Prediction #1: Rockets Triple-Bigs Will Lead Team In +/-
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka loves to play double bigs. However, this season, he’ll have three starting-caliber centers on the roster: All-Star Alperen Sengun, potential starter Steven Adams, and likely reserve Clint Capela. So why not triple down and go triple bigs?
Clearly, a Sengun-Adams-Capela lineup would have some serious limitations. Adams and Capela can’t really score more than five feet out from the basket. Sengun’s not exactly a stretch big either, 75.8 percent of his field goals being taken within 10 feet. A third big on the court will run out of interior space to defend in a zone, or lurk in ominously on offense.
Yet, the Sengun-Adams duo had a +5.0 on-court rating last season, second to only Sengun departed big man Jock Landale in Houston’s two-man lineups. The trio of Sengun, Adams and Capela will be played together, at least very sparingly. The lineup could be utilized situationally, such as late in games or quarters, to snare rebounds off of free-throw misses. That none of the three are excellent free-throw shooters themselves might put some dents in this otherwise flawless late-game strategy. Regardless, fans will be happy to cheer the trio.
