2 Lineups the Rockets can use to destroy opponents next season

The Houston Rockets like size.

That's become increasingly clear. Perhaps it's a mandate from Ime Udoka. He loves defense. Udoka also loves physical play. If you watched him as an NBA player, you know what value he puts on beating opponents up.

In 2025-26, the Rockets will be poised to do exactly that. The Rockets will bully opponents. They've doubled down on size by adding Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith. The team should have several lineups at their disposal that will be effective:

But one in particular ought to decimate opponents.

Rockets can destroy opponents with jumbo lineups

Consider the following:

C: Steven Adams
PF: Alperen Sengun
SF: Jabari Smith Jr.
SG: Kevin Durant
PG: Amen Thompson

Somewhere, Ime Udoka is smiling. Say that lineup three times in the mirror, and he'll appear with a clipboard barking orders at you to get to bed.

This is a variation of something the Rockets did in 2024-25. It features the Adams/Sengun double big man look. You can substitute Clint Capela if you like, but Adams' dominant rebounding gives him the edge as Sengun's primary backup.

The shortest player in this lineup is Amen Thompson. On a related note, Amen Thompson is 6'7". Still, it's Durant that makes this formation different from last year. The ability to plug a near 7-footer in at the 2 gives Houston something special.

That said, this lineup isn't perfect. It would be fair to say that it lacks floor spacing. Here's the beauty: The Rockets can run 5-out, "death" style lineups. Yet, they don't have to sacrifice their principles in doing so:

Even their small-ball lineups can be big.

Rockets can space the floor with deadly results

C: Jabari Smith Jr.
PF: Kevin Durant
SF: Tari Eason
SG: Dorian Finney-Smith
PG: Fred VanVleet

Much has been made of the Rockets' spacing during the Udoka era. Fair enough. This team has rostered its share of players who don't shoot well. So, this lineup is a breath of fresh air for some:

A viable five-out lineup that Udoka should be comfortable playing.

Some will quibble over Finney-Smith. He's not a 2. Wake up. The 2 is a dying position in the modern NBA. The Rockets will be sticking an extra wing in that spot all year long.

Finney-Smith shot 41.1% from deep last year. He can man the 2 for stretches. His added size could be beneficial next to the smaller Fred VanVleet.

That's the beauty of this line. Most teams don't have a five-out lineup that sacrifices so little size. Smith Jr. isn't the strongest 5 man, but he's got the height to man the position. VanVleet guards bigger than his height, and he's the only unequivocally small player in this lineup:

We know that will appeal to the Rockets.