Houston’s Spacing Problem: Can Sengun and Thompson Thrive Together?
Let’s talk about spacing. It’s one of those basketball buzzwords that gets thrown around so often it starts to lose meaning-until you watch a team like the Houston Rockets and realize just how crucial it really is.
In today’s NBA, spacing isn’t just a luxury-it’s the foundation. More shooters spread across the floor means more room to operate, more open looks, and, ultimately, more points.
It’s simple math: three is still more than two. But for the Rockets, the equation isn’t adding up the way it should.
The Rockets’ Spacing Dilemma
By modern standards, Houston’s spacing is, well, rough. That’s not a knock on the talent-they’ve got plenty-but when two of your best players outside of Kevin Durant (yes, that Kevin Durant) are Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, and neither of them can reliably stretch the floor, it creates a real conundrum.
Sengun and Thompson are both dynamic in their own ways. Sengun is a gifted post player and an elite passer for his position.
Thompson is a downhill force with elite defensive chops. But they both need the paint.
And there’s only so much paint to go around.
This isn’t the first time this question has come up: Can Sengun and Thompson co-exist? The optimistic view says yes-if Sengun can develop into a passable shooter, the pairing can work. But what if he doesn’t?
Do the Rockets Need Four-Out Spacing?
Short answer: yes. Long answer? Still yes.
Let’s look at the recent 112-point outing against the Thunder. On the surface, that’s a solid total, especially against the NBA’s top-ranked defense.
But dig a little deeper, and it gets complicated. Oklahoma City was missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams-two key defenders.
So was this a step forward for Houston’s offense, or just a convenient matchup?
There’s evidence to suggest progress. The Rockets launched 43 threes in that game-right up there with the league’s most trigger-happy teams like the Warriors and Celtics.
That’s a big shift for a team that typically ranks near the bottom in three-point attempts per game. For context, Houston averages just over 30 threes per game-29th in the league.
But jacking up threes doesn’t automatically equal good spacing. It’s about threats, not just attempts. And right now, the Rockets don’t have enough floor-spacers to keep defenses honest.
Vertical Spacing vs. Floor Spacing
Some fans point to players like Jalen Duren in Detroit-another non-shooter-who still finds a way to coexist with another Thompson brother, Ausar. But that’s a different setup.
Duren is a vertical spacer, a lob threat who creates gravity at the rim, and Ausar plays mostly off-ball. In Houston, Sengun is at his best operating from the low post, and Amen needs the ball to be effective.
That’s a lot of congestion in the same real estate.
So what happens when both of your key young players need to operate in the paint, and neither can reliably stretch the floor?
You get a clogged offense that’s easy to scheme against.
The Defensive Blueprint Against Houston
Right now, defending the Rockets isn’t rocket science. Put your center on Thompson, sag off, and clog the lane.
That one move effectively cuts off both Thompson and Sengun. Unless Durant can create something out of nothing, the Rockets’ offense starts to feel like squeezing juice from a lemon-without the sugar.
Sure, you can get creative. Run some high-post actions with Sengun, let Thompson cut off the ball.
That works-in doses. But you can’t build a whole offense on workaround plays.
Eventually, you need one of these guys to become a legitimate shooting threat.
So What’s the Fix?
There’s no need to hit the panic button just yet. The Rockets can afford to be patient.
If Rafael Stone wants to see how things look with Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams back in the lineup, that’s a reasonable next step. And there’s still hope that Sengun-or even Thompson-can develop enough of a jumper to make this pairing work.
But if we get a year or two down the line and the shooting hasn’t come around, Houston may face a tough decision.
Sengun or Thompson: Who’s the Keeper?
If it comes to choosing between the two, it won’t be easy.
Sengun has the higher offensive ceiling. Against the Thunder, he posted a triple-double-17 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists-and looked every bit like the player who’s drawn Jokic comparisons. Give him four shooters, and he becomes a hub you can build around.
But Thompson brings something far more rare: elite wing defense. He might already be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. And in terms of trade value, it’s a lot easier to find another skilled big man than it is to find a defender with Thompson’s instincts, athleticism, and versatility.
It really depends on the direction Houston wants to go.
Building Around a Star: Two Paths
Let’s say the Rockets want to go all-in on a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo. In that scenario, Thompson might be the better fit.
Giannis already fills the paint-attacking, post-up role that Sengun thrives in. Thompson could slide off-ball, feast on cuts, and help turn the Rockets into a layup-and-dunk machine.
Giannis is shooting over 81% at the rim this season. That kind of efficiency would completely change Houston’s offensive ceiling.
On the flip side, if a player like Anthony Edwards were to become available, the calculus changes. Edwards is a dynamic perimeter scorer with deep range.
Pairing him with Sengun would give Houston a devastating inside-outside combo. Defenses would be stretched to the breaking point.
The Ideal Outcome
Of course, the dream scenario is that Houston doesn’t have to choose. If Sengun can add a respectable three-point shot-or if Thompson can become a consistent catch-and-shoot threat-the Rockets can keep both and build something special around them.
But if the shooting never comes, this could get complicated. At some point, the front office may have to make a call.
And when that time comes, it won’t be about who’s better in a vacuum. It’ll be about fit, scarcity, and the kind of team the Rockets want to become.
For now, the clock isn’t ticking too loudly. But it’s definitely running.