The Houston Rockets have been clutching at straws to scrape together wins lately. They’re still viewed as a top team in the competitive Western Conference. However, at this point, they’re competing to stay out of the play-in as much as they’re battling for a top-three seed.
It’s time for the Rockets to experiment with a different look.
The Jumbo Rockets Should Experiment With Going Small
Rockets starting center and 2024-25 All-Star, Alperen Sengun, is listed as questionable for Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. Ideally, a matchup with the worst team in the conference would not be something you’d have to rush your star big man back for. However, Houston’s hurting after consecutive losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and need to stop the bleeding sooner rather than later.
Their downturn notwithstanding, there’s one look the Rockets should be experimenting with for their Sengun-less lineups, whether Sengun is out with an injury or just resting on the bench. They should try going small. For the Rockets, that means only two 6-foot-11 players instead of three or four.
Everybody Loves Steve-O
Steven Adams has been solid for the Rockets this season. The bruising Kiwi is known for his screening and rebounding, both enabled by his folkloric strength. Unsurprisingly, he leads the team in offensive rebounds (4.5 per game). He also regularly achieves solid plus/minus numbers. His on-court plus-minus (+11.9) is even the highest in Houston’s rotation.
Adams doesn’t just make the Rockets a fantastic offensive rebounding team though. He forces them to be one, averaging only 6.0 points in 22.7 minutes per game. He gathers the ball, often without jumping, and then kicks it back out for the Rockets’ cramped offense to try the whole thing again.
There is no question that Adams is a productive player with valuable tools, even on offense. The issue is that his skill set doesn’t help to diversify the things that Houston is good at. Having said that, it would be one thing if the Rockets didn’t have a choice but to play Adams major minutes. Yet, the Rockets have another option they’re almost entirely neglecting even without factoring in Sengun.
Jabari Smith Jr.: The Rockets’ Small Ball Center
In 2023-24, Jabari Smith Jr. played extensively at center while Sengun was out of the lineup. The Rockets should give him a shot at center again. He’s a 6-foot-11 big man with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. So far in 2025-26, he’s averaging 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 34.7 minutes per game.
Taking that into consideration, a five-man unit with Smith at center is only really a small-ball lineup in that Smith can shoot. Frankly, he doesn’t shoot particularly well – converting 34.9% of his 3s on 6.3 attempts per game in 2025-26. However, opponents do respect his 3-ball enough to at least close out on him.
Almost invariably, playing at center makes it easier for players like Smith –who lack the strength of traditional big men and the agility of traditional forwards –to score as well. Rockets saw this first-hand way back with 6-foot-8 forward-center Jeff Green in 2020 (Green is admittedly, a much better ball handler).
Building The Small Ball Lineup
The Rockets have a phenomenal roster to fill out the rest of a small-ball lineup around Smith.
Notably, 6-foot-11 forward Kevin Durant has extensive experience playing at center himself. While you wouldn’t want your 37-year-old superstar to be taking on that role in the regular season, he can at least chip in with additional rim protection. Ultra-athletic playmaker Amen Thompson had his breakout as a power forward playing alongside Smith at center. Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith are large, switchable forwards who can provide at least a semblance of spacing.
Due to a right ankle injury, Eason will miss Sunday night’s game (and possibly more time). However, the Rockets still have guards Aaron Holiday and Josh Okogie to fill out a small-ball switch-everything lineup.
The Last Word On The Rockets’ Lineups
If the Rockets’ overreliance on Durant concerns their head coach, he needs to make it easier for them to score.
Even Reed Sheppard could benefit from some more spacing on offense. He’s been one of the principal beneficiaries of Adams’ screening prowess this year. The 12-year veteran sucking defenders into the paint is useful for Sheppard, who can get caught up on the perimeter without assistance. However, someone like Thompson or even Durant could conceivably partake in those actions with Sheppard instead. Plenty of practice with different types of screeners would be a boon to Sheppard’s long-term development.
If nothing else, Houston should be experimenting with more looks now so that they know what options they’ll have come playoffs. By now, it’s abundantly clear that Rockets head coach Ime Udoka doesn’t like small-ball. Not even the Rockets’ wonky double-six-eleven version of it. Even so, a little discomfort now would be a small price to pay for greater flexibility later.
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