Houston’s X-Factor
For the Houston Rockets, the player to keep an eye on is the aforementioned Ryan Anderson. Anderson has been everything Houston hoped for when it signed him in the offseason, stretching the floor by hitting almost three 3’s a game at over 40 percent. As part of the Rocket’s most used five-man lineup, alongside starters Harden, Capela, Beverly, and Ariza, he has contributed to a net rating of 13.9, which would lead the league.
Houston has no reason to think this won’t continue versus the Thunder, but what they unlocked in Anderson’s absence at least gives them something to think about. Replaced by Eric Gordon in the starting lineup, with the other four starters, that grouping had an even better net rating of 16.3 in just over 100 minutes.
It’s no secret that due to their lack of shooting, the Thunder prefer to play big. Having Anderson on the court allows OKC to do just that, but by replacing him with Gordon, it puts the Thunder in an uncomfortable place. Sitting Anderson will be tougher with Sam Dekker out for at least the early part of the playoffs after suffering a broken hand.
Still, if the Rockets feel that going small gives them a better chance to shoot Oklahoma City off the court, Anderson could wind up finding his minutes limited in the first round.