The Rockets finished 4th on defense but basicaly in a 3-way tie for second along with Orlando and LAC. Orlando played a much easier schedule by virtue of being in the east so finished with a better D rating than Houston. I don't think tehy were as far ahead as the higher DEF number indicates. Ultimately, no team was close to OKC. In fact the Rockets were basically as close to finishing 14th as they were to fnishing 1st To meaningfully improve on defense the Rockets basically would have to get up or close to OKC tier - there is almost no possibility of this happening. At best - absolute best, Finney Smith for Brooks is a wash, but that is questionable given that DFS is 32 and spends most of his time at the 4 spot, where Jabari Smith has to be, and Kevin Durant has to be also, because neither of them is really the kind who can handle smaller guards in space. Reed is a clear net negative until proven otherwise. It seems weird that you can subtract versatility and flexibility on defense, while incorporating a clear minus defender, and for some reason, 3 centers, and get better, I guess we'll see.
I disagree - removing Jalen Green and his 33 minutes a game will be a real improvement in a lot of situations. The Rockets will be bigger, longer and strong defensively, and I am not really concerned with quicker guards, because Amen can guard them. We are likely going to see more line ups and more minutes with DFS, Smith and Eason in the line-up. The only questionable defender getting more minutes will be Reed Sheppard, and I actually like him defensively with long athletes around him. Not having Green on the floor defensively 30-35 minutes a night will be an upgrade, and sliding Amen over will help.
The Rockets - I don't think went into this off season thinking they had to greatly improve their defense. Udoka and Stone both have commented on the offense needing to get better and needing better shooting. Having said that, usually improved shooting/offense comes at the expense of defense. In this particular case - the Rockets acquitted themselves well improving their offense and not harming their defense. I don't think DFS for Brooks is "at absolute best a wash". They both a good defenders that are not stoppers, and they both have different strengths, but DFS is a smarter defender and a lot longer. DFS can also handle most small forwards defensively. He is a better team defender. I don't think that the Rockets really traded that much versatility or flexibility on defense. Especially if Eason is healthy. The defense is longer and more physical than before. We will just have to wait and see what happens - I think that the success of this team will largely rest on the health of KD and how Thompson progresses offensively.
Amen Thompson already did this. As someone pointed out - towardd the second half of the year the way the Rockets defense preferred matchup was Thompson on team's lead guard, Brooks on the team's lead forward or big man (though they switched off a lot, sometimes it was vice versa). You can't "replace" anybody with Thompson if he's already here. The "replacment" is Smith or Durant for Green and Brooks, with I guess Dorian Finney Smith and Reed Sheppard also replacing those minutes.
I think that lineup might be worse defensively than last season. Neither KD nor Jabari match up well with quicker wings. At 37 years old KD is probably suited best at PF. Maybe Amen can match up with the other team's best perimeter player and KD gets the weakest matchup. I'm not sure Jabari gets the starting nod. Personally I'd like to see Tari get the start.
THis is just all nonsense - please support with some evidence other than "you say so" - a better "team defender"? come on. You are just making that up.
If one does not research, you would think Dodo is about the same in Defense (arguable) and scores 8 ppg, and DB scores 14 ppg, is vastly better on Offense. Yeah, I know, Durant is going to absorb both JG and Dillon's Offense and does it more efficiently but still. JG played 82 games and DB played 75 games.
Same tired old rhetoric. Cherry picking stats to devalue the best player on the team. Alp was a good defender last year, by every metric and by the eye test. Ime himself said he liked having Alp roam on defense, instead of playing traditional drop or post man to man.
It's weird how Dorian Finney Smith is a better team defender than Dillon Brooks yet can't get into a starting lineup or get a single all defensive team vote since 2022, let alone ever make an all-Defense team. Really makes you think that "team defense" is an intentionally malleable categorization. hmm....
To be fair he had some good moments with the Lakers and helped them to a 3rd seed, not him entirely but okay. The thing is he and Durant are going to make the Rockets so much older, that they have to play Amen, Tari and Jabari a lot more during the regular Season...... Dillon was 27. If any one or two of that trio gets injured during a crucial stage, the Rockets are still screwed with Dorian......Grey. And lost good portion of athleticism (JG and Cam) and Strength/Grit (Brooks).
I can't say DFS is a better defender but I think Brooks was highly overrated. He's an aggressive defensive player but I wouldn't say we are going to miss much losing him. We definitely are making up finally adding a capable closing scorer and getting rid of Green
To be clear, DFS mitigates for the loss of Brooks somewhat, but it's magical thinking to imagine that the Rockets managed to replace Brooks & Green with some combination of DFS and Reed Sheppard or Durant and expect them to improve a lot on defense. Best case scenario they stay at the same level. It's more likely to go the other way, given they're arguably already near the top of the league!
I may be wrong, but I believe both Durant and DFS had better defensive numbers than Brooks last season. Brooks had definitely come back a tad last year in comparison to the year before. Still a great defender, but I believe we're taking a step forward overall with the replacements. Neither Green nor Brooks were wonderful help defenders. DFS and KD both bring a better awareness there, and a touch of weakside shot blocking. Every little but counts. The regression area will be Brooks full court man D and chasing relentlessly. But the overall 1 on 1 defensive matchups probably improved
Which defense numbers are these, blocks & steals? On off? That's a whole different thing from like, guarding Jokic & Wemby for 34 minutes , which was Brooks role, not to mention those guys played on lousy defensive teams all year. And frankly by the end Durant looked *unenthused* on the defensive end, to put it nicely I thought Brooks was Good at help - really good about calling out switches& postoning himself to block passing angles & cuts aka "team defense" , but that's just me watching, who knows. Obviously he's not going to fly in and block a shot like Thompson .
Massive defensive upgrade AND offensive upgrade. Someone was horribly inefficient getting close to 20 shots with TOs. It's not inconceivable KD gets his average that he got last year and Amen goes up to slightly over 20 points a game as well as others. We were 4th on D but I could see us 2nd or even 1st and on offense were 12th at best but could be close to top 5. With more spacing I expect less TOs, less chucking desperation 3s, and more open shots and offense in general. Agree with you about the lineups. Ime is pretty clear and honest about what he thinks. He thought we couldn't shoot and structured our defensive first team that way. He didn't trust parts of the bench. I think with the improvements he probably plans to play quicker lineups for max O and D effort with breaks to keep the team fresh. I could easy see us 9 or 10 deep with Adams, Reed, Eason, DFS, Capela.
We'll see if that Triple 7 footer lineup can play substantial minutes......again 20 NBA teams could field Double Big lineups as well, it is a copycat league. Amen is still elite and will bring some wins and KD is gonna win some with his jump shots. Sengün will do Sengün things. 'You are only as good as the Competition.' -----------Let's Find Out, Shall We.
this thread is still getting action as if Giannis just requested a trade every time I see it on the front page I be confused
Just to clarify, are you only using your own eye test? And if so, did you watch every DFS and KD possession? If not, which metrics might help determine if a player was preventing their opponent from scoring? (Obviously I will agree with you that many are unhelpful as they tell a partial story)
It's the way of things on a forum that essentially has no moderation, threads go massively off the rails and start being homes to other discussions.
Some of the posts are so ridiculous that they don't deserve a reply so I'll stick to the title. Ric Bucher on foxsports "From what I know behind the scenes, Giannis has given Milwaukee every indication he wants to finish his career with the team."
