The NBA Western Conference is loaded with talent. Stunningly deep with teams hoping to make a long postseason run, the 2020 playoffs are shaping up to be an absolute dog fight.
While it may not seem important now, bigs are important come April, May, and June, as teams who control the boards and defend the rim find it easier to outlast their opponents over the course of a seven-game series.
In this regard, the Rockets are taking a rather unusual approach. Instead of using bigs in the traditional sense, they have elected to forgo that position entirely, electing to go small instead.
But will it work? People have their doubts.
With a height of 6’5, Tucker is at least six inches shorter than all the other starting centers in the West (on the top eight teams). How will the Rockets stop bigs like Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, and Kristaps Porzingis if they don’t have anyone on the roster who matches their size?
Interestingly enough, Houston has fared well since saying goodbye to Capela. They’re fifth in the West and are riding a 6-game win streak. P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington have stepped up with surprising efforts on the defensive end.
But in the postseason, it’s unlikely that things will go the same way. It’ll be interesting to see how things turn out for the Rockets with all the chips on the line.
