The 11th player in rotation is in place, the Rockets 8+2 new defender has defensive attributes, and supports the substitute lineup with Shepard

The Rockets have been "armed to the teeth" this season. Since the deal was obtained by Durant, every signing from the team was just right, without a premium contract. Last season, the West was second in the West and this year it was a strong contender for the championship, attracting many free agents. After Bill and Smart had their next home one after another, the Rockets did not sit idly by. They signed defender Okogie for $3.1 million a year, which was not a very cost-effective signing, adding to the second team and defense.

Okogi is 27 years old this year, at the peak of his career. He played for the Hornets last season and averaged 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, and his shooting percentage is not high. Uduka signed Finney Smith, Capela and Okogie this offseason with one thing in common, and their individual single defense ability is extremely strong. Head coach Uduka's tactical philosophy is that defense takes precedence over offense. The Rockets cannot get points, and the opponent should not want to get points easily. Okogie added the Rockets' back line, and defending Curry made him famous in one battle.

During the Suns, Okogi and Durant were teammates, and integration and running-in were not a problem, but his career went around in circles. The important reason was that his defense was very strong, his offense was poor, and his three-pointers were not stable enough. The offensive end relied more on counterattacks and empty cuts over the basket. The Rockets don't need him to defend. After all, with a super scorer like Durant, Shin Kyung also needs the ball in the interior, so other players can just defend well. After a series of operations, the Rockets' defense was full.

The Rockets' rotation of 11 players is basically formed in the new season, starting with Van Vleet, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabarry Smith and Shinkin. Shepard, Okogi, Finney Smith, Ethan and Adams, and there is also an extra Capela. Compared to last season, Uduka often uses 8-man rotation. The Rockets have more choices in the new season. The three centers take turns to partner with the Double Tower. In extreme cases of the outside line, 5 forward players above 2 meters can be arranged.

Everything is ready. The Rockets' second team is only one shooter away. Shepard can partner with Okoji to support the second team, but the three-pointers are not stable enough. Don't expect Okoji's three-pointers. There is no average shooting season in his career. Shepard's three-pointer is his characteristic, but unfortunately he has never realized his talent. After making two appearances in the summer league, he withdrew due to injury and averaged 23 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4 steals per game, but his three-point shooting percentage is only 31.8%. The low-end game relies on low-efficiency data swiping.

The Rockets currently have little room for operation, and there are few low shooters in the free market. They can only rely on internal excavation. The main reason is that Shepard's three-pointer can meet expectations, and the Rockets' projection is not a shortcoming. At the same time, Durant is also required to maintain attendance. Compared with last season's strategy, the Rockets' tactics will not change much overall. The regular season can achieve a good ranking by relying on the forward group. The key is not to repeat the same mistakes in the playoffs. The Rockets' offseason reinforcement is basically coming to an end, just waiting for the new season to soar.