Deep analysis of the Rockets new lineup: How Durant changes the team s ceiling

The Rockets completed a shocking league deal in the offseason, giving away Jaylen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in the first round of 2025 and five future second-round picks, and obtained two-time Finals MVP Durant from the Suns. The Rockets have officially become a strong contender for the championship from a young team.

The Rockets' expected starting lineup for the new season is: Van Vleet serves as point guard, Amen Thompson serves as shooting guard, Durant plays as small forward, Jabarry Smith Jr. serves as power forward, and Shin Kyung guards the inside center position. This lineup has an average height of 2.04 meters. Compared with last season, it has made up for offensive efficiency and is already a team with both offense and defense.

The Rockets achieved a second record in the Western Conference with 52 wins and 30 losses last season, but were eliminated by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. The team lacks a stable scoring point on the offensive end, especially when it is often stuck in a scoring drought at critical moments in the playoffs. Although eight players in the team average double-digit points per game, there are few stars who can score at critical moments. The arrival of Durant just filled this gap. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, with a shooting percentage of 52.7%, and an astonishing 43% of his three-point shooting percentage. US media predicts that he will average 25.7 points per game in the new season, which not only provides stable scoring output, but also has rich playoff experience as a key factor for the Rockets to go further.

other starting players of the Rockets are also immediate players. Shin Kyung averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season, growing into an All-Star center; Amen Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and his shooting percentage was as high as 55.7%; Jabbarry Smith averaged 12.2 points, and 7 rebounds per game.

Compared with last season, the biggest change for the Rockets is the improvement in the offensive end. The team averaged 114.3 points per game last season, ranking only 14th in the league, with a three-point shooting percentage of 35.3%, ranking 21st in the league. Durant's joining will improve the team's outside firepower, and the three-point shooting percentage is expected to remain at 41.1%.

Losed Jaylen Green and Dillon Brooks in the offseason, and the Rockets weakened in the depth of the backcourt. Durant is 37 years old, and his physical fitness and defensive lateral movement speed are not as good as before. His shooting percentage may decline in the final quarter, and his teammates need to assist in defense. VanVleet's offensive efficiency is also unstable, and his three-point shooting percentage is greatly affected by his feel.

Defensive end, the Rockets performed well last season, ranking 6th in the league with 109.8 points averaging 109.8 points, and ranked 5th in the league in defensive efficiency. In the new season, with Amen Thompson mentioning the starting second position, his outside defense will become the team's key player in the backcourt defense, and his personal defense ability is enough to limit the league's top forward guards.

Rebounds have always been the Rockets' advantage, ranking first in the league last season with an average of 48.5 rebounds per game. With Steven Adams' contract renewal and Shin Kyung's growth in the new season, and Capela's return, the inside advantage is expected to be maintained or even strengthened.

On the bench, the Rockets retained the vitality of Ethan, Adams, Shepard and others. As a defensive vanguard, Ethan's steal and blocking ability is at the upper and upper level of the league; Adams provides inside thickness and rebounding guarantees. The Rockets' lineup for the new season is indeed much stronger on paper, from a youth army that relies on teams to a championship team with superstars. Durant's joining has increased the team's offensive cap and injected the team with championship experience and problem-solving ability at critical moments.

The preseason and the first half of the regular season are important times for the Rockets to get in the lineup. Can coach Uduka's tactical system activate Durant's maximization role?