1 Lineup the Rockets must try against the Warriors

The Houston Rockets will not beat the Warriors by matching their three-point volume.

That's a pipe dream. Steph Curry is the best shooter in NBA history. Buddy Hield has tremendous gravity as well. The Warriors shot 37.5% from deep on 32 attempts in Game One. The Rockets hit 20.7% of their 29 attempts. The Warriors dominated the Rockets from beyond the arc.

That's unlikely to change. The Rockets need to lean on other advantages to win this series. That said, they'll need to close the gap in the three-point battle to have a chance.

There's one lineup that could help them do that.

This lineup could change the Rockets' fortunes

C: Jabari Smith Jr.
PF: Tari Eason
SF: Dillon Brooks
SG: Jalen Green
PG: Amen Thompson

Technically, the Rockets did give this lineup a look in Game One. Per CleaningTheGlass, they were -200 in 2 possessions.

There are small sample sizes, and then there's this. Disregard these stats. They are meaningless.

Conceptually, this lineup should work in small doses. Slotting Jabari Smith Jr. at the 5 spaces on the floor and also allows Houston to increase its three-point volume. The only non-shooter in this lineup is Amen Thompson, so if the Warriors pack the paint, he'll have shooters around the perimeter to pass to.

Yet, Thompson is still pivotal to the three-point battle. His ability to defend the perimeter should make life harder for Golden State's shooters. That didn't happen in Game One, but Thompson is still the best chance the Rockets have to disrupt Steph Curry's flow.

Could that be enough to win them this series?

Rockets need to use every tool to win

Not single-handedly, no.

That lineup features four shooters, but none of them are elite. Dillon Brooks is the only member who approached 40% shooting from deep in 2024-25, and that feels like an aberration given his career averages.

The postseason is about matchups. The Rockets have one of the most versatile rosters in the NBA. They need to maximize their versatility.

This same lineup with VanVleet in Thompson's spot would give Houston five-out spacing at the expense of defensive potency. That should be explored as well:

But don't worry, nobody is forgetting Alperen Sengun.

The Rockets are bigger than the Warriors, and they need to make that work in their favor as well. The double-big man lineups should still be part of their diet. Getting the ball to Sengun to exploit his size advantage over Draymond Green is still imperative.

Game One proved that this won't be an easy series for the Rockets. To win, they'll need to use every tool at their disposal. Jabari Smith Jr.'s ability to man the 5 is one of those tools:

Even if it won't win the series on its own.