Who should be in the Houston Rockets’ starting five?

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 16: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors compete for a jump ball to begin Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

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Power Forward: PJ Tucker

PJ Tucker will be the Rockets power-forward until he says otherwise. Tucker hasn’t missed a Rockets game for the past three seasons and has started every game over the past two.

Standing only 6’5, Tucker has played the majority of his minutes for the Rockets as a power forward. His ability to defend players half a foot taller than him is unparalleled in the league.

Rockets fans know what they’re getting from Tucker on the offensive end. He’ll stand in the corner, space the floor, and make teams pay for playing off of him.

During his time in Houston, Tucker has taken 70.7-percent of his 3-pointers from the corner and hit them at a 39.2-percent clip. His offense is largely dependent on those around him so a slip on the defensive end or in his 3-point efficiency could see Tucker begin to slowly fade out of the starting lineup.

Tucker will be 35-years-old at the beginning of the season and his diminutive size could see his low-post defending suddenly fall off a cliff. However, Stephen Silas knows not to mess around with a good thing.

Tucker will be given the opportunity to start the season at the power forward spot but with any player his age, the possibility of a sudden decline is always there. This likely won’t be the season that Tucker fades but his starting spot won’t be able to survive an extended slump.

Next: Number 3

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