The Rockets are set to test their deadly five lineup! The twin towers lead a new trend, with Adams joking that we are the pioneers.

In the latter half of last season, the Rockets introduced a fresh tactic: a twin towers lineup with Sengun and Adams. This setup, paired with intense zone defense, baffled opponents and made them hard to counter.

Looking at the current NBA, “big man lineups” appear to be the prevailing trend. The Nuggets plan to pair Jokic with Valanciunas this season; the Magic are likely to revive a big frontcourt featuring Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, and Paolo Banchero; Spurs center Kessler also expressed his desire to play alongside Vassell.

“But we’re the first to do it!” Adams said during the Rockets’ training camp. “We are the trendsetters.” He later admitted this was a joke—the Rockets’ use of the twin towers was actually a response to their February loss against the Mavericks, where the Mavericks’ center duo of Davis and Gafford dominated them. The partnership of Sengun and Adams exceeded expectations, especially shining in the playoff series against the Warriors. Thus, this season the Rockets plan to further embrace a physical “tough style,” even considering employing a “death five” lineup.

The Rockets’ Death Five Concept

Head coach Udoka revealed that the Rockets might deploy a lineup consisting of Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Sengun, and Adams. In this group, Thompson, standing 2.01 meters tall, would be the shortest player, with the other four all measuring 2.11 meters. Their combined height reaches 10.45 meters.

“This lineup lets us fully capitalize on our height and size advantages,” Durant said. “Obviously, when facing teams that excel at spacing and play smaller lineups, we have some weaknesses. But I believe the strengths of this lineup outweigh the flaws. It can protect the paint, grab offensive rebounds, push the fast break, and score easily. Having a versatile team capable of deploying a big five is always crucial.”

For reference, according to Basketball Network data, the tallest recorded starting lineup in NBA history was the 1999 Mavericks lineup—Hubert Davis, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Anstey, and Shawn Bradley—with a total height of 10.52 meters.

The Return of Big Man Lineups

Udoka stated that he believes the league is generally returning to big man lineups, a trend he witnessed early in his NBA coaching career. While with the Spurs, he saw Duncan paired with Aldridge and Gasol; with the 76ers, he coached lineups featuring Embiid and Horford; and with the Celtics, he had Horford and Robert Williams on the floor together.

“I’m very familiar with this style. If the team’s roster and personnel allow, this approach is totally viable and can even counter the league’s trends to some extent,” Udoka said. “Our height advantage, combined with Sengun’s versatility, allows us to run various tactics. But I believe more teams are acquiring big men who can play together, and the league’s trends naturally cycle. Right now, it seems to be moving toward big man lineups.”

Players’ Expectations for the Big Five Lineup

Jabari Smith Jr. is excited at the thought of playing in a big five lineup. He believes this formation can succeed partly because of his and Durant’s shooting abilities, along with Amen’s driving skills.

“The league previously favored small lineups, but now it’s gradually shifting back to twin towers—on teams where it fits, this lineup can secure more offensive rebounds and bring a fresh tactical look,” Smith said. “Every team is different, but if the roster allows, why not give it a try?”

Sengun played power forward for the Turkish national team, so sharing the court with Adams is not an adjustment for him. On the contrary, it gives him more flexibility when handling the ball outside the paint. “I can’t wait to play this lineup,” Sengun said.

Sengun’s excellent passing skills perfectly complement Adams’s strength, creating a combination similar to the Thunder’s center Holmgren paired with Hartenstein, which greatly benefits the lineup’s fit.

Last season, the Rockets were already one of the NBA’s best rebounding teams, and this new lineup might elevate their rebounding even further. Last season, Thompson, Durant, Smith, Sengun, and Adams combined to average 37.1 rebounds per game.

This reminded Adams of his time playing alongside Ibaka and Durant on the Thunder—he mentioned Durant was a pioneer as a 2.11-meter player who could function as a wing. Durant also said this Rockets lineup is definitely the tallest he’s played with in his career.

“We need time to gel and find the best way to play both offense and defense,” Durant said. “Clearly, the team had some success with a similar lineup last season, so I want to figure out how to integrate better and contribute to the team.”

Weaknesses and Solutions for the Big Five Lineup

A potential weakness of this lineup offensively could be a lack of three-point shooting, leading to spacing issues—especially since the Rockets already face a shortage of perimeter firepower following injuries to VanVleet and Finnie Smith.

Durant and Smith are the Rockets’ main shooting threats; these two slender forwards can reliably hit mid-range shots and threes. However, Sengun is also ready to force opponents to guard him beyond the arc.

Throughout the summer, Sengun has been diligently practicing three-pointers and even attempted shots during the EuroBasket tournament—where he shot 31.8% from three (7 of 22). His NBA career three-point percentage stands at 27.2%, but he says he won’t hesitate to shoot whenever he has an open look.

“Like I said on media day, if they give me a three-point chance, EuroBasket was just practice for me,” Sengun said. “I’ll also try threes in the NBA. It’s not really a ‘try’—I just go out there and shoot.”

Adams believes that as long as the team communicates well and understands how to affect the opponent’s defense, the Rockets can create offensive space inside the three-point line. For example, Adams standing beyond the arc might not force defenders to move, but if he drives to the basket for a dunk, he can draw defensive attention.

“Basketball’s essence is about how much ‘gravity’ you can create to pull defenders, right?” Adams said. “The key is players understanding each other and moving proactively. You can’t just have a group of big men standing still—they must know defensive rotations. That requires basketball IQ, and only then can this lineup’s potential be fully realized.”

It remains uncertain whether the Rockets’ “tough style” will succeed or how far the twin towers trend will spread. But for now, the Rockets are fully committed to this lineup.

“No matter what, you have to stay ahead of the trend,” Adams said. “You can’t just follow what others do.”