Houston Rockets: Why the New Rotation Should Stick

Houston Rockets fans     the Rockets have a three game lead for the number one seed in the playoffs. However, there are only TWELVE more games in the regular season for the team to completely lock it down. Mike D’Antoni has been EXPERIMENTING with a new rotation, take a look on why it should stick!

The Houston Rockets are ROLLING, they have already surpassed last year’s win total with their 56th last night. However, they shouldn’t pump the brakes yet, as they are only 2 wins away from setting a franchise record! D’Antoni never seems to settle for less than excellence as he is still tinkering with the lineup 70 games into the season. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle revealed the new line up for last night’s game:

Part of this new change is surely due to a healthy roster, something the team hasn’t had in weeks. One of the biggest changes has been with Ryan Anderson. While the change has been a short one, and is nowhere near permanent, the results seem promising.

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D’Antoni has shifted Anderson from the team’s starting power forward to the team’s back up center. Unfortunately, this move has supplanted Nene in the rotation.  While Nene is a quality player in his 15th season, his impact has been minimal in the Houston Rockets’ style of play. The shift from PF to C might mean a slight drop in minutes, but it hasn’t mitigated his value, thus far.

In fact, this move could end up increasing Anderson’s effectiveness. Anderson’s two point percentage has climbed to 55%, which should be a career high. So playing the 5 should increase his opportunities in the paint. However, not only should his 2P% increase, his threes should also. The odds of him lining up with a phenomenal defender running with the 2s is smaller than with the ones. Anderson should also get more less-contested chances from the three point line.

How does this affect the rest of the rotation?

While it has been very short lived (so far), Gerald Green has seen a bump in action in this new rotation. Somehow, the Houston Rockets were able to pull Green off the couch mid-season. He came on and immediately contributed by adding life and athleticism to the squad.

Green has recently be injected into the rotation with the 2s over veteran Joe Johnson. Green is making threes at a higher clip than his career average while playing more minutes than his career average. The team acquired Johnson to provide leadership and minutes, however Green has more than earned his place in the rotation. Green’s athleticism and energy are a huge boon to this squad. Growing up in Houston, Green has a fire and passion for this team and his teammates. Take a look,

Should D’Antoni and the Houston Rockets stick with this rotation?

The answer to that question is a simple, resounding yes. These simple changes have injected more athleticism and energy into the rotation. Bumping Anderson out of the starters into the second unit has allowed PJ Tucker to jump in. Additionally, Anderson also brings another sharp shooter to the second unit.

However, Green over Johnson adds more athleticism and energy, like I stated earlier. More so,  Green brings more defensive versatility to the second unit. Green alongside Luc Mbah a Moute allows for D’Antoni to move his players around like a chess master.

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The Houston Rockets should absolutely stick with this rotation. This rotation gives the Rockets the greatest chance to clinch the number one seed. This rotation also gives the squad it’s best shot to navigate through the playoffs and bring Houston another championship.

GO ROCKETS!