With respect to the NBA's 3pt % leader, there are fancy metrics that suggest DFS should be our 4th starter if he comes back at full health. But at face value it's a weird fit if he slots in for a younger and quicker Okogie. Then again, on opening day Adams had "Okogie's spot" but... that didn't last long. Maybe DFS splits the difference between the two because we all know there can NEVER be enough positionless SF/PFs on a Rockets roster* Here's another cherry-picked stat for you. Our boy Reed ranks #6 in DBPM this year, a little worse than Wemby and a little better than Giannis. I like Jabari, but you'll be hard pressed to find any advanced metrics that suggest he's one of the 5 best players on the team. Even Okogie is ranked #10 in DBPM league-wide. Given all of the above, and assuming no injuries, the starting lineup by season's end SHOULD be KD | Sengun | Amen | DFS | Reed, even though there's a strong case that Adams is top 5 on our team. Reed is a playmaker on both sides of the ball that can help put teams away early and DFS is a Battier-type vet who won't screw anything up (and possibly help a helluva lot). We'd still have sharpshooters coming off the bench in Bari/Tari/Holliday/Okogie with Adams. *kudos to 2010-2012 Rockets draft classes, led by players with same letter initials, Rockets twitter darling Terrence Jones and aspiring Senator/jet propulsion enthusiast Royce White, in that order. Was he really going to drive from Minnesota to DC for every vote?! Things we may never know. But I'd wager on a positive correlation between his NBA & Congressional attendance records
I think the 5th starter continues to vary depending on matchup. The dark horse being FVV if he can pull off the Willis Reed return in March.
Holliday as PG not an option ? Holliday, Thompson, Durant, Bari, Sengun Reed, Tari, DFS, Adams off bench
My prediction is that Dorian Finney-Smith will be the fifth starter, not Reed. I'm basing it on how important defense is to Ime. DFS has been a 40% 3-point shooter over the last two years, and his ball-handling seems good enough for the starting lineup. However, I believe Ime will go with DFS because of his defense unless Reed continues to improve on both offense and defense. Dorian Finney-Smith's ball handling skills are characterized by his ability to handle the ball effectively in various situations. His defensive prowess and versatility make him a valuable asset to any team. Finney-Smith's ball handling is not only evident in his defensive play but also in his offensive contributions, where he can create opportunities for himself and his teammates. His ability to cut, get on the boards, and screen off-ball on offense showcases his skill in handling the ball and creating plays. The Sports Rush Dorian Finney-Smith just put together one of the most quietly elite isolation defensive seasons in the entire NBA—despite rarely being mentioned among the league’s top defenders. Opposing stars like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, Steph Curry, and Nikola Yokić shot a combined 3-for-21 against him in iso, just 14.3% from the field. That includes holding KD and Yokić to their lowest shooting percentages of the season among any defender who faced them 10+ times. Dorian Finney-Smith Is The IDEAL Fit For Ime Udoka’s Rockets!
So many have picked the first option - Do you realize that's Sengun, Amen and 3 forwards? A Center, a positionless player and three forwards .... DFS hasn't even laced them up yet .... Sengun, Amen, KD, Jabari and either Reed or Okogie.
DFS is not a guard though. Amen, DFS, KD, Bari, Sengun feels a bit too clunky. I think if Okogie keeps shooting threes at a good clip he’s probably a better fit at guard as a starter and bring DFS off the bench with Tari and Reed (assuming Reed is still on bench, if Reed starts than it’s Reed and Amen at guard spots). And DFS can start when KD or Bari miss time.
2nd to last with DFS and Adams. Rebounds matter, and the defensive lineup with double bigs will go a long way, once they slow the game down in playoffs half court. DFS is a playoff stopper as well as Adams. We need the exp.
Agreed the DFS signing is underrated. Lakers top 3 2-man lineups last season all had him https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2025/lineups/#lineups_2-man_::3
KD, Sengun, Amen, Tari, Reed Tari has arguably been better than Bari this season so far. If it continues, I think he gets the starting spot. And if Reed continues to improve, you might have to start him.
