NBA Analysis: Do the Rockets have all the pieces needed for a deadly lineup?

I only had to see Reed Sheppard play for the Houston Rockets once to think about all the incredible possibilities this team offers, so let’s start with this one.

Recreating a “Death Lineup” like the Golden State Warriors of the 2010s is probably impossible given the circumstances it took to assemble a generational roster, but I think Houston has acquired enough players, each with their own unique skill set, to potentially create a buzzsaw of a five-man unit.

This restored the lineup that made the Death Lineup so powerful, and that’s how Golden State beat its opponents. The lineup itself consisted of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes, and Draymond Green. That was before Barnes was replaced by a guy named Kevin Durant in the revamped version known as the “Hamptons Five.”

The success of the formation itself was based on three things: top-notch spacing, multiple playmakers, and the ability of defenders to successfully switch against larger opponents.

For the Warriors, Curry, Thompson and later Durant spread the court like no other team has ever done or likely will. Iguodala and Green, not the most gifted scorers in the world, did their part offensively by operating as point forwards and finding open shooters who wreaked havoc by running behind multiple blocks. On defense, everyone except Curry was an exceptional defender, and in the case of Iguodala and Green, they were outstanding.

In my opinion, defense was always key, and it’s something that flew under the radar too often considering how electrifying their offense was. Green’s ability to cover opposing centers, along with Iguodala and Thompson making up for Curry’s weaknesses on the wing, made the team intimidating. Durant only strengthened their interior defense, and Curry, for his part, always put in the effort necessary on defense to make their switching scheme work.

Now back to the Rockets. Do I think they have the Unicorns that the Dubs had? No, but I don’t expect it to happen immediately. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were the Warriors. They had a youthful core with potential, but nobody knew they would develop into what they eventually became.

Looking at Houston’s core group, I think Sheppard could become one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in the game. Sheppard alone won’t take the Rockets into 2010s Warriors territory, but his range alone could open the field for everyone else.

Pretty much every Rockets fan would agree that the success of this rebuild ultimately depends on how good Amen Thompson becomes. While his jump shot may always be questionable, his defensive versatility and playmaking talent give me hope for the Rockets’ future. If he’s Houston’s pseudo-Green/Iguodala player, he’ll be the perfect complement to Sheppard.

Sheppard and Thompson will be complemented by Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. Both are players who have shown the ability to defend multiple positions, and if Smith continues to show he can defend opposing centers on occasion, that will be huge for Ime Udoka’s lineup flexibility in the future. Jabari’s ability to step out and make shots will also factor heavily into my theory, as it would be great to see him finally develop into the stretch big he was credited with being out of college.

As for Eason, I never lost faith. He will be the Swiss Army knife of Iguodala that I always expected.

That leaves us with just one player left for this ambitious fan-fiction-based roster, and I already know what you’re thinking.

“Will Alperen Sengun or Jalen Green finish last?”

The answer is neither, and that’s because Cam Whitmore has something to say. I think Whitmore has a better chance of completing this roster because he fits the profile better.

Going forward, Whitmore will likely be a more reliable three-point shooter than Green or Sengun, which is important to take the pressure off Sheppard. I also believe he can defend more positions than the other two. Even though he’s only 20, Whitmore is a unit, and if he follows Udoka’s defensive philosophy, it’s going to be a tough sell for teams trying to play well against Cam, Jabari, Amen, and Tari.

Also, the Death Lineup was never used for full games. It was a tactic that had great success in limited minutes. It’s not that Green or Sengun couldn’t play a role, they just don’t fit the ideal scheme for my lineup.

But it would take time to implement. I don’t expect them to become the Chicago Bulls of the 90s right away. None of these guys are even 24 or have played a bit of playoff basketball. I’m just manifesting myself here.