Hey, it’s another Five Out. That’s the kind of content you’re here for, right? That’s right.
This time around, we’re looking at the different ways the Rockets can play basketball, through the lens of different formations. The Rockets are versatile in theory, and here’s a look at how they might be in practice.
ONE – Standard and Enhanced Standard
Fred Van Vleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun
This is actually a pretty versatile team. With the possible exception of Dillon Brooks, everyone has a potent offense. Jabari Smith will likely enter his third season with more talent up his sleeve. What would be even more helpful would be for the Rockets to give him the ball when he’s healthy. When Jabari makes short mid-range shots, he doesn’t miss much. He can shoot over almost anyone. Why not do it until someone stops him.
The main upgrade here is replacing Brooks with Tari Eason or Amen Thompson. Yes, we’ll see how Jalen shoots, but for now, he’s the only player who looks like a complete shooting guard on the Rockets, even if you don’t like his shot.
TWO – Full stop
The goal of this formation is actually the basketball version of a submission hold. The goal is to completely shut down the opponent’s offense. The downside? It could also completely shut down the Rockets’ offense.
Fred Van Vleet, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Steven Adams
Variant
Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith, Steven Adams
This team’s shooting can only be described as “dismal.” But Steven Adams is one of the best screens in the NBA’s paint. That suggests he can set up a launch pad for Amen Thompson and Tari “Make Your Layups” Eason. If Brooks shoots well, he and Smith can probably make the shots work for stretches.
The interesting thing is that if you use this against an opponent’s weak starters, your more skilled offensive lineup might have the opportunity to prevail against a second unit.
THREE – Flipper
Reed Sheppard, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun/Jock Landale/Jack McVeigh
A true “Five Out” team is possible with the Landale/McVeigh variation (and any plausible Alpie three-point shot). There’s no one in the lane blocking a quick PNR attack or spreading the ball around the perimeter.
If you think you have enough shots, you can replace Amen at PF with Jabari, and either make him the roll guy or leave him in the dunker zone for a drive and dish. If the defenses get under the screen, Sheppard makes you pay. If the defenses play well on the screen, Cam or Amen are too much to handle at the line. If the defenses sell out on the roll, Sheppard makes a little floater from eight feet.
The Rockets can also make Alpie the center of the lineup, setting up plays from the high post, with drivers and shooters everywhere.
FOUR – Small ball
Fred Van Vleet, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith
There’s no room to hide a bad defender here. This is a small team, but a better defensive group than you might assume. The only non-shooter is theoretically Tari, but remember, Tari is a career 35% three-point shooter. Defenses can’t leave him like that. A Fred VanVleet/Reed Sheppard pick-and-roll is a problem, because both guys shoot it. Defenses literally can’t leave anyone to help, because everyone is at least a shooting threat. Whitmore is the primary basket attacker here, but putting defenses in the mix for open shots or drives is the goal, rather than Cam mimicking Carmelo.
FIVE – Big ball
Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun/Steven Adams
The idea here is that this roster is just too athletic for most teams, especially older ones, to handle. If you wanted to go with Amen, Cam, Dillon, Tari, Jabari, then the Rockets have a size/speed problem that I don’t think any team in the NBA can solve.
I don’t know if we’ll see these lineups, but I hope we will, at some point. The idea is to ask questions that the opponent can’t answer. The risk for the Rockets in trying these combinations is low, because for each lineup, there are effective players on the bench, players who should be able to completely destroy the vast majority of NBA second units.
I think the Rockets are in a great moment right now, with all these players at their disposal. It won’t last forever. For now, though, I think there are some combinations that should simply break most opponents if deployed correctly. I hope for the Rockets’ sake that Ime Udoka focuses less on standard rotations and more on creating imbalances that opponents can’t hope to solve.
I can’t wait to see it (I hope).
