Yea, that's definitely the next step. Step 1 with new coach: see what old assets still have value and work in the new system Step 2: Swap out pieces that don't fit for pieces that do Step 3: add finishing pieces for a championship run. Step 4: profit.
I’d like to see Alperen be more focused on creating open looks for his teammates, and I’d like to see Udoka use him more as a passer. More Princeton sets and off-ball movement with Alperen as the playmaker. Less Fred pounding the ball. The offensive model should be closer to Sacramento or Denver. We are playing way too old school with cautious Fred and 35 post-ups a night. I am all for Alperen getting a ton of touches, but as a hub, not as 38-year-old Charles Barkley.
The thought was you can't build around Anfernee because you're going to have to bring in players to fit him. While that is technically truth, the players needed to surround Alpi are players you would need around every contending team. It's how we ended up with Gordon, Ariza and Ryan Anderson in the first place. We just need Green to come around and some rendition of Immanuel Quickley coming off the bench. The 2017-2018 Nuggets were a 46 win team. We're very close to that with Green doing something and a mid splash move.
I look at MPJ and Aaron Gordon, and I can’t help but salivate over Mikal Bridges and Jabari Smith in similar roles next to Alperen. Ring ring Brooklyn.
More movement off-ball when Alpi has the ball would be so important. The main reason I miss KMJ. He was great at cutting. Nowadays, it feels like many of the guys just stand around and watch Alpi work his ass off, while not moving at all. This is something the coaching staff should emphasize.
I am all for moving offenses with lots of passes. But with the defensive intensity and effort this team puts in, they just won’t have the energy to do it on both ends. That requires change of identity, less defense and more offense. And I don’t think it is a realistic option now with fvv and green. we are playing at our max, or were, with no backup center and no good backup pg and with green basically being broken. this is not sustainable unless we make roster improvements.
I think it is a function of the Rockets never really having featured him as "their star" so far. He became "the guy" even though "the front office" was too blind to see it (as were/are some fans, including some very important influencers).
I’m sure that’s part of it, but until Alpi is a bonafide recognized star (all star or all nba), it’s natural for most young people (who generally sport jerseys more than adults) to choose the bouncy American over the foreign big man. I think in America, perimeter players are what most kids find exciting. So while yes, Green was getting more organized publicity and attention in the game plan, I still think he would have sold more jerseys than Alpi at this point in their careers. Even Embiid and Jokic aren’t top 10 in jersey sales.
Interesting, thank you. Made me look it up. They are pretty close though. And 4 of the top 15 are "international". The one thing that really surprises me is Jordan Poole at 15 LMAO.
NBA players respect skill more than anything else. That's why in player polls Kyrie is voted "best player of the league" while players like Gobert who mainly rely on their physical tools are often disrespected.
