The issue right now is that Sengun isn't really effective out of the high post at all. Almost all of his assists come with him in the paint. That needs to change so that the lane isn't clogged. He also needs to cut down the turnovers 4.5 assists to 3.5 turnovers isn't a recipe for success. Make those improvements, then you can run the offense through him. Until then, they need a PG.
Hard to work out of the high post when no one cuts as well. There were a few plays where Green would move and KMJ did often. Scheme will help
Sengun had 3.9 assists to 2.6 turnovers last season (4.8 to 3.2 per 36 minutes). For comparison, Jokic at the same age and with better teammates and coaching had 3.9 to 2.2 per 36 minutes. Not a massive difference. There is no doubt in my mind that Sengun can pass from the high post, and from anywhere, but he wasn't used that way. Here are a bunch of passes which did not come with him in the paint - where does the data for "almost all of his assists come with him in the paint" come from? I know not to doubt you on data, @aelliott, just interested in the source?
I have been saying this all year. We kept getting killed from three. Yet, certain people always blamed Sengun's defense...while ignoring the fact that the guards didn't bother to defend the three-point line AT ALL.
With that roster, I would probably start Alpi together with Brook but stagger their minutes, so they don't share the floor much. Both of them get 28-32 minutes per game. I also wouldn't sign Dillon Brooks. I'd just let the best man start at the 3 between Tari and Jabari, other goes to the bench. That team has more than enough wings without adding that chucker to take shots away from more-efficient players. If we must add a veteran defensive wing, just go get somebody like Torrey Craig who is fine with playing limited minutes off the bench and taking very few shots.
In a vacuum I wouldn't have a problem with starting Lopez for the 1 or so year he still has left in the tank as an NBA starter as Sengun learns behind him. The problem I do have is, exactly what has Jalen and Jabari done to deserve to start in that case? Hate him all you want but kpj should start instead of Jalen and anyone, Tari/kj/Sengun, should start in front of Jabari. This is the same issue I had last year with Silas, bench Sengun all you want but just hold everyone to the same standard. Sengun/Lopez lineup may not "fit" as well as Jabari/Lopez, but Sengun is such a dramatically better player than Jabari that fit be damned it doesn't really matter we would still be better off.
I agree with your overall premise (the best player should start), but I don't know why we would assume KPJ would win the starting role over Green. Their level of play was already extremely close last season and Green clearly has more upside and a better work ethic, so I'd expect him to win the starting role fair and square. Tari/Jabari is going to be closer, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Jabari is the better player of those two going into the season.
The couple of stats I like, raptor, BPM, still rank kpj pretty easily ahead of Green (defense). Green is on a steeper improvement curve so that certainly could change. Although a lot of kpj's issues were from forcing him to run the offense which he was not good at, give him jalen's role next year and I think he will look better. Tari and Jabari was not close, jabari was awful last year offensively and defensively. For our sake the hope is that Jabari will be on a steep climb next year as well but that's yet to be seen. If we are slotting starters right now Sengun clears him by a mile.
Go to https://nbacourtoptix.nba.com/en/metrics/passing-network It's a cool site produced by the NBA. Under "passing network" you can see the passing from each zone. It shows where the pass went, how many passes, assists and who the pass was to. Other interesting stuff in other sections of the site. The section that shows who screened for who is worth a look.
Yeah, I agree completely about Sengun over Jabari, unless Jabari just blows everyone away leading into the season it's not close.
This is nonsense. In a proper system built into the foundation of all our young players, Alperen Sengun would clearly thrive out of the high post. Disingenuous to take samples of last year and the year before as evidence that he isn’t effective there. A good example of an organized high post action with a willing cutter is the Alperen to KJ pick and roll. How many bigs in the history of basketball can make that play time and time again?
As a team we sucked at getting corner threes. Those passes are there, we just need to take advantage of them. Hopefully, that's the biggest change with the new regime. They stress getting better shots rather than settling for more difficult ones. That alone would do wonders for our efficiency.
Not all players can make passes from all zones. The Harden's and the Hallibutron's can. Sorry for using the only measurable statistics that we have for Sengun. But he's only been in the league for 2 years, what else would you suggest?
These NBA stars know ball. It's a pity that some of the most important Rockets fans don't have that level of appreciation for Sengun, and keep suggesting that he be benched...first for an absolute scrub who supposedly was this great "lob threat", now for a 35 year old guy who averages like 6 rebounds.
If your coach tells you "you play in the paint" instead of letting him play as freely as some of the other guys, then you can't really hold it against him that most of his passes come out of the paint.
