Since the 3 game win streak since Amen Thompson as a Starter. 119 plus points. The offense is upper echelon when Amen Thompson is a Starter instead of Jabari Smith. Better IQ, passer, cutter, Alley Oop Dunker, Handles. Playing Faster, 7 second offense. More Fast Break Points. More open shots for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun when Amen Thompson is a Starter.
Don't worry bro, the big switcheroo is coming: It's totally illogical that right now we are still somewhat prioritizing FVV/Sengun in the shot clock over Amen/Green. That is to say our default seems to be FVV/Sengun while our counter is Amen/Green. At the moment, Amen/Green are outperforming them so badly that you have to wonder why... Why don't we give just the first 7-the 10 seconds to Amen and Green, and IF they don't find an opening we fall back on Sengun/FVV? In this set up, Sengun loses nothing. He and FVV just have to learn to run that play faster (with about 15 seconds total). No time for FVV to d*ck around at the start of the clock and no time for Sengun to do slow post ups against set defenses. The defenses will be probably be geared to stop 2 ultra fast wings, so teams will be put in a forced mismatch. If you go fast with your defense, you'll be too small for Sengun. If you go big, you'll be too slow for Sengun/Amen/Jalen. I want to be very clear: I'm not saying that Sengun isn't the best scorer on this team. Just that this arrangement/order takes the least away from each player and focuses on our strengths. When this change takes place, it will be the slow end of Brooks more than anyone and the Sengun/FVV play will slowly become our 3rd/4th most efficient shot. FVV would be a perfect off ball PG who is there just to make open 3's off teams collapsing on Amen/Green/Sengun. Also a safe pair of hands when the youngsters make mistakes and a good defender. He won't be the second most important player in the offense anymore - a shackle we've been carrying around for a while because it brought some semblance of stability for us at the start. Very excited.
Agreed. Even at his worst this year, the body language was fantastic and the attempts were usually quality attempts. The big takeaway though is that Amen seems to unlock JG in transition, which seems to get him warmed up for catch & shoot threes off of Alperen‘s constant double team. It’s beautiful to watch.
Fred VanVleet needs to be a backup PG next season, I think Reed Sheppard will be the Starter next season. I think Reed Sheppard will play better moving forward. I want Fred VanVleet to stay as a backup and take less money.
Sheppard is no way ready for being a starter over FFV yet, this was a weak draft that's why he was the 3rd pick, maybe in 2 years since but as of right now no way a rookie is ready to lead an offense
You're right that Fred needs to be a backup or gone. Reed would have to have a remarkable second half to this season to even earn the backup PG duties. You really can't be an effective starting PG in the NBA without the ability to break down defenses off the dribble. I guess you're banking this prediction based on his 3 game RGV career? I hope you're right and he is an amazing PG, but it is an extreme long-shot for next year. I'd be happy if he could just be a sharp shooter off the bench and play decent team defense. I actually think that is the most probable outcome for his career, which is fine. Guys like Kyle Korver are multi-millionaires with that ceiling and can contribute to championship teams.
I get you but it's so low on my priority list. I just the shortest guy to be able to: defend, take care of the ball and nail open 3's. When Sheppard comes, he comes, I don't want to force it there's no rush we have so much time for that. But as far as what we NEED to be contenders next season, I'm happy if we have FVV at $25m or less. I don't know anyone we can get at that price who can defend, have a high ass/to ratio and nail open 3's. If we find someone better who can do those things, great.
As long he is playing his current role, I could live with that. If he is running the offense, we will still be a mediocre at best offensive team.
I'm not too worried about it, he himself said last week he didn't come here to run the team. Ime implied it. They've been acting on it. I don't carry doubt when things are going my way.
My doubt was sewn by it taking an injury both last year and this year to get Amen in the starting line-up. I'm just wondering if Ime "has turned the corner".
The good news is I think it's going to be much, much harder for Udoka to bench Amen again without looking foolish. My gut tells me destiny has been altered, Amen never goes to the bench again. Tari, Brooks and Jabari will be fighting for the other spot. I also think we trade Brooks before any of those guys unless Udoka has perma-f*cked Tari's leg.
Amen Thompson making a Huge Impact with Elite Style of Play, Uptempo Fastbreak. Ime Udoka and Fred VanVleet thinking to themselves if we want to be Elite and on Top of the Western Conference. Amen Thompson and Jalen Green need to run the Plays. Fred VanVleet takes a role of spot up shooter, like Derek Fisher.
Last game he had a couple of sloppy passes, but no bad reads that I can remember. His errors have mostly gone from not fully understanding what was happening on the court, to being a little too careless. The latter is much easier to correct than the former.
We talked about it after last game, I guess now we know what Jalen Green looks like with Ja Morants whistle
