Houston Rockets: Analyzing potential small-ball lineups

The Houston Rockets added several dynamic defenders this offseason, which gives them the potential to throw out various small-ball lineups this season.

In previous seasons, the Houston Rockets haven’t had numerous above-average wing defenders. This can put a team in a tough position as teams around the league increasingly turn to small-ball lineups. Of course, the most notable (and feared) small-ball lineup is the “Death Lineup” employed by the Golden State Warriors.

However, this offseason, the Rockets brought in P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute to help on the defensive end and in turn, make the Rockets a more versatile defensive team. Although they won’t always turn to small-ball lineups due to their impressive depth at center, it is important that as a result of these additions, they can now throw different variations of a such lineups at opposing teams when necessary.

Let’s take a closer look at some dynamic and versatile small-ball lineups we may see on the court this season for the Rockets .

1. A defensive-focused lineup

Lineup: Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza, Mbah a Moute, Tucker

Simply put, this lineup would be employed to get stops. The Rockets would have above-average defenders at four of the five positions on the floor, while Gordon can be average on that end of the floor as well.

Offensively, this lineup could struggle, as Ariza, Mbah a Moute and Tucker aren’t consistent threats from beyond the arc. Also, all three players are severely limited in terms of ball-handling, which would put a lot of pressure on Paul (and Gordon to an extent) to create good looks for them.

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However, Paul and Gordon should be up to the task, and with both of them being elite shooters, that would also help the offense in such a lineup. However, the primary goal/focus of this lineup is clamping down opponents on the defensive end.

Mbah a Moute is perhaps the most underrated defender in the league. Last season, he posted a 1.6 defensive box plus-minus and was ninth in the league among power forwards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, posting a 2.32. Mbah a Moute is a very versatile defender, and at 6’8″ he is able to guard a variety of positions, from guards to power forwards. This makes him a vital inclusion in any small-ball lineup, as he can switch onto smaller wings or guard opposing bigs.

In a February game against the San Antonio Spurs, Mbah a Moute displayed his versatile defensive abilities as he masterfully guarded both Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge:

Meanwhile, P.J. Tucker is one of the most physical defenders in the league, which allows him to guard on the perimeter and in the post.  Last season Tucker posted a defensive box plus-minus of 1.9 and a defensive real plus-minus of 1.78, good for 12th in the league among small forwards.

It is very likely that Tucker plays the Draymond Green role in any small-ball lineup the Rockets throw out on the floor, and while Tucker is nowhere near the versatile player Green is on both ends of the floor, the Rockets haven’t had someone of Tucker’s defensive prowess and versatility in recent seasons.

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And perhaps more importantly, Tucker has an attitude toward the game (and defense specifically) that will lift up and motivate his teammates, similar to Patrick Beverley‘s role in recent years.

When you combine those two with Ariza (who is still a slightly above average defender) and Paul, you have the recipe for a lockdown defensive lineup, one that can go toe-to-toe with most small-ball lineups around the league.

2. Adding an offensive twist

Lineup: Paul, James Harden, Gordon, Mbah a Moute, Tucker

Small-ball lineups don’t have to be solely focused on the defensive end. By inserting Harden into the lineup in place of Ariza, the Rockets have the makings of a lineup that will be dynamic offensively while still being able to get stops due to the frontcourt versatility.

While Harden is a liability on defense (though it is possible that he may improve this season due to a decreased offensive load), Paul, Mbah a Moute and Tucker are still on the floor, providing defensive versatility. Houston could insert Ariza for Mbah a Moute if they desire more shooting, but having Paul, Gordon and Harden on the floor should space defenses out enough.

This lineup would still be able to switch all pick-and-rolls on defense, but it would be able to torment opposing defenses more with both Harden and Paul on the floor. With both guards on the floor, the role players would see quality looks on a consistent basis from beyond the arc, which would prevent the offense from stalling.

Mbah a Moute shot 41.5 percent on corner 3-pointers last season, while Tucker hit 45.5 percent of such attempts. It’s safe to say that when provided quality looks (especially in the corners), both can shoot well from beyond the arc.

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There are other small-ball lineups that could include Ryan Anderson at center for more shooting, but at that point Houston would be sacrificing its defensive versatility. In the end, the Rockets have a plethora of small-ball lineups that when used in conjunction with their traditional lineups, will make them a nightmare for opponents on a nightly basis.