Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni had hoped to use the final weeks of the season to see what combinations with his 11 players would work best in a nine-man rotation. He has not had that chance.
With Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried going out with injuries and both likely out for games against the Kings on Saturday and Tuesday, the Rockets have relied on Austin Rivers and Iman Shumpert off the bench, usually with Nenê, Danuel House Jr. and Chris Paul. The bench play, however, has been strong enough to, if not make the decisions for him, allow D'Antoni to feel more comfortable with whatever he chooses.