I agree, but it also makes me wonder what our next step to improve is if Amen is the future pg. The Rox roster seems to be set apart from fixing the bench.
Oh yeah the comp was definitely more about offense than defense. I wouldn't even begin to know how to analyze players defenses back then, and only remember if announcers say a guy plays good defense . I do agree that Amen is stronger than he looks. But when you don't have the bulk you will have trouble moving defenders out of the way when you're rolling down hill. But I think the way Amen does it is fine because he's doing the thing that both annoys all modern NBA fans and yet integral to winning, which is that he's drawing FTs at a really high rate. Now part of it is he's not shooting much so rate stats are going to look good, but I think even when his role expands, he should be able to draw a good number of fouls.
The big question is the Amen / Alpi fit. Now personally I think Amen is going to settle it by becoming a legit 3P shooter along the lines of SGA (career 35.2% on 3.6 3PA). Also Jalen needs to prove that his 3P shooting improvement is for real, because if he's not knocking them down at an efficient rate that's also a problem. If those three fit together long-term, which is still TBD but I'd say heading in that direction at the moment, then the question becomes, do one or more of them become top 10 players? Hard to win without one of those. And, kind of tertiary but still an important piece--we need to be sure we have enough shooting around them, because they all benefit from it a great deal. That makes Tari and Steven Adams questionable fits, as much as I love them as individual players (and Adams is not too far from the end of his career anyway). So if you want to operate under the assumption that we'll have a top 10 player from in-house player development, I guess the biggest need would be to add a couple of 3nD guys. Would be awesome if one of them was another PF/C type like Naz Reid who can back up Sengun and play play some power forward as well.
… Thompson’s development as a ballhandler raises the question of what role he will have as a creator in Houston’s offense when VanVleet returns, which could happen as soon as Saturday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings. “It’s what we saw before Fred went down, was another guy that can initiate offense out there, make it easier on Fred to be the recipient sometimes, and (Thompson) will only continue to grow with this experience and the time he’s getting now,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “So I think one benefit is that other guys are put in different roles and get to expand their game. So we’ve seen that with Amen obviously, with his high assist numbers.” Udoka said he has not yet decided on a starting lineup for when VanVleet returns. When that happens, the Rockets will be whole for the first time since mid-December, before overlapping long-term injuries to forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, who have both since returned and appeared in the starting lineup. Thompson, though, has made a case to remain in the starting five as a reliable secondary creator. Prior to VanVleet’s first missed game Feb. 3, Thompson was in the 62nd percentile for assist percentage (12.8%) and 56th percentile for assist-to-usage ratio (0.72) for players in the wing position, according to Cleaning the Glass. In the Rockets’ first 11 games played after VanVleet was hurt, Thompson was in the 75th percentile for assist percentage (25.2%) and the 95th percentile for assist-to-usage ratio (1.36) among combo guards. The 22-year-old’s increased workload hasn’t put a dent in his efficiency on offense, either. In 45 games Thompson played through Feb. 1, the home loss to Brooklyn in which VanVleet got hurt, Thompson averaged 31 minutes, 13.6 points, 2.9 assists and 1.9 turnovers on 54.5% shooting with 9.6 field goal attempts per game. In the 11 games played since VanVleet went out, Thompson averaged 36.8 minutes, 15.5 points, 6.3 assists and 2.9 turnovers on 56.1% shooting with 10.9 shots per game. The Rockets are 5-6 in games played without VanVleet this month. Udoka has been quick to say that VanVleet’s absence is not a scapegoat for the Rockets’ myriad issues, which have encompassed both defense and offense particularly late in games. Make no mistake, though — the veteran’s presence was sorely missed. “I’d say Fred is crucial to our whole ecosystem and what we do because of his IQ and the headiness that he plays with,” Udoka said. “So we’re missing some of that but other guys are getting the opportunity to prove it as well.” VanVleet had already begun playing more off ball in January, when the Rockets went on a hot streak and won 11 of 15 games. VanVleet made 39% of his 3-point shots that month; 29 of the 41 were catch-and-shoots. “I think when we signed Fred, the beauty of him was that he could play on and off ball,” Udoka said. “He had been with (Pascal) Siakam and Kawhi Leonard, those guys, and always been a handler but another recipient because of the shooting. Obviously, that stands out. So (it’s) something he does pretty naturally, something I’m sure he’ll welcome. You know, get some easier shots (rather) than having to create and be on the ball all the time.” Regardless of how the on-ball possessions are divided going forward, Thompson’s daily habits — including his lengthy on-court pregame routine with Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan — won’t change anytime soon. “I work on my handles every day,” Thompson said. “So just seeing the work show, it feels good.”
Well thing is Tari is also working on his shot right. Right now he is already at 34% which is very acceptable for a defensive wing. Health is his issue imo. I dont think we will ever have a 3 pt spacing C unless that guy is also a defensive guy like a Kalel Ware or Brook Lopez. Ime prefers defense over offense. Maybe its just the cope in me but I am very confident in Alpi/Amen/Jalen trio. If we give them time to grow I think they should be really good big 3 while not making super max money (except maybe Amen).
Yeah, Tari isn't a total non-shooter, but the issue I have is the type of attempts he's taking. Most of those 34% three pointers are wide open corner / low wing shots, and he only takes 3 per game (granted, in only 24.4 minutes, which comes to an average-ish 4.4 per 36 minutes). I'm not convinced teams really take his shooting seriously, and he's barely shooting them well enough that the shot is worth taking. Could he get better? Sure, but let's not forget Tari is almost age 24, almost a year older than JG and 1.5 years older than Sengun. I consider him to be very close to being a finished product as a player, he will be entering his prime years soon. We'll see though, I'm not opposed to signing him to an extension, I just think he might have to be traded at some point if he doesn't improve dramatically as a shooter, simply for fit reasons. A backup combo guard who is a knockdown shooter is another opportunity to get more shooting on the floor I guess. That's what Reed was supposed to be for us. Maybe he will figure things out.
I hope he will be able to shoot as well as Dillon has the last two seasons, then. That's been a really pleasant surprise. Right now Dillon is taking more difficult attempts taking them more of them and hitting them at a higher percentage. If Tari can get to that level, that would be great, but if he can't, I don't know if he fits.
It took Dillon till he is 28 to be a good shooter, Tari makes up for lesser shooting with better defense, slashing and rebounding. Although tbf Dillon has played like a star this season.
Yeah, some guys figure it out later. It's not out of the realm of possibility for Tari by any means. Some guys do just plateau around his age though and never really improve. We'll have to wait and see which one he is!
That too. Do you know if they've said whether the "no B2Bs" thing is just for this season, or is he always going to be doing that kind of load management because of the rod in his leg?
He doesn't have LeBron's body. But he's actually faster and more athletic in place of LeBron's power. He'll probably never play like LeBron even if he develops a decent outside shot. But I believe he can play the LeBron role. Not exactly a PG but the guy who is the controller of the offense. I consider players like LeBron as positionless. They can do everything on offense and guard anyone on defense.
I originally had him as Penny/Matrix hybrid too but his insane defense has made me rethink this. Pippin/Rodman?
Seems to be a rule till end of season and a pretty strict one too since Adams didnt get to play his B2B after playing 5 mins and doing nothing the first game..
Plays more physical than size warrants, not afraid of traffic or contact. His Euro step is ridiculous.
Could not agree more with adding Naz Reed in offseason, his 41% 3P and ability to play smallball 5 would be a boon to Amen-Jalen-Alp core. Adding another versatile big in the draft with good to elite 3P range should also be paramount, e.g. Danny Wolf.
