Houston Rockets: Four projected lineup combinations the team must use

Lineup #2: Trot out the reserves

What I’d like to see: Paul/Harden, Gordon, Green, Anthony, Anderson/Nene

The offense in this lineup is limitless, especially with Anderson in the lineup, making this team a STRETCH FIVE!

We all know how D’Antoni does it. He staggers minutes to where a Hall of Fame point guard is always on the floor for all 48 minutes, unless it’s a blowout. It worked to perfection last season, so no need to end that notion now.

Now the defense in this lineup would almost be non-existent if you don’t have Paul and Nene on the floor. Gerald Green and Gordon are decent defenders but are lackadaisical at times, and we all know how Anthony does on that end. But I’m sure you can make substitutions with Tucker and Ennis throughout, so you can expect plenty of substitutions with the bench.

But if Anthony took the bench role, it would make this bench scary as hell. But with him not taking the role, there is an improved defensive bench, so there is a bright side to either role of Anthony. One could still play Anthony with the bench even though he would be a starter; therefore, he would be getting chunks of minutes at random points rather than throughout a game.

Expected Lineup: Paul/Harden, Gordon, Green, Ennis, Anderson/Nene