Major flaw in Rockets' starting lineup exposed in loss to Nuggets

The Houston Rockets have tried several starting lineups in 2024-25.

It's been a function of necessity. The Rockets have dealt with injuries, and they've adjusted accordingly. Now that they've got a full house, it's time to get it in order. The Rockets need to figure out their starting five moving forward.

Against Denver on Sunday, it didn't look like they'd found the formula.

Rockets undersized in loss to Nuggets

The Rockets started a group featuring Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet.

An astute observer has already drawn a conclusion: that's a small group. Correct.

The Nuggets readily took advantage of Houston's diminutive size.

It's not that they outrebounded them. The Rockets won the glass battle 45-43. Still, they're accustomed to a more significant positive margin in rebounding. The Rockets rely heavily on dominant offensive rebounding to win games.

DeAndre Jordan wasn't letting that happen. He helped himself to 15 boards. Jordan had his best game of the season against Houston.

That's not all. Jamal Murray was dominant in this contest. He had 39 points on 15/28 shooting from the field. Without a tall, agile weakside rim protector on the floor for long stretches, Murray was unguardable in the pick and roll.

If only the Rockets had someone who could have helped...

Rockets need to lean on young forwards

Oh wait!

Jabari Smith Jr. is on this roster. So is Tari Eason. Surely the Rockets adjusted to give one of them heavy minutes?

Wrong. Smith Jr. had 17 minutes of action. Eason saw 15. The Rockets didn't take advantage of the surplus size they needed to win the game. It was a puzzling decision from Ime Udoka.

Thompson has emerged as an elite defender in 2024-25. Brooks has a widespread reputation as a stout stopper. The issue is their combined height. At 6'7" and 6'5", respectively, they just aren't tall enough in tandem. Thompson should be paired with someone taller than himself.

In that event, he can function as a roamer. Thompson can create havoc in passing lanes. When he's responsible for weakside rim protection, that becomes too substantial a burden.

That's what makes this starting lineup untenable.

Rockets must change starting lineup

Lineup data doesn't give a clear solution. The Rockets' best lineup features Sengun, Smith Jr., Thompson, Brooks, and VanVleet. That group is +31.1 across 116 possessions per CleaningTheGlass. Still, that lineup is decidedly light on perimeter creation. This roster isn't equipped to go without Green in the starting group.

Fans will clamor to see a starting group without Brooks. That's not a knock on the veteran wing. It's the simplest way to start a group featuring Green, Thompson, and one of Smith Jr. or Eason.

Fair, but the Rockets' top 5 lineups in net differential all feature Brooks. Udoka will not be quick to put him on the bench. Something else will have to give.

The Rockets could justify going with the aforementioned top-performing lineup, although benching Green would sting. If that's not an option, perhaps Thompson needs to return to the second unit for the rest of the year. Houston clearly views him as a building block, but to accomplish their goals in 2024-25, they need size in the starting group. Alperen Sengun has made great strides on defense, but he still needs height next to him to keep the rim protected.

Denver taught the Rockets that lesson the hard way.