Could Being Too Tall Be A Disadvantage To The Rockets This Season?

The Houston Rockets take on the NBA Champions OKC Thunder in their opener tonight and they will line up with the tallest lineup in NBA history. With the average height being 6 feet and 10 inches, their massive height advantage may not be as good as they think, and OKC could highlight that tonight.

The new look Houston Rockets look like a force on paper; Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Jabari Smith Jr, all standing at 6 foot 11 besides Amen Thompson, lining up as the tallest lineup in the NBA to date. The addition of future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant during the offseason is sure to add a massive scoring spark to the Houston offense, and a big player presence, however it is their lineup as a whole which looks frightening.

Taking on the reigning NBA Champions on opening night is the ideal test for a shaken up team who are looking to prove themselves early on, however their massive size and scope may be a disaster in disguise, and in today’s NBA, it could be something which changes pretty quickly. 

Every NBA fan knows that Kevin Durant is a shooter, and a very goo one, however what concerns me is the playmaking. It seems that the Rockets don’t really have a true out and out point guard, and the chance creation could be a clear weakness on opening night. When matching up against the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, their smaller scope and lower centre of gravity will definitely cause issues for a massive Rockets defense, and although shooting defense looks solid, they are very open to being exploited in the paint, and it is something every fan should look out for.