D'Antoni Mulls Rockets Center Rotation After Defensive Struggles

Mike D'Antoni said the Rockets could experiment with Thabo Sefolosha at center in small-ball lineups

The Rockets should feel good about their offensive output through the first two games of 2019-20. Houston scored 111 points in its loss to Milwaukee on Thursday, and the Rockets blitzed the Pelicans in a 126-123 win on Saturday. Russell Westbrook has been electric. Houston ranks third in the league in pace. The Rockets' high-octane attack appear to be as advertised, even as James Harden starts the season 3-26 from three. And there's little concern in Houston regarding Harden's slow start. 

"Yeah, [Harden's] awful. I don't think he's had enough good games for us to trust him," head coach Mike D'Antoni joked on Sunday. "That's the last thing I'm concerned with. That's one thing you can take to the bank, he's fine."

Yet Houston enters Monday's matchup against Oklahoma City at 1–1 despite its impressive offensive efficiency, and D'Antoni's crew sits No. 20 in the NBA in net rating. Two games is of course a tiny sample, but D'Antoni noted his concern over Houston's defensive struggles to open the season, specifically at center.

"[Clint Capela] needs to get better," D'Antoni said. "Be a better rim protector."

Capela's minutes to start the season have dipped compared to his 2018-19 figures. The 25-year-old played 31 minutes against Milwaukee on opening night, sitting for stretches in the fourth quarter even as Brook Lopez took control of Milwaukee's offense. Capela played just 24 minutes in Saturday's win over the Pelicans. D'Antoni attributed Capela's extended time on the bench largely to "matchups," though he mulled additional options if Houston chose to embrace small-ball lineups, including using Thabo Sefolosha at center.

Sefolosha is likely to be used only sparingly at the five if D'Antoni turns to the super-small lineup. P.J. Tucker is the far more viable option. Houston leaned on Tucker at center for significant stretches last season–known as the Tuckwagon lineup–and it doesn't look like D'Antoni will scale those lineups back 2019-20. Tucker will turn 35 in May. He played the fourth-most minutes in the West last season. D'Antoni doesn't seemed concerned.

"P.J. is a warrior, he's fine," D'Antoni said. "If we go small, he's going to have to go extra minutes, so we'll see how it goes. We're aware of everyone's minutes. ... but he's the least affected by it of anybody."

Capela's minutes should creep toward last season's 33.6 mark in the coming nights considering Houston's opponents. Steven Adams comes to the Toyota Center on Monday. The Rockets will face DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen in Brooklyn on Friday. A long season ahead will necessitate plenty of production from Capela.

But Houston embraced Tucker-at-center lineups against Rudy Gobert and the Jazz in the 2019 playoffs, and the 6'6" forward is often D'Antoni's best option against Golden State. Capela remains critical to the Rockets' Finals hopes; he remains far from their only option in a particular series. Harden and Westbrook should make Capela's life easy on the offensive end, but his performance as a rim protector will shape his sixth season with Houston.