The Houston Rockets projected like one of the best teams in the NBA for the upcoming years after landing Kevin Durant. However, the team just got hit with very bad news before the season even starts. Their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet, is badly injured and now the team needs to rearrange their starting lineup.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, VanVleet suffered a torn ACL that could potentially end his season before it even tips off. Now, this is how the lineup should look:
- Point Guard: Amen Thompson
- Shooting Guard: Reed Sheppard
- Small Forward: Kevin Durant
- Power Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
The Rockets could also play with the lineup a little
While it may take a bit of adjustment, the Rockets could play with their roster until finding new heights. Amen Thompson can play from the 1 to the 3. Kevin Durant can also play as a PF if needed. However, there’s an intriguing thing that could be done to add size.
An intriguing opportunity is to put Alperen Sengun as a power forward and make Steven Adams the starting center. Adams is a leader, one of the best rebounders in the NBA and that let’s Sengun spread the floor with his ball handling ability. Then, this also means Durant stays as a small forward, where he shines.
It’s still a big blow to the Rockets
VanVleet is one of the few players on the roster with championship experience. But even further than that, he was the best ball handler on the team and arguably one of the best three-point shooters on the lineup.
He was key for this team and now the Rockets will hope that it’s not a season-ending injury. If they can recover him towards the later parts of the season and get him in form for the playoffs, the Rockets would be ecstatic.