Can the Rockets achieve the exchange of 4 and 5 positions?

Shen Jing developed a three-pointer, and the more he played, the more he relied on the outside. Xiao Jia hangs the meat, can pick-and-roll and go down, and the more he played, the more he relied on the inside, and the Rockets achieved the No. 4 and 5 swap. I think this is the Rockets' perfect inside combination. Let's analyze the possibility of swap, the premise is that the nerve develops a three-pointer rate of 35, with a production of about 2. Xiao Jia completed his ideological transformation and completely abandoned the fantasy of becoming the core of the ball, gaining muscle and hiking muscle, practicing three-pointers and defense hard.

1. The core conditions for supporting "swap"

The transformation direction of the two people just fills each other's shortcomings and forms tactical complementarity:

1. Shen Jing transforms into the fourth position: provide space and support

After Shen Jing develops three-pointers, the external pulling ability can solve the problem of "occupying the inner space" of the traditional fifth position - when playing the fourth position, he can stand outside the three-point line to restrain the opponent's inside line, creating space for Xiao Jia (number 5) to go down and hold the position; at the same time, Shen Jing's support ability (average of 2.6 assists in his career) can connect to the internal and external lines, such as cooperating with Xiao Jia at high and low positions to enrich tactical choices.

2. Xiao Jia transforms into the No. 5 position: provides hardness and impact

Xiao Jia's body improvement confrontation after hanging the meat can make up for Shen Jing's shortcomings of "weakness in the top heavy inside line" - when playing in the No. 5 position, he can undertake the task of pick-and-roll down and grabbing the board (7.3 rebounds per game per game), especially the impact force behind pick-and-roll down (1.2 fast break scores per game), which can connect to the Rockets' fast pace and avoid the problem of "slow movement" of the traditional No. 5 position dragging on fast breaks.

3. Tactical flexibility: When dealing with different opponents, the

interchange mode can be adapted to the opponent's lineup: when facing "heavy centers" such as Jokic and Embiid, Xiao Jia is on the fifth position to carry the confrontation, and Shen Jing plays on the fourth position to open up space; when facing the "space-type inside line" (such as Porzingis), Shen Jing returns to the fifth position to protect the frame, and Xiao Jia plays on the fourth position to prevent the outside mobility, improving the flexibility of the positioning.

2. The core challenge that restricts the feasibility of "swap" is the "defensive adaptation" and "run-in-use cost":

1. Xiao Jia's defensive shortcomings in the fifth position

Although Xiao Jia is a meaty person, he lacks the "frame protection awareness" and "tonnage thickness" of the traditional fifth position - when facing centers such as Jokic and Sabonis who can "sit and play", his lower-end strength may not be able to withstand it; and his career frame protection rate is only 4.8% (middle and lower reaches of the league), and the block judgment and inside position need to be improved, otherwise it will become a breakthrough for the opponent to "divide the inside".

2. Shen Jing's defensive loopholes in the fourth position

The fourth position needs to defend the "mobile front line" (such as Antetokounmpo and James), while Shen Jing's movement speed (30% of the league's lateral movement rate) is a shortcoming - if the opponent plays "pick-roll and change defense" against him, and lets the front line take Shen Jing alone, it may form a defensive loophole. Shen Jing needs to improve the horizontal movement speed or the Rockets are combined with "repair-type wings" (such as Amen, Ethan) to cover it.

3. Position running-in: The allocation of rights and responsibilities needs to be clarified after the

swap, "rebound position, pick-and-roll timing" and other details need to be redefined: For example, when Shen Jing plays the fourth position, does it need to assist in defending the inside line? When Xiao Jia plays the fifth position, should he give priority to rebounding rather than fast breaks? These vague points of power and responsibility may lead to initial mistakes (such as rebounding conflicts, pick-and-roll missing persons), and will require at least 1-2 seasons of tactical running-in.

3. Conclusion: It is feasible but requires "conditional implementation"

If the Rockets can solve the following two points, "45 position swap" can become an effective tactic:

1. Short-term: Targeted strengthening defense - let Xiao Jia focus on practicing "top defense + frame protection", Shen Jing practices "horizontal movement + external defense";

2. Long-term: Through the regular season, the right and responsibility (such as fixed division of labor for "Xiao Jia grabs rebounds and Shen Jing supports").

Once implemented, this combination can take into account "space, impact, and support" and become the core competitiveness of the Rockets' inside line.