NBA Playoffs 2020: 5 reasons the Houston Rockets can win it all

2. They can thrive by going super small

The Rockets have never been afraid to go small, but they’ve taken things to a new level this year. Houston will enter the season fully prepared to play P.J. Tucker at the center for long stretches.

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That means D’Antoni’s team will play big minutes with a center who measures in at just 6-foot-5. Tucker is a beast who can play strong post defense against bigger players, but his lack of size and length can still be an issue against certain opponents.

Going small is a huge advantage for the Rockets on the offensive end of the floor. It gives Houston the chance to deploy quality perimeter shooters at every position. That makes double-teaming Harden a poor gamble for opposing defenders. It effectively makes the Rockets offense impossible to guard when they are able to shoot 3s from the center spot.

There simply aren’t many big men capable of punishing Tucker with their post-game and are also capable of tracking him beyond the arc. That gives the Rockets a tremendous tactical advantage to deploy in the postseason. Look for their small lineup to turn at least one close series in their favor.