Rockets still have a Jabari Smith Jr. trick up their sleeve when desperate times hit

The Houston Rockets have one of the best big man rotations in the NBA. Somehow, they still need to find time for Jabari Smith Jr. at the 5.

Let me explain. Sure, Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela are one of the best center trios on any roster in the league. It doesn't mean much when Sengun and Adams aren't available.

Is Capella among the best third-string big men in the league? Yes - but he's still a third-string big man. That was evident in the Rockets' 122-109 loss to the Mavericks on Saturday.

Could that game have gone differently if Smith Jr. had manned the 5?

Rockets need to be flexible

Smith Jr. at the 5 goes against Ime Udoka's principles. He wants to be big. The goal is to bludgeon opponents with sheer size on a nightly basis.

Sure. How did that go against Dallas? The Rockets' 37-31 rebounding edge wasn't enough to carry the day. The harsh reality is that when Sengun and Adams are out, the Rockets' go-to strategy isn't viable.

So, why not change the strategy?

Smith Jr. at the 5 stretches the floor. Anthony Davis would have had a more difficult time protecting the rim if he'd had to contest Smith Jr.'s three-point attempts. Perhaps it would have helped Amen Thompson, who had a woeful game, find driving lanes.

Yet, those aren't the main reasons to play Smith Jr. at the 5 when the Rockets are short-handed. There's a simpler reason:

It helps the Rockets keep their best players on the floor.

Capela is not the man he used to be. A lineup featuring Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, Thompson, and Sheppard features more regular rotation-caliber players. Udoka may not love Smith Jr. at the 5, but on nights like Saturday, it should be a function of necessity.

It's not as if Smith Jr.'s never done it. He played 32% of his minutes there in 2023-24 as a sophomore. That number dropped to 12% last year and is currently at 4% for 2025-26.

Is this a problem?

Rockets will have their star big man back

Not really.

Sengun is sick. He's missed two games in a row. He'll get better, and he'll be back.

This is not a dilemma that the Rockets will face very often. So, it's not worth stressing about.

That said...

It will happen again. Even on nights when Sengun is healthy and Adams is resting, Smith Jr. at the 5 should be an option. It doesn't allow the Rockets to play how they typically play, but it could unlock new approaches. Capela should be a "break in case of emergency" option, and Smith Jr. at the 5 should be something the Rockets go to at least equally often.

He'd only add to one of the league's best big man rotations.