The Houston Rockets have experimented with multiple starting lineups throughout the 2024-25 season, largely out of necessity.
Injuries have forced frequent adjustments, but with a fully healthy roster, the team now faces a crucial task—settling on a consistent starting five.
Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets suggested they haven’t quite found the right formula.
Houston rolled out a lineup featuring Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and Fred VanVleet—a noticeably undersized group. The Nuggets wasted no time exploiting that weakness.
While the Rockets technically won the rebounding battle 45-43, they typically dominate the boards, particularly on the offensive end. Against Denver, that edge was absent.
DeAndre Jordan, in one of his best performances of the season, hauled in 15 rebounds, limiting Houston’s second-chance opportunities.
Jamal Murray also had a field day, torching the Rockets for 39 points on 15-of-28 shooting. With no agile, shot-blocking presence protecting the rim for extended stretches, Murray was virtually unstoppable in the pick-and-roll.
One can’t help but wonder—do the Rockets already have the missing piece on their roster?
Rockets need to lean on young forwards
Wait a minute—Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason are both on this roster. Surely, the Rockets made adjustments and leaned on their size?
Not quite. Smith logged just 17 minutes, while Eason saw only 15. Despite having the size to counter Denver’s strengths, Houston failed to capitalize. It was a perplexing decision from head coach Ime Udoka.
Amen Thompson has blossomed into an elite defender this season, and Dillon Brooks has long been known for his defensive tenacity. The problem? Their combined height. At 6’7” and 6’5”, respectively, they simply don’t offer enough length as a duo.
Thompson thrives when paired with a taller counterpart, allowing him to roam defensively, disrupt passing lanes, and wreak havoc. But when tasked with weakside rim protection, the responsibility becomes overwhelming.
That’s precisely why this starting lineup is unsustainable.
Rockets must change starting lineup
Lineup data doesn’t provide an obvious answer. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Rockets’ most effective unit—featuring Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, and Fred VanVleet—boasts an impressive +31.1 net rating across 116 possessions. However, that lineup lacks perimeter shot creation, making it difficult to exclude Jalen Green from the starting five.
Some fans may call for a starting group without Brooks—not as a critique of the veteran wing, but as the simplest way to accommodate Green, Thompson, and either Smith Jr. or Tari Eason.
In theory, that makes sense. In reality, it’s complicated. The Rockets’ top five lineups in net differential all include Brooks, making it unlikely that Ime Udoka relegates him to the bench. Something else will have to change.
Houston could justify rolling with its best-performing lineup, but sidelining Green would be a tough pill to swallow.
If that’s not an option, Thompson may need to shift back to the second unit for the remainder of the season.
While the organization views him as a long-term cornerstone, their immediate priority is balancing size in the starting lineup.
Sengun has made notable strides on defense, but without additional length beside him, protecting the rim remains a challenge.
