We have 5 of the 15 youngest players in the entire NBA. People who are down on Green or Garuba are totally jumping the gun, in my opinion. We should build around our core future two stars of Sengun and Green. Garuba will hopefully become the perfect backup to/partner for Sengun. Christopher already has chemistry with Green, and seems to have a great mentality. Silas and the coaching team's one and only focus should be to develop these four kids (plus KPJ, I guess, if he can still be developed, he is still only 21). Give them playing time! Let them make mistakes, but teach them! It is inexcusable to ever play Sengun less than 24 minutes or to not play Christopher and Garuba at all. Sengun should be getting 30+ minutes after the all-star break and Christopher and Garuba should both get 20+ minutes, no matter what. Question is, whom do we target next year, to add to this young core? And what kind of veterans would be best to teach the young guns (not just about basketball, but about life)? I wish we could get guys like Scola and Battier in to mentor these kids. They had the right mentality. Chuck Hayes is already on our staff? This new core (especially Sengun, but also Green, Christopher and even Garuba) actually got me excited again about the Rockets. I'm moving back to the US, so I'm hoping to catch some games live in the near future.
I think Sengun should become our primary playmaker - we should play like the Denver Nuggets. Sengun should be our point center, like Jokic is for the Nuggets. There are plenty of options every time he touches the ball - with our hyper-athletic wings (Green, Christopher, KJ Martin can all jump out of the gym) and our 3-point bombers Mathews and Brooks, this can be really exciting to watch. Either Sengun scores himself, after faking his defenders out of their shoes, or he throws amazing passes to these guys and either they dunk on everyone or they just bomb from three. How do we best build around that? Who are the best vets to complement this dynamic team? I like Tate and Nwaba, they just need to recognize that they are not the stars of the team. When there is a good value trade opportunity, I would trade the older veterans.
Silas is a good man but not a good coach. Not the right fit. Maybe get back Jeff Biggly Dig. Going nowhere with that owner, probably a playoff run here and there. Stone is good but frustrating to look at and to follow. Just leave it at that. All there is left are the young guns. I can live with Bright.
Reminder than the 07-08 Sonics team won like 20 games and then won 23 the next season their first year in OKC. Durant also averaged 20ppg his first season and still they went into the next season not believing they have it all now and still kept rebuilding. This is a MULTI year process folks, and we didn’t even score one Durant level player yet. Sengun “could be” as good as a Gasol brother and that’s great… but that’s not even a Durant level score. Whatever happens I just want Stone to have this team to be best positioned to score in this years draft with a top 3 pick… and his second most important job is to turn Gordon, Wall, and whoever else into picks in 2023 that can extend our draft window before we start paying off our Westbrook debt.
Going this route will take us at least 5yrs or more to see any type of benefits. The Rockets will have 2 FRPs this yr, they don't need both; they need to keep their own pick and trade the other for a young veteran or a future pick. It appears we're going to have a top 5 pick again, which I agree they need to use but 6 players on the roster with 2 yrs or less of NBA experience is not good. It's hard to develop a WINNING mentality after years of losing and that's what I'm most afraid of, i.e, the Minnesota Timeberwolves. After years of losing, they are currently in 9th place and that's not I want for my Rockets. I think they need to chose a core of 4-5 young players; Wood, Green, Sengun, next yrs Top 5 pick and Christopher, after that everyone else is EXPENDABLE. I included Wood because he's a young veteran that's already on the roster.
i think they will get the best player in the draft regardless of position, because in the end, they are all assets and need to get better, and are all tradeble, except probably green. His ceiling is so high, that he could be the second coming of stephen curry...or better! i don't think its that big of a deal of exactly how many minutes sengun and garuba or christopher play, because playing them more doesn't necessarily give them skill that they don't have yet. that comes from working on your game over the summer and in practice. Sengun needs to be a great three point shooter to be an all-star one day. Garuba needs to add that corner three to be playable. he's a project and can add 20 pounds, a long term investment, same as christopher, needs to add 20 pounds. we already have eric gordon as our veteran to teach them. he's the perfect guy to do it and he fits our core. in two years when wall comes off the books, hopefully houston can convince an all-star to sign with us. that's when things will get interesting.
I think the future is bright too! In 3 years I can see this team pushing "contenders" in the playoffs with hopefully a breakthrough year in 2025. Im going to pump the brakes on any Jokic/Sengun comparisons until Sengun becomes more of an offensive threat, rebounds better and gains the same court vision that Jokic currently has. That will take some time. Not knocking the kid he's great, but I think comparing him to the MVP of the league and asking for the same type of play and by default same results is a bit premature. Im not sharing this "High post is the next style shift in the NBA" sentiment that I've seen recently. These teams are still trying to get up and down the court as fast as humanly possible. Playoffs will be when you start seeing more half court game and even then you have to have those assassins that can go get you buckets vs elite defenses. There's so much to it - plus Jokic' teams havent broken through yet on his own merits so that play style isnt some proven concept. Its still bully ball in the playoffs and we need to find a bully who will rise up when the games are on the line - will that be Sengun? Maybe. With the current nucleus the squad could be set for the next decade if they all pan out. Follow that Warrior model in roster building and try to set up a dynasty. Should be fun.
I would be in awe if Stone could get a 7 footer that can handle the rock like a guard, and shoot jumpers like Ray Allen and Chris Paul. And could pass decently, rebound, steal and block shots. I think what sets him, Lebron apart from the rest of swings, is that they are so ready to take over games, and could get better with each season. Bron with his muscles and allround game, and KD with his insane length and skills.
I agree on the offensive scoring aspect, Jokic is too elite to make *any* comparison, even factoring in age. I simply can’t call Sengun a midrange or 3pt threat until he is...I can’t predict that. here’s how far away they are ... and Jokic’s stats for 3-16 represent 40% of his shots, with 3pt at 24% of his shots. And Jokic has been shooting midrange at an elite level his whole career. That said, I do think he already has the court vision of Jokic.
I do not think the goal is to replicate Jokic, that is borderline impossible but to have somebody get as close as one can. Shooting is no 1 priority for Alperen.
At age 20, he was a ~47% shooter from 3-16, and he’s been elite since then And I think it is just wild speculation to even suggest every player can progress from midrange, if we can just find one player who did it —which is what your question implies,imo. point is — it’s a true statement to say he has a long way to go to match Jokic’s midrange and 3pt shooting. And until he does, that will hamper his passing from midrange
I like the positivity but I think you keep adding more while you can until you really feel that high confidence level. We may find even more nucleus players to build around. Like you said about jumping the gun, we probably need 2 seasons with these guys to know their trajectory (this is one). Might as well keep stockpiling. Sure, run the offense through them. Whatever builds their confidence and skills the most. Its all about development but not becoming over attached or overly comfortable. Pressure brings growth. Incidentally I would trade Jalen Green just for the way he talks.
my point is its just like 30 games limited minutes in the NBA for Sengun.. I'm more concerned about the sample size is he as bad a midrange shooter in the Turkish league?
Jokic was a year and a half older than Alperen when he began playing in the NBA. Their effective FG percentage and because they both sucked at the three was roughly the same as their 2 pt FG percentage at .541/.542. That being said, Alperen will fill out later than Joker in terms of NBA years being compared here and perhaps have some tools Jokic never had once he does. Heypartner's point still stands though, Jokic has elite mid-range shooting that opens up the rest of his game and his teammate's games. I don't think moving past that point he made really helps the argument. Age and elite shooting don't normally form guarantees when you add more to the former and look at the expectations of the latter. I think we'll see defenders start backing off of Sengun, filling the passing lanes and daring him to shoot. That's when Sengun's .327 and .364 shooting percentages from 3 feet out to 16 feet will hurt him. It's something Sengun should work on more than that three pointer. Shooting over 55 percent from a couple of steps inside the 3 point line is like what Yao did for us... freezes defenses in fear of your jumper. Alperen doesn't have to grow into the Joker to be effective. He has a unique skill set that works and it's a helluva good time watching it unfold. Those two are pretty different players for me. Sengun is crafty while going 100 mph whereas Jokic isn't moving nearly as much or as fast... he's just a badass old school player. Looking forward to Sengun's next few years. Should be fun once he develops those can't miss moves that every long lasting NBA player has. I hope he can develop that 12 foot jumper too. That space is highly underutilized in the NBA and it's not guarded the same way as it used to be. A lot of NBA defenses allow for that shot to go up. If Al-P can start hitting it above 50% then that 3 tool offense he currently has becomes 4 tools and that much harder to defend. Free throw shooting seems to be a great historical indicator on whether or not someone can become an elite mid-range player. Joker shined at the free throw line and always has. I think it's worth watching Sengun's current 71% and where it goes from here. It's a stat that easily fluctuates... example being that if you take out Goonie's 5/12 FT game against Golden State he's a 75% FT shooter. Develop that 12 footer and the muscle memory, Al-P! Very nice! It will lead to great success.
