Alperen Sengun is absolutely on fire at EuroBasket! 🔥 The Houston Rockets’ “double big” strategy is proving unstoppable on the international stage. His versatile game is creating serious matchup problems for opponents. Could this be a preview of a dominant NBA season?
Alperen Sengun’s stellar performance at EuroBasket is showcasing the effectiveness of “double big” lineups, a strategy that brought considerable success to the Houston Rockets last NBA season. His commanding presence on the court highlights how effectively this tactical approach can translate from the professional NBA environment to high-stakes international competition, proving its versatility and impact.
Last season, the Houston Rockets found significant success by consistently pairing the 6-foot-10 Sengun with center Steven Adams. This “double big” combination provided a massive rebounding advantage, particularly evident in the first round of the playoffs where Houston out-rebounded the Golden State Warriors by 51 boards in a challenging seven-game series. This strategic alignment maximized their interior presence and defensive solidity.
Building on this foundation, the Rockets have further committed to the “double big” concept for the upcoming season. They have brought in center Clint Capela on a three-year contract and still have the promising 6-foot-11 Jabari Smith Jr. available off the bench. The underlying idea is that Sengun’s exceptional passing skills and reliable mid-range jump shot effectively compensate for playing alongside a non-three-point shooting big man, while amplifying defensive and rebounding strengths.
The Turkish national team at EuroBasket appears to be employing a very similar tactical blueprint. Sengun is frequently observed sharing the court with a rotation of formidable centers, including the 6-foot-11 Ercan Osmani, Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, and former NBA center Omer Yurtseven. This mirrors the Rockets’ philosophy, leveraging multiple bigs to control the paint and create mismatches.
This strategy has yielded immediate dividends for Turkey in the EuroBasket tournament, as they currently hold an impressive 2-0 record. Their victories include a decisive win against the Czech Republic and a dominant blowout over the Latvian national team in Riga. These early successes underscore the efficacy of their chosen tactical framework and the talent of their roster.
In the standout win against Latvia, Sengun delivered an explosive performance, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. He functioned as the central hub of the Turkish offense, orchestrating plays while simultaneously anchoring the defense alongside his teammates to shut down the paint and deny easy scores.
While recognizing the inherent differences between NBA and FIBA basketball, the quality of opposition at EuroBasket is undeniable, with Latvia featuring past and future NBA players, including star center Kristaps Porzingis. Despite this, the Turkish team, powered by Sengun, completely dominated the contest, showcasing the profound impact of their disciplined strategy.
Playing Alperen Sengun in the power forward position creates a genuine matchup nightmare for opposing teams. His unique blend of speed and agility makes him too quick for many traditional centers, while his shooting ability allows him to comfortably score over smaller forwards. Should opponents attempt to double-team him, Sengun’s elite passing prowess enables him to dissect defenses and find open teammates with ease.
