1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Amen Thompson - Point [Forward or Guard?]

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by kpdark, Oct 6, 2023.

?

Where should Amen spend most of his minutes?

  1. Guard

    219 vote(s)
    63.5%
  2. Forward

    103 vote(s)
    29.9%
  3. other

    23 vote(s)
    6.7%
  1. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2002
    Messages:
    26,217
    Likes Received:
    14,307
    The nba has changed because of the new CBA. I don’t know though how much and if it has completely taken hold by this offseason. Meaning there is going to be deflation of salary to some extent in some ways. Hopefully the Rockets can give a second contract to as many of these guys as possible.
     
    glimmertwins likes this.
  2. bustamove

    bustamove Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2024
    Messages:
    608
    Likes Received:
    490
    so having to play defense affected his shooting efficiency? LOL
     
  3. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    52,738
    Likes Received:
    40,594
    Law of thermodynamics
     
    glimmertwins likes this.
  4. bustamove

    bustamove Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2024
    Messages:
    608
    Likes Received:
    490
    JG for 3 years had bad shooting efficiency
    playing defense or not
     
  5. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    52,738
    Likes Received:
    40,594
    Hoe many other 20 year old sophomores average 22 ppg?
    Guys like Booker? ant?

    Similar ts% of mid 50s.
     
  6. bustamove

    bustamove Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2024
    Messages:
    608
    Likes Received:
    490
  7. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    52,738
    Likes Received:
    40,594
    Is this supposed to prove anything?

    Jalen Green is the second youngest player in the top 25 here on this list behind Paolo who has a career ts% worse than Jalen.

    High volume elite scorers miss a lot. High volume 20 year olds with a lot of talent miss even more.

    Again, 20 year old Booker and Ant were missing just as many shots.
     
    roslolian likes this.
  8. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2013
    Messages:
    66,600
    Likes Received:
    29,532
    And the weirdo cultist tries to turn the Amen thread into a Jalen thread because apparently he has to do that to every thread
     
  9. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    26,485
    Likes Received:
    16,572
    Going hard to the basket and finish Amen can do that from the 1/2 so not sure what your point is. In fact being guarded by midgets makes it easier for him to finish. 3s are where the elite perimeter defenders are like Jaden Mcdaniels, Dort, Herb Jones etc. The back half of the video where he was going nuts with FVV and Jalen that was the time of Jalen Super Saiyan mode, all those perimeter defenders were keyed on Jalen and it is the SG who was guarding Amen. Just think about it who would do a better job at stopping Amen from driving to the lane Jaden Mcdaniels or Rob Dillingham? In a normal scenario where the SF guards the SF you want Amen in the 1 or 2 so he can dominate his guy with size and length and Brooks/Tari Eason go up against the opponent 3. That gives the Rox positional advantage cuz no matter who the 3 guards the enemy SG will have the size disadvantage. In fact one thing Udoka can do is have Jalen be the PG as well so you have a size mismatch at 2 positions against most NBA teams.

    More importantly there is also the preference of Amen which is be the guard. Yeah Amen does the little things and yes he is great at cutting but if you told him he will be the next Dennis Rodman I doubt he will like it long term. He sees himself as the point guard and wants to have the ball in his hand as the primary or secondary ball handler. Maybe just anecdotal evidence but vast majority of drills and even the scrimmage highlights with RS he was practicing as a guard not a forward. He was doing ball handling and shooting drills not really cutting, screening and blocking drills
     
    #1429 roslolian, Oct 1, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2024
  10. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    26,485
    Likes Received:
    16,572
    All the old forum regulars coming back thats how you know the season is starting lol
     
  11. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2002
    Messages:
    36,759
    Likes Received:
    27,273
    I probably did that before this thread. ;)
     
  12. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    95,107
    Likes Received:
    46,361
    And Scottie Pippen plus Oscar Robertson's Comparison when LBJ entered the league.

     
  13. Corrosion

    Corrosion Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2011
    Messages:
    9,508
    Likes Received:
    12,287

    Good question and one I really hadn't looked into ....

    According to Spotrac's projected practical cap space tracker this list of teams can have a rookie max cap space slot -

    Houston
    Brooklyn
    New Orleans
    Washington
    San Antonio
    Detroit
    Charlotte

    There's a few others that could easily create that space -

    Atlanta
    Orlando
    OKC
    Utah
    Chicago
    Toronto

    I don't know who among them might vie for Green's services.
     
    peleincubus likes this.
  14. glimmertwins

    glimmertwins Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2006
    Messages:
    6,442
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Totally agree - I know there aren't many of us left, but I for one still think Jalen improved as a better all around player last year - he got stronger, better defender, more active rebounder, better passer, better at making simple reads, and generally speaking taking better shots....unfortunately though those shots are still not going down so while he has improved in virtually all aspects of his game - the fact he hasn't improved in the one area that was supposed to be his bread and butter is damning for most. I still hold out he can be valuable as a non ball dominant starter on a reasonable salary(with hope that he can be more effective with marginal shooting improvements and better spacing on the roster) but obviously that's not anywhere near the reason why we drafted him.
     
    fchowd0311 likes this.
  15. DaDakota

    DaDakota Trump is a convicted felon
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    126,493
    Likes Received:
    35,749
    I think he will be a tertiary creator from the SF spot - and occasionally will run point forward but will never be the primary ball handler.

    DD
     
  16. MystikArkitect

    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2006
    Messages:
    12,276
    Likes Received:
    19,267
    All of those bolded. It's quite a few actually. Houston is actually one of the few teams he doesn't really fit. He's going to get paid this offseason if I had to guess. Just don't think it'll be here.....but I'm more than certain that all of those teams bolded are watching his situation carefully.
     
  17. OremLK

    OremLK Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    17,077
    Likes Received:
    12,131
    I do not think it is possible for Jalen to score 26ppg while his shooting is at the level it's currently at, at least not without leading the league in shot attempts and having even worse efficiency numbers. Dude was already #15 in the league for field goal attempts.

    He needs to have a real breakthrough on his shooting to actually become a #1/#2 option level scorer. That's really all there is to it.
     
  18. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 1999
    Messages:
    25,035
    Likes Received:
    15,168
    Yep, every defender was keyed on Jalen Green. Dillingham is a great guard comp for McDaniels.

    Sarcasm aside, I don't believe that Green was the only reason Amen dominated as a forward. but even if you do...that supports the position of Amen playing with guards. Whatever the reason, there is ample evidence of Amen dominating at a forward position with two guards on the floor.

    You might be right that Amen will be a better guard in the future. As a rookie, we saw him beat opponents much more often from a forward position regardless of whatever excuses you want to make about why Amen playing great as a forward doesn't matter.

    Edit: When Amen screened for FVV, do you really think Green without the ball was more the focus of the defense than FVV with the ball or Amen rolling free to the basket? There are several times in the PnR video that a 3rd defender rotated to the basket to meet Amen. That defender must have thought Green was there.

    Amen being used as a SG with a PG in the PnR would probably be fine. My opinion on Amen as a forward is mostly that he's so good as a roll man and at crashing the glass (i.e., he's fantastic at getting into advanageous positions without the ball). I want Amen on the ball as well, but don't want to lose what was working last year. I don't see Amen as a Rodman. I see Giannis, a not an ahole version of Draymond Green mixed in with some Sengun while moving like a guard. He worked really well in an open environment which having guards playing typically helps.
     
    #1438 Joe Joe, Oct 2, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2024
    fchowd0311 likes this.
  19. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    52,738
    Likes Received:
    40,594
    Amen has the ability to beat guards off the dribble. As of now the main issue with Amen being a lead ball handling guard is AT THE MOMENT he has an inability to maintain a live dribble in tight places like when a guard is a pnr ball handler experiencing multiple defenders trying to swipe at the ball. Amen as of now stops his dribble too easily in these situations. In iso one on one settings he beats guards easily.

    His restriction as a primary ball handler as of now is due to giving up his handle too easily.
     
    Joe Joe likes this.
  20. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 1999
    Messages:
    25,035
    Likes Received:
    15,168
    I get that adding a handle will make it easier for him to be a guard. I just think adding the handles will make it even easier for him to be a forward along with the skills he already has that play very well with guards and makes it easier for guards that play with him.

    Whether Amen is used as a SG, SF, or PF, he's going to have a good year.
     
    #1440 Joe Joe, Oct 2, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2024

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now