
SG — Thompson
PF — Smith
C — Sengun
Eason could start instead of Smith. To me Smith gives them better team D. Eason is a solid D guy. With Smith they are a better rebounding team. And it gives KD and Sengun more freedom on offense. I like Smith. And believe he stll has plenty to show.
Embarrassment of riches.
They got Durant for peanuts.
Rockets frontcourt is Durant, Sengun, Adams, Capela, Jabari Smith, Eason and DFS.
I think DFS will start. He gives Udoka a defender most similar to Dillon Brooks to keep same defensive sets. DFS knows how camp out for 3pt shots.
This really is true. An embarrassment of riches is accurate. Look at all these guys, they’re loaded !!
I like the idea of DFS starting. At least to begin the year, he provides a seamless transition from crazy man to another strong defender. Good call.
They also got DFS for nothing because the lakers bungled his free agency.
Fred and picks for a better veteran (30+)PG
That’s it. Fred isn’t starting material. Sixth man at best
Fred is awful and that was a terrible extension the rockets gave him. If/When KD fades at his age, I think the rockets will ultimately regret making that trade. They should’ve stuck with the youth movement and moved on from Fred. I’m not sure why you’d want to tie your championship window to a 37 year old who hasn’t won in a long time
100