You forgot “Big Head” according to Dame. In all seriousness, kudos to you Ben. We both are around the same age and when I started posting I was utter trash. You were a polished poster from the beginning. I recently sorted the site by oldest to newest and read some of my first posts and I must say that Dave, Will, and Jeff were saints for putting up with LHutz and I. Thank God @Clutch flushed the original BBS down the toilet…
Many of the points @SamFisher has made are ones I c agree with. I think we will be much better although Green was probably undervalued. If KD can stay healthy all will bewell.
Very curious to see how this offense is ran. Sengun at the high post allowed teams to sag all their defenders and closed up driving lanes. The Rockets ran Sengun option at the high-either drive or dribble handoff to the SG. Reminder KD doesn’t like to play screen and roll and he isn’t really a DHO player. He takes people off the dribble on the wings or top of key or operates in that 18-20 ft area on the wings. Sengun would have to be low weakside to clear out for Durant. I would imagine any screen and roll will still be executed by Fred and Amen not Durant.
There is every reason to be cautiously optimistic and even slightly concerned. No one knows if this offense will work.
Yes, he helps but the overall effect on 82 lengthy games can only be gauged when all of those games are played and not before then, a long season for a 37 year old. Their effort to keep him healthy and fresh for the Playoffs is what matters and nothing else, if they can't do that, everything else falls apart. And if Amen and Sengün can't be healthy, things fall apart as well.
Durant's health could be a time bomb. Even if it "works" you never know if he will come down with something. Adams's health is also a question mark. Both Sengun and Amen are fairly durable. I don't think they will trade either of them for anything less than a superstar level player. If Amen can develop a consistent middie shot, it may work even without Durant.
Replacing Jalen’s game with 60 games of 37 year old KD is a MASSIVE upgrade. So you can can have Jalen’s inconsistency leading the team in usage rate or KD. Not a tough decision.
We don’t know what this offense will look like. We don’t know if Amen or Sengun have improved their offense. What we do know is they couldn’t win with last year’s offense. I have contended that this team can’t win with a Sengun centric offense. I believe in a happy medium where Sengun is used less as a focal point on offense. Put the ball in Amen and Durant’s hands and him in low weak side. Less Fred less Sengun. Use Sengun’s strengths in low post at times. Put him at the elbows to run DHO’s to 3s and 2s. Use him sparingly in high post. Offense shouldn’t always run thru him. Offense too predictable and defense too compact for this.
Why should Sheppard be promoted to floor general? He has yet to shown any consistent competency when given the opportunity
I think seeing KD as a two on offense who guards the four and center positions is reasonable. KD's handles are better than you think.
I think Fred got in trouble when Jalen was struggling and he felt like he had to compensate for that. Low usage, lower minutes Fred will be more effective, I bet. I think the Rockets' ultimate success hinges on health and our young guards making a leap.
Wutcha mean? He absolutely is viewed as the one and only original 7 footer that can play the 2 guard spot. Thats the spot he played his rookie year in Seattle. Yes, I know he was listed at 6’9 or so his rookie year but just because he grew taller didn’t/doesn’t change his skill-set. He just happened to play SF the majority of his career because he played with traditional SG’s throughout his career. He’s also played minutes at the two spot on the Warriors and in OKC. There’s no denying he has guard like skills…. He just happens to be 7 ft. Dunno how to timestamp but if you go 6:02 somebody that knows more than me can confirm.
Many writers, show hosts, and podcast guys are merely sports fans that get paid to do this for a living. Some more knowledgeable than others. Many have no clue what they speak on.
Rockets were a physical team last 2 years with long players defending and jumping passing lanes etc. Finney Smith isn’t some imposing player. He was Brooks’ size. Maybe lighter even. Durant is a finesse player. Not sure what these guys are talking about
He was the 3rd overall pick in the draft and the Rox are invested in him and his development. It seems like he will get first crack at earning that role. If he fails to capitalize, I imagine they will try to add a guard by the deadline. Seems reasonable to me.
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing. It's really insightful. Do you have any additional information around how the team views Reed? Of course, there have been mentions in various articles that they think he is great and plan to elevate his role, etc. The way the team is constructed means they really are placing an enormous amount of faith in him. I think asking a second year guard to run a contending team -- even if only for 15-20 minutes a game -- is a big ask. But they really seem to think he's up for it, right?
