10 players have a wingspan of over 7 feet! They are ranked first in the league, the NBA is the best team to defend against, and the Western Conference finale is

The Rockets have undoubtedly become the focus of fans' attention as the beginning of the October preseason. Superstar Durant was obtained through trades during the offseason. The Rockets' lineup strength has been significantly improved, making people look forward to the team's performance in the new season. In the upcoming training camp, the Rockets' new lineup will usher in a running-in period, striving to transform paper strength into dominance in the arena. According to the latest league combat power list, the Rockets are still the first echelon in the championship. It is generally believed that Durant's arrival has greatly increased the team's ceiling. The Rockets' current lineup depth is luxurious, and in some aspects it surpasses the peak Rockets of 2018. The starting lineup of the new season of the Rockets is composed of Van Vleet, Durant, Smith, Amen and Shinkyung. The starting lineup of the 2018 Rockets is Paul, Harden, Ariza, PJ Tucker and Capela. But the Rockets' current lineup has better substitute depth and can take out 10 players to rotate. In 2018, the Rockets only have 7-8 players to rotate. Even Capela can only play as the third substitute center in the Rockets now. From this point of view, the Rockets currently have an advantage. Tactical in 2018, the Rockets took the "Light Bulb Combination" (Harden and Paul) as the core, and shone in the regular season with their efficient singles ability and team collaboration, with a record of 65 wins.

The Rockets' style of playing in 18 is mainly composed of Harden and Paul's singles. Teammates open up space, and Capela is responsible for eating the cake in the interior. The overall strategy emphasizes reducing mistakes and relies on the efficient offense of the light bulb combination to lead the team forward. That year, Harden ranked first in the league in singles efficiency, with Paul following. Today's Rockets are closer to the Denver Nuggets' system. Shin Kyung and Van Vleet launched an attack through pick-and-roll, and Shin Kyung was the axis of the inside, paired with a group of forward players with excellent athletic capabilities. The difference between the two teams is that in 2018, the Rockets were centered on the outside, and Harden was the offensive engine, while the Rockets now focused on the inside, and organized offense with Shin Kyung as the core.

On the offensive end, the Rockets are now more dependent on Durant's singles ability at critical moments. Although Durant's offensive threat may be slightly inferior to the light bulb combination of that year, his scoring ability at critical moments is unquestionable. More importantly, the Rockets' resources and talents on the defensive end are far higher than those in 2018. According to data shared by Bradeaux on social media, the Rockets' 14-man roster, except for Van Vleet, Holiday, Shepard and Tate, the remaining 10 players have more than 7 feet (about 2.13 meters). This arm-span advantage makes the Rockets extremely deterrent on the defensive end, and can almost form two death five-defense lineups, making it difficult for the opponent to breathe in the 48-minute game.

It is worth mentioning that the Rockets ranked first in the league in the regular season offensive efficiency, but only ranked eighth in defensive efficiency. Last season, even without Durant, the Rockets had already ranked fifth in the league in defensive efficiency and once reached second. Durant's joining further improves the team's offensive and defensive balance, especially his contribution on the defensive end cannot be underestimated. Last season, Amen Thompson ranked first in the league in scoring per 100 rounds, with Durant following. Shin Kyung's performance in the European Championship was also eye-catching, and he showed his organizational and offensive ability close to Jokic.

coupled with Amen's continuous progress, the Rockets' offensive efficiency in the new season is expected to be significantly improved, at least to be at the forefront of the league. Fire can be said that Arrows' defensive talent is the biggest highlight of the new season. The configuration of 10 players with a 7-foot wingspan makes the Rockets the team with the longest wingspan in the league. In contrast, although the Rockets in 2018 are unparalleled on the offensive end, they are slightly insufficient on the defensive end. The Rockets' resources and depth on the defensive end now make them hope to surpass their peak periods and become one of the strongest defensive teams in the league. At present, the Rockets traded with Jaylen Green Dillon's 10th draw for Durant, which has significantly improved the team's offensive and defensive capabilities. The arrival of Durant not only enhanced the Rockets' scoring ability at critical moments, but also injected championship experience into the team. As a top star, Durant does not need to spend too much energy in the regular season in the new season, and can save his energy to critical moments in the playoffs and reap victory and honor. In addition, the Rockets' lineup depth and offensive and defensive balance give them the potential to compete for the championship. It is generally believed that the Rockets are one of the hottest teams to win the championship in the new season. Because it is too difficult for the NBA to win consecutive championships, except for the Golden State Warriors who achieved consecutive championships in 2017 and 2018, the champion teams in recent years have not been able to defend their titles successfully. The Nuggets in 2023 were unexpectedly eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, and the Celtics in 2024 also performed poorly on the road to defending their title. As the champion of 2025, the Thunder's prospects for defending the title are also not optimistic.

Durant can say that this decision was right, and the Rockets do have the ability to give the league a finale. It is also beneficial to the Rockets. Durant's joining is not only an improvement on the court, but also a significant increase in the Rockets' business. Currently, the new season's season tickets have increased directly by 25%. It is expected that Durant's next contract will be a 2-year maximum salary, and he will bind the Rockets to the age of 40 in the next three years. The Rockets' lineup depth allows Durant to play the most role in the playoffs without over-exploding in the regular season. Shin Kyung's rise as the core of the inside, Amen's growth and Van Vleet's organizational ability make the Rockets' offensive system more diversified. The talent and depth on the defensive end provide a solid backing for the team. It can be said that the Rockets have almost no obvious shortcomings in the lineup configuration in the new season, and they have top competitiveness on both offense and defense.