Amen Thompson is the Rockets' REAL franchise player

Amen just doesn't work when he's forced to try to pretend he's a guard.

He needs competent guard play and a center like Sengun to take the focus off of him so he can eat.

 

Absolutely silly comp... literally nothing alike.

 

Where do you see the main differences?

In T-Mac's first three seasons (when he was with the Raptors), he wasn't known as a scorer, but he was regarded as incredibly physically gifted. Mostly viewed as a strong defender then, and as a dunker.

(T-Mac was still younger in his 3rd season than Amen was when he entered the league though.)

Back then, he wasn't a great 3-point shooter. Not as bad as Amen, but not great.

If you look at their stats (T-Mac's first three seasons/Amen's first two seasons), they are kind of similar.



I'm happy for you to educate me on why I am wrong though.

 

This is something I said before, but this is an immensely flawed way of looking at the comp.... It's about archetype and on court skillset.
The comp isn't a 1 to 1 statistical projection and also stats need to be contextualized.
Prime Iggy was the #1 option on his team and the primary focus of opposing defenses.... THAT... is significantly different than what Amen's role is on this Rockets team as a starter... Amen is a beneficiary on offense and he plays a role offensively that maximizes his efficiency and minimizes his weaknesses... He eats off the attention Sengun and Jalen generate.
Prime Iggy didn't play in a role that maximized his strengths due to team personnel.

To be a superstar you need consistent offensive self creation... You need to be able to effectively score against set defenses as a primary focus. He's nowhere close to that and he won't suddenly have that next year either... If he keeps up his play and improvement he's likely a star tho.

 

I had totally forgotten about that, I have to admit. When he was with the Sixers, he was indeed their no. 1 option.

I totally agree with the rest of your assessment also. Amen isn't great at self-creation (yet). He is much stronger when both Alpi and Jalen are on the court.

 

Amen still doesn't know how to initiate an offense in a half court set. He is far from being ready as an NBA PG. He is much better as a slasher.

Reed actually shows more promise at the 1 spot in summer league and g-league. I don't understand why they have him play off ball so much even in garbage time.

 

This doesn't say anything substantive... They didn't play alike and they didn't have similar skillset or talent.
Also Tracy in his first couple seasons was 18 & 19 and got significantly less opportunity than Amen at 21 & 22.

The moment he got consistent playing time he showed vastly superior ability as a shooter and shot creator than Amen.... And by the time he was Amen's age well... I shouldn't even have to say it. Also in the other aspects Tracy was never anywhere close to the defender that Amen is in any facet of defense.

 

Amen definitely is all around a better athlete than TMac. More agile, more top end speed, higher vert


But Mcgrady was just a more skilled offensive player.

 

Do it for only games Amen and Sengun have started you might see a different story.

 

I can do something else for you, just so you see how much Amen benefits from Alpi.

 

Alpi also does better with Amen on the court, but the team is fine with Alpi on and Amen off.

Sengun is our best player.

Period.

 

On/Off stats for the season. You can ignore Tate, Holiday, etc. due to smaller sample size. Look at the players who got over 1,000 minutes.

I remember that someone who now says Amen is the best player right now, not in the future quoted on/off stats a lot last year, when Sengun had by far the best offensive stats, but Fred had better on/off stats. That was the evidence then to say that Fred is the best player, and Sengun nope.

 

Again, I love Amen, and he might well become the Rockets' best player at some point, given his athletic gifts and how good of a defender he already is.

Right now, the best player overall is Sengun, and it is not close.

NBA coaches agree.

 

If you don't believe in on/off stats - here are the current net rating stats, straight from nba.com



If you are like @Verbal Christ and you like to summarily dismiss and ignore "schtats", that's actually fine.

But if you quote them when it suits your anti-Sengun agenda, even at tiny preseason sample sizes, and then ignore them when they don't support that same agenda, yeah, that's just lame.

 

Amen is a great player, will be better in time, l thought he was younger than Alpi, but they are both 22.
The thing is Amen type players shine when playing next to hubs, creative and high basketball players.
This does not take away from him, Jokic, Sengun type players are Diamonds, specials, they accelerate players next to them, thats why they are not empty stats , their value is beyond ppts, rebound, avgs stat sheets- they dictate the flow of the game..
Without Sengun, Amen has difficulties, he needs Alpi hub, Alpi or Alpi type player asists, creativity.
So whlle l really praise Amen, in a team where you have a player of Sengun, If you say Amen is a star, this is just April fools day joke...
At least for now... Maybe this changes in 5 or 6 years who knows?

 

Well, Amen is half a year younger.

 

İn whatever game you make in what world you live in Sengun is not only better than Amen, he is #7 in MVP Ladder.
Amen type players need creative players next to them, basketball is not only driving or dunking.
I.understand you and some ignorant fans like to hype young Afro American athletic kid, but it is stoopid in all sense..
Alpi is this teams best player for 2 years, not only 10 games..
If Amen is good, first he has to win games in the absence of Sengun..
If Sengun does not play in 3 or 4 matches, l dont think Rockets stays above #4..

 

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