According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Houston Rockets fans should prepare to see an increased reliance on two-big-man lineups that feature both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams during the upcoming season.
While neither player is known for their perimeter shooting – Sengun converted just 23.3% of his three-point attempts last season, and Adams has only hit one three-pointer in his entire NBA career (1-of-17) – the Rockets saw surprising success when the two shared the court.
Despite their lack of outside range, the duo’s ability to pass, rebound, and bring physicality in the paint created a winning formula that caught the attention of rival teams across the Western Conference.
Iko notes that other teams may attempt to replicate this unconventional but effective pairing.
Houston’s recent addition of Clint Capela should provide depth and help reduce the physical burden on Adams throughout the season.
However, Capela doesn’t possess the same passing instincts as Sengun or Adams, so it’s unclear whether a Capela-Sengun tandem could recreate the same synergy.
Sengun’s development as a shooter will be crucial – not just to make the two-big lineups more viable, but also to coexist with Amen Thompson, whose shooting remains a work in progress.
Iko reports that expanding his shooting range is one of Sengun’s key offseason goals, and Thompson is similarly focused on improving his jumper.
Southwest Notes: Rockets Bigs, Christie, Lazare, Spurs https://t.co/IHZgzzZxtI pic.twitter.com/OrhGMwDVSb
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