Rockets start two times in the double towers? Smith Jr. shows kindness to Shin Kyung: He is stronger and it is difficult to defend against singles

In order to get Durant, the Rockets had to send out their defenders Jaylen Green and Dillon Brooks. It is indeed a pity that the Rockets lost two of them directly last season. NBA legend Bee Bibi believes that the Rockets may not have a good record next season. Although they have obtained Durant, the Rockets' chemistry has been destroyed, and the players have to adapt to a new position, and Durant may not be able to succeed in the Rockets. Of course this is just a saying. Most people think that after the Rockets get Durant, they will become better and directly get the chance to compete for the championship.

Since the Rockets suddenly lost two starters, there will definitely be new changes in the starting lineup of the Rockets next season. Shin Kyung, Van Freit and Amen Thompson are naturally starters who cannot be defeated, and Durant will also occupy a starting position after joining. There will be many players competing for the last starting position, such as Ethan, Smith Jr. and Finney Smith.

The Rockets used three players to start power forward position last season: before the All-Star, the Rockets used Smith Jr. most of the time to start, and he and Shin Kyung became the double tower partner in the inside; then the Rockets occasionally used Ethan to start; after Smith Jr. was absent for a month due to injury, the Rockets allowed Amen Thompson to reach the starting power forward position until the end of this season. But Smith Jr. is likely to continue as the starting power forward next season, and since Jaylen Green is gone, Amen Thompson may return to the defender to start.

So next season, the Rockets' starting double tower will probably be Shinkyunga Jabary Smith Jr., which is also the most commonly used starting inside mode for the Rockets in the past three years. Smith Jr. likes to partner with Shin Kyung very much. He even took the initiative to show goodwill to Shin Kyung in an interview: "Shin Kyung is very skilled. I have been paying attention to him since the second year I joined the Rockets. Shin Kyung has been playing for the Rockets for 4 years. I have watched it all the way and found that Shin Kyung's athletic ability has become stronger and stronger. His physical performance and pressure on his opponents were not like this two years ago. At that time, he could not achieve such crushing performance. Now his opponents must double-team Shin Kyung. Some teams do not allow him to play one-on-one singles at low positions at all because he can't defend against Shin Kyung's singles at all. Shin Kyung can read the game and make simple and effective passes. And he is only 23 years old, and he is also one of the best players in the Rockets." Shin Kyung's shoulders are not light next season, and Smith Jr. feels the same.

In theory, Shin Kyung and Jabbarry Smith Jr. seem to be easier to partner together. Because although Amen Thompson has strong athletic ability and good rebounding and blocking skills at the No. 4 position, he will not shoot three-pointers and cannot open up space for Shin Kyung. More often, Amen Thompson will make the basket more crowded, and Shin Kyung can't perform at the best level.

But Smith Jr. is not like this at all. Last season, Smith Jr.'s three-point shooting percentage was as high as 35%, and his three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs exceeded 40%. Therefore, with Smith Jr. being around, he will make up for Shin Kyung's defense and open up space, Shin Kyung's 1-on-1 performance in the interior will be even better. So theoretically, next season, the starting lineup of the Rockets will still be Smith Jr.’s double tower combination.