SAN ANTONIO -- Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni confirmed that Ryan Anderson will come off the bench in Game 5 on Tuesday night, with Eric Gordon replacing him in the starting lineup. The change was made because of an injury to reserve center Nene.
Anderson, the Rockets' starting power forward all season, will now see a large share of his minutes as the second-team center. Nene is out the remainder of the postseason with a torn left adductor.
The Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are tied 2-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series.
The Rockets made the adjustment after Nene went down in Game 4. Gordon started the second half and Anderson came off the bench. Anderson said he had no issue shifting to a reserve role, noting that he had served as a sixth man for the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans.
"I've done it throughout my career," Anderson said. "Obviously I'm not a very conventional 5-man, but it also makes it difficult for the other team to figure out how to guard us on pick-and-pops or if I'm rolling to the basket or whatever it is. Our ability to run, we have to take those opportunities to our advantage."
Second-year player Montrezl Harrell is another option to back up starting center Clint Capela, but Harrell has played only 18 minutes in these playoffs.
