Major storylines to watch heading into training camp for the Rockets

Will Jabari brick all of his threes and will Silas use common sense? Those are the storylines.

 

Will KPJ keep his head on straight and improve his overall game and remain starter?

 

Will Sengun play better defense and also exercise restraint to stop committing bad fouls? Will be better at three pointers?

 

will the tillmen save moar monies by making the practice court smaller?

 

Will KPJ establish himself as the starter

Will Sengun show he is capable of starting or will we be using our lottery pick for a big

Will Jabari show flashes of superstardom or be the highest of level 3&D role player

 

How the hey will SS manage minutes???

 

Will Clutchfans stop begging for Wembayama when we don't need him???

 

Will KPJ become a consummate professional?

Will Garuba start making sense

will JayGup develop a Mohawk and morph into Won Wafer 2.0. ?

 

Fewer storylines will mean the team is doing relatively well.

More storylines = there is some fishy business going on

 

Will our analytics dept alert the coaching staff that Sengun and KMart are part of our most productive line ups

 

Who will be the backup 5?

Will KPJ sign an extension before the season?

Will Silas be on the hot seat if the Rockets start slow?

Who will be the backup pg?

Will they trade EG prior to the season?

 

2022/23 isn't about mandates. We are not contending for anything.

But I am interested in how the chemistry develops. Which guys surprise, in both directions.

While individual development is vital, team development is what I will be eyeing just as much.

Its not that often you get that total ground up rebuild. Optimistically, the potential is enormous if you can put the right ingredients together in the right way. Its not like recent Houston teams where its a 2 or 3 guy show (mostly 1) and everyone else is cannon fodder. This team potentially can build something special.

Watch and see for me. No predictions. Many of the important things for the 2022/23 Rockets wont be quantifiable.

 

I'm interested to see who claims backup roles. Pretty sure starting 5 is Porter-Green-Tate-Smith-Sengun unless Gordon decides he wants to play.

Washington and Christopher are probably the backup guards but forward especially. How do they fit so many guys in? Tate and Smith will be playing big minutes. Martin, Eason, Nwaba, even Gordon/Mathews since they play the 3. Backup 5 is less intriguing because it's basically whoever steps up. Backup forwards have a logjam of guys who have contributed already.

 

Jslen Green's development. I like that he switched his jersey number. Good start.

 

Major storylines to watch heading into training camp for the Rockets:

-Who is replacing Cayleigh Griffin?
-Is Eric Gordon having fun?

More to come…

 

Agree and second most of this.

My caveat is:

In terms of "team" development, playing more consistent and organized system ball is obviously a big thing but the thing I'm looking for is building supporting cast around the big dogs. It's clear Green is the alpha dog and Bari is the other foundational piece. My hope is that players develop or are acquired that enable Green/Bari to develop in their best ways possible. I do think beyond 3-4 guys, the rest are replaceable cannon fodder. Could ultimately care less if Josh Christopher or Usman Garuba turn into anything.

 

Tell me you don't understand defensive stats without telling me you don't understand defensive stats.

 

Will Boban be my friend???

 

Will we coddle guys who think they are superstars... or are we gonna start laying down some no nonsense expectations and building a culture?

Are we gonna focus on developing guys for our future - or waste valuable floor minutes on guys who wont be with us next year or the year after?