Again, I see so much hatred, All the posters who feel that Sengun is a NBA Star I just think the Devil must be playing tricks on them!l I just think he is decent player and that is about it!at When you have lived through the lives of Rockets like Harden, Yao Ming, Olajuwon, Mallone, Tracy McGrady,, Drexler, Hayes, Murphy, Mutombo, Casell, Floyd and Scola. You might understand what I mean Y
Hatred of who? Is there someone on the team you think is a star? Or even better than Sengun? I understand not being sold on Sengun as a star, that's understandable. But he's clearly the best player on the team, and if he's not there yet, neither is anybody else.
Star: *24+ points [from positions 2-5.....20+ as a PG] *Demands double, triple coverage defensively....when driving with the ball *(?) Asts [depends on position] *(?) Rebs [depends on position] *(1.5+) Steals [regardless of position] *Threat to score from all 3 levels (rim, mid-range, 3-Pt line) *Threat to score from 2 levels, are #2 or #3 options (scoring) *decent FT shooter 78% or greater. Rule of thumb is, it takes 3 Stars at least to win a championship. New CBA will make that tough to happen. It will come down to 2 Stars and good depth. Team like Suns are trying to go 3 Stars and sub par depth. 76ers will probably have questionable depth in 2025. ______________________ My model: *Mobile rim protecting center or power forward *multiple wings (team full for position-less basketball).....provide 3 & D play *Ball movement, on ball screens, off ball screens *Everybody gets 4-6 assists [ preferably by way of positions 1-4 ] *Everybody gets 4-6 rebounds *Switch everything defensively......mix in Drop Coverage or zone for change of pace. **Currently you can have one player on the court unable to hit 3's and win a championship..... soon all players on the court giving you starter minutes must be able to shoot 3's in order to win a championship. _________________________ Current Rockets: Jalen Green can be a Star if the team spreads the floor (additions of Reed Sheppard & AJ Griffin) ..................... replicate same system as last March with better shooting while Sengun sits during ......................those 16-18 minutes. Sengun-Jalen Green PnR when sharing the floor....no more ......................being a spot shooter predominantly like the Rockets did to Ty Lawson. Star potential Sengun: can be a #1 option if he shoots the 3-ball with greater proficiency and bring FT% up. Star potential Cam Whitmore: can be a star as he demands double, triple teams on drives, Udoka will emphasize ...,........................passing or hitting slashers or open 3-point shooters. 3-tier / level scorer. Star potential Jabari Smith: I expect him to add better dribbling and is allowed 5 to 7 possessions as a post up .......................or drive / facilitator during games. A 3-tier / level scorer as a spot up shooter and .......................occasional layup / dunk. Good starter / rotational player Tari Eason: A 3-tier / level scorer as a spot up shooter and occasional layup / dunk. Active hustle .................. do-everything player that inspires teammates to be better. Good starter / rotational player Amen Thompson: proved to be excellent as the "Dunker Spot" as he was around 71% (FG%) near ..............................the rim for the season and in March last season was around 77% (FG%) near ,.............................the rim. Can defend positions 1-4 (and 5 at times). Probably lacks a mid range, ..............................floater, and 3-point shot for the next 2 to 3 years. Currently Fair Starter / rotational player Reed Sheppard: I expect teams to attack his defense and have bigger bodies leaning on him to ..........................bother his ability to shoot. His spot shooting from 3 should be between 37% - ..........................42% for the season. Rockets will need to help Reed defensively much like ..........................Steph Curry and the Warriors in the early seasons. Yet to be determined / ..........................Fair Backup like Korver/McDermott/JJ Redick Dillon Brooks: was on his way to China, given too much money for too many years. In the way of others getting good minutes for development, quicker. Not a Star VanVleet: 5'10" that gets picked on defensively constantly. Does not require double, triple teaming when he drives. I posted Jalen Green - VanVleet numbers/stats, with exception for turnovers JALEN GREEN was better. And by all accounts Jalen Green had a rough season in 23/24. Fair Starter / Good Backup (but makes too much money for backup role)
Just give the kids some time. Accolades follow winning, and winning takes time. Winning determines who the superstars are. Jordan and Dream and Curry were empty stat chasers until they won. It took them years to do so. We're more like those teams who didn't quite know what they had until they did than the Spurs adding Duncan or the Lakers adding Magic or the Heat getting LeBron and Bosh to go with Wade. If we start winning, people will look and call some of our players superstars. Also, we are in a strange time. There are superstars like Durant, Harden, Drexler, Barkley, etc. and then there are the very few mega stars like Magic, Bird, Jordan, LeBron. We don't seem to have a mega star for the first time in a long while. James is old, Durant is a mercenary, Harden is old and never won a championship. Jokic seems to fit at first glance, but is he really? (And does he want it?) Everyone else is too young or too flawed right now. There's a vacuum and it will be filled. With luck and good decisions, the Rockets have a great chance to do something in the coming years.
Great Post! Agree 100% You look at the Prime-Prime-Time (late 20s/early 30s) stars now - Jokic, Embiid, Giannis - none of the three are MEGA, by the the league’s historical standards. Then you have the Early-Prime-Time - Tatum, SGA, Luka - and they’re awesome, but MEGA? None of them yet… So our guys and bunch of other teams’ guys have the field somewhat open, I agree.
1.) Trade Jalen Green before people start to realize what he did at the end of last season was a fluke. 2.) $$$
Path to a championship depends on if this organization figures out what direction they are going. They have had almost half a decade to figure out who we'll be building around. If Sengun or Green are it, then start figuring out the pieces that work around the stars and trade the pieces that do not. If they aren't it then move on.
With the apron rules and its consequences now in place, the team building models that worked in the past wont necessarily work in the future. We have learned I think that super top heavy teams are on the way out. What's on the way in is a work in progress. Some GM will figure out the new formula and others will follow. That is, until the NBA changes the rules again.
I am so sick of the Markkanen love. He is not a good defensive player and Jabari will surpass him as early as this year as an all-around player. Jabari might not score as many points because it is not his role on this team, but his defense is outstanding and his shooting has improved year over year. We also know what a hard worker he is. On top of that, you are going to trade Amen? No GM in the league would trade Amen in a package for Markkanen. Amen and Sengun are untouchable and basketball is played on 2 sides of the court. Also please check on Lauri’s games played, it’s usually in the 50’s.
I’ve lived through all of them as well and Sengun is a star. Decent player? What a joke. I’ll listen to every other team’s assessment, which is we have to get the ball out Sengun’s hand than your silly ass.
Amen - Reed - Cam - Tari - Jabari Amen - a walking triple-double, all-NBA defender, playmaker Reed - the only guy who isn't 6'7" is the best range shooter on the planet Cam - superstar, 30ppg madlad Tari - defensive tornado who can hit 3s, score 20 without a play run for him Jabari - 2 way switchable big, 20/10 and 40% from 3
If we made the playoffs this year and looked like a legitimate piece away possibly but I don’t know how all the new tax stuff works I don’t think we would spend the whole 80-100 million. I would just think go hunting for 1 big 40-50 million level start or spend it on the bench as the core 7 take over starting positions I do think we will go big game Booker level hunting next offseason and rockets will extend players after 1 more big free agency
