It's time for the Rockets to make a crucial decision on final starting spot

The regular season is winding down, and the Houston Rockets are 3 games away from beginning their playoff push without a consistent fifth starter. Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard have both started twenty-plus games for Houston. They often rotate in and out of the starting lineup based on matchup and fit.

But, with the playoffs looming and expectations high, it may be time for Houston to find some consistency with its first five. Over the course of this season, the Rockets have started Eason in 33 games and Sheppard in 20 games. For now, it appears that Ime Udoka and his staff are focusing on Sheppard as the fifth starter.

Reed Sheppard

In his last 15 games, Sheppard is averaging 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 44.3% from the field. He has helped the Rockets' shooting woes by knocking down 50 of his last 124 attempts from deep – good for 40.3%. He's also averaging 1.9 steals per game in this great stretch.

The Rockets are 20-4 when Sheppard starts. This includes a key win over the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, in a game where Sheppard was a +23 in 25 minutes.

But despite his individual numbers, the Rockets see a slight dropoff when he plays alongside the starters. They have a NET rating of -5.5 when Sheppard shares the court with Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant.

That lineup has a defensive rating of 126.4, on pace for the worst in the NBA. That defensive drop-off was evident during the Rockets' latest gritty comeback win versus Phoenix. Sheppard spent the majority of the comeback on the bench in favor of Eason, who scored 12 points in the win.

Tari Eason

Tari Eason has helped the Rockets to a 20-13 record when he starts. It’s been a strange second half of the season for Eason, who seemingly lost his shooting ability in February and March.

Eason began the season scorching hot, shooting 46% from deep through his first 31 games. However, since then, Eason’s 3-point percentage has dropped to 20.6% on just under 4 attempts per game.

Despite that, Eason has proven himself as the potential X-factor for a deep playoff run for Houston. When he shares the floor with the starters, the Rockets have a NET rating of +9.4.

Eason has had a rollercoaster month so far. Despite his shooting struggles, he has made his presence felt on the defensive end. He helped spark the Rockets' comeback in Phoenix with three steals.

The Rockets are on a win streak with Sheppard as the primary starter, but depending on the matchup, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Eason return to the starting lineup. We’re sure the Rockets will base their final decision on their upcoming round one opponent. But either way, they should be ready to roll with that five for the long haul.