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Is KPJ better off the ball?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Aruba77, Nov 28, 2022.

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Is KPJ better off the ball?

  1. Yes

    39 vote(s)
    92.9%
  2. No

    3 vote(s)
    7.1%
  1. kubli9

    kubli9 Member

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    DD would never settle for such a lowly role for his beloved KPJ. He’s a combo guard!
     
    clutchdabear likes this.
  2. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    So ofcourse Silas wants him off the dribble as much as possible. Im tired of having an idiot for a coach.
     
    aaquaa likes this.
  3. xtruroyaltyx

    xtruroyaltyx Member
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    Put him on the bench.

    Give him the keys to the bench unit.
     
  4. pmac

    pmac Member

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    It's pretty easy to say KPJ should play off ball or he should be the 6th man.

    But, what guard should replace him as the lead guard on our roster? Even with a great center you need a guard to initiate offense even if it's the secondary option. Can't play all forwards the whole game.

    Sure, in a perfect world we would have Luka or Ja or something, but we don't. We got what we got.
     
    SkareKrow and aaquaa like this.
  5. AroundTheWorld

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  6. PatBev

    PatBev Member
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    KPJ just needs to drive his ass to the basket more and copy that kick out he had to Eason about 20 times a game
     
    aaquaa likes this.
  7. ApacheWarrior

    ApacheWarrior Member

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    Position-less basketball is where the NBA is, and is advancing towards.

    Everyone handles the ball and everyone plays off the ball.

    Welcome to the new NBA
     
    Bobbythegreat and Verbal Christ like this.
  8. Verbal Christ

    Verbal Christ Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    ApacheWarrior likes this.
  9. ApacheWarrior

    ApacheWarrior Member

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    That was one of the main points for why many of us are ok
    with KPj being on this this team......being able to play off the ball.

    KPj has that CnS 3-pt shooting (for spacing) down.....last year and
    this year it's about improving the floor general/seeing the court stuff.

    By next year playing point will be more natural and less overthinking.
    ___________________________________________________________________
    Others: But Apache, KPj has been in the league 15 years!!!

    Apache: he will be 23 next year
     
    Verbal Christ likes this.
  10. Rockets34Legend

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    He's better off this team.
     
  11. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    This only works if every player on the court has great BBIQ and passing ability. You can only say that about 2 of our starters right now.

    Everyone wants to be the warriors until they realize those dudes are actually smart.
     
  12. Verbal Christ

    Verbal Christ Member

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    Its strange to see guys openly advocate for philosophies that for the most part are non existent in the game today (post ups for example) when most of the players and coaches have moved on to the freedom of movement and open court style of play - being efficient as 3 point shooters and getting to the rim for easy baskets and fouls. Like you said positionless basketball requires EVERYONE to be able to do something with the ball as its moved around and exploit the defensive weakness from play to play and especially in game deciding moments. This applies to defense also in being able to switch and guard multiple "positions" and not be the weakness other teams are trying to exploit in the process.

    It all boils down to chemistry and court time together. Trusting one another to perform their role and grow as a TEAM. If the goal is to apply more post concepts and "point forward/center" type of play then it will need another coach, but everyone should have known that by now. Getting mad at Silas for coaching the only system he knows is just more finger pointing, scapegoating and non acceptance of the reality of this season being another "developmental" year. Silas wants a ball dominant guard to drive, kick or score. It requires consistent outside shooting and the lead guard to be more efficient than KPJ and when you have a team comprised of sub 23 year olds you get what you get.

    Looks like Silas will allow Jalen and Sengun to do more of the initiating which looks great at times and he's even dropping in to Alpy to feed his strengths in the post probably against everything he holds dear as a coach. KPJ appears perfectly fine playing off ball and he needs to be comfortable there too and allow others to get some experience in that role as lead initiator and play into some of his strengths as an outside shooter. KPJ (whole team in general really) misses so many easy shots near the rim its mind boggling. If he were making those >5 foot shots as expected his efficiency numbers and overall output would look much better.
     
  13. ApacheWarrior

    ApacheWarrior Member

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    I totally agree, it is mind boggling.

    Defenses today are too smart and sophisticated.....getting away with playing
    part man to man and zone.

    In a playoff series players understand which players to sag off of
    by game two or three. The good teams equipped with long lanky
    mobile athletic players defend both the interior and perimeter.

    Watching the game last night Jokic was camped in the paint just roaming
    as Sengun was at the 3-pt line. Jabari has been struggling from 3 most of
    the season. Now that Jabari is hitting, it's not a coincidence that KPj
    is letting G4 operate more.....since one less defender is packing the paint.

    I called that before the season. Silas said before the season that KPj
    would be more off ball this season.....but both Sengun and Jabari
    defenders have been mucking up that.

    Now Jalen can operate better and more comfortably.....but still get TOV's.
    But that's how they will learn. Vs live action.
     
    Verbal Christ likes this.
  14. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    Respectfully, if he’s still running the point next year I’m gonna slam my junk in a drawer.
     
    AroundTheWorld and ApacheWarrior like this.
  15. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    Kpj is better not having to do everything himself all of the time. As Green becomes a more competent ball handler and creator, it makes things easier for everyone.

    The reason KPJ and Green fit so well together is because KPJ is more than capable both on the ball and off the ball.

    I've been saying it for a while, perhaps people will start to figure it out now that Green is showing such promise on the ball.
     
    Verbal Christ likes this.
  16. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    Make sure to come back here and tell us how that goes for you.
     
    ApacheWarrior likes this.
  17. AlperenSengun

    AlperenSengun Member

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    Yes, saying 'positionless basketball is everybody handling the ball' is on the same level as saying 'read and react is doing what you want on court without practicing'.
     
  18. Verbal Christ

    Verbal Christ Member

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    That extra pass that these guys are now looking more comfortable making to generate an open shot is such a breath of fresh air. When you have a bunch of rookies/2nd year guys there is no wonder why a player KPJ who might be viewed as the "vet" by Silas and would take too much emphasis on the court in trying to be that "leader" when in reality he's just another young guy learning how to play in the NBA like the rest of them. Being able to count on your teammates to hit the open shots that get created is crucial to avoid that "hero" ball when one guy takes it upon himself to make something happen when everyone else is just standing around - with KPJ often leading to a silly turnover or just missing shots near the rim he shouldnt miss. His ability to penetrate and kick should be more apparent now that guys are making those 3s. This current team should take turns feeding Sengun, and then letting both KPJ and Jalen work via dribble drive/kick plays to open shooters that are a threat to make shots to keep the defense honest and allow that space to operate. Expecting one player to have a a concrete job description in todays NBA as a "point guard" just doesnt encapsulate the game in general. Bully Ball bucket getters that can find open shooters gets it done in the league today. Im ok with taking some old school post concepts and mixing it up, but at the end of the game you arent dropping the ball into the post.
     
    ApacheWarrior likes this.
  19. DominantBig

    DominantBig Member

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    People keep saying the post is dead or the defense is too good to post against, all while teams like the Warriors exploit the post as a position of facilitating their guard strengths. Post-play isn't dead, it's evolved. A big like Sengun is ideal to use in the high post, low post, and post-split offenses. Mismatch? Can score. Facilitating? One of the best passing and playmaking bigs in the league already.

    He does need to improve this outside shooting and needs to shoot a few more mid-range free-throw line shots that he used to take more often to keep the defense from sagging in those scenarios. But every single player has something to improve upon. KPJ is improving on passing out of a drive. Green needs to improve on his consistency and aggressiveness end game. Jabari needs to improve inside finishing. Can go on and on.
     
    harold bingo likes this.
  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    I said the same thing, that if you have KPJ and Green, they are both Combo guards, and if the left doesn’t get ya the right one will.

    that we don’t have or need a PG.

    It is the idiots that keep calling him a PG that are missing what we are doing, FFS.

    BTW, I don’t love KPJ as a player, I just hate the bullying on him without it being equal on others, don’t see much b****ing about Green and his turnovers as his role changes too, why not?

    first no one should be getting over criticized at 20-22, these are kids learning how to play, gonna take years.

    DD
     

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