Jabari is more of a piece than I thought. Can't wait to see what this demolition crew looks like around the All-Star break.
Here's a spicy one: There has been practically no improvement in how often we win games since Steven Adams got fully healthy last season. The net benefit of his dominant rebounding seems pretty close to zero. We didn't struggle to play like a top seed without him last season (as long as we were otherwise healthy). In fact, I think if we were spending that $14m anywhere else on the roster (*cough* need a guard *cough*), we would probably be a better team than we are right now especially with Capela bringing better defense, shot blocking and vertical spacing over Adams' rebounding edge.
The ball is moving and the spacing on offense is very much improved. Zone defense sucks so far and I don’t know if it is fixable. Okogie was a good signing. Tari has got his mojo back. Jabari finally put the muscle on we have been screaming about and it is showing up in his play. Amen can’t help but be awesome, but he is adjusting to his new role and being a little too unselfish. Sengun is playing at a superstar level. Durant is the clutch shooter we needed. Reed is progressing a bit on offense, but defense is a big issue. He is probably going to lose his rotation spot by January. Ime is being more flexible with his rotations. Adams is great on offense and terrible on defense. His offensive rebounding is phenomenal. His minutes need to be managed and why Capella was a good signing. We need guard depth. Best would be a combo 3 & D guard that will come off the bench.
Fred is missed on both offense and defense way more than I expected. We need a solid PG that can do what Fred did and still allow Amen to grow and get better at the position. Oh and Reed makes terrible decisions on offense and defense. He need to play like 10-15 mins a game and shoot open 3s.
Couple of other notes.... Tari is horrible in a zone. Durant has not been good at contesting or on the perimeter in defense. I think the Rockets play a lot of zone to be easier on him. JSJ is one of the better zone defenders. He can operate inside or outside in the zone. Adams is one of the better zone defenders despite never getting on the perimeter. Zone needs a little more quickness and smart speed. Not sure how to evaluate how important/impactful zone defense skills are.
Jabari: He looks more confident and handles physicality better. His shooting has slightly improved, and his spatial awareness is getting there too. The dribbling is about the same, but overall, he’s playing with more purpose. He’s stepping up and starting to look like a dependable piece. Tari: He’s becoming a reliable spot up shooter and has developed a consistent form. I know he can do more, but his current role fits what the team needs right now. Defensively, the intensity isn’t where it used to be, and at times he seems disengaged during games. The contract situation still seems to affect him, and his body language remains a concern. It feels like he isn’t fully committed to the long-term vision here. Sengun: He’s settling into his new role well. The ball handling and shooting are a bit better, though his consistency still needs work. His court vision and passing remain elite, he lifts the entire team’s level when he’s on the floor and acts as a true engine for the offense. The tendency to argue with refs hurts his focus and leads to avoidable mistakes. He’s only 23, so some of that is part of the growth process, but he should mature past it soon. He continues to embrace responsibility in key moments, which is a strong sign of leadership. KD: Durant is exactly as advertised, scoring comes effortlessly to him. His leadership stands out; he keeps everything about winning and never lets ego get in the way. It’s obvious he’s here with a purpose, and the way he supports his teammates shows that. There’s almost a mentor like presence to how he carries himself. At 38, he understandably saves energy at times on defense, but his impact is still enormous. Amen: He’s on a positive trajectory, matching last season’s level and likely surpassing it soon. He’s learned how to use his athleticism more effectively in half-court sets, putting consistent pressure on rim defenders. Ball-handling and dribbling have improved a bit, while his shooting remains steady. His defensive influence has dipped slightly, probably because he’s adjusting to a heavier workload since Fred’s absence, but the overall direction is strong. Reed: unfortunately, I don’t see much progress from last season to this one. He’s had a few moments that suggest he could be a serviceable rotation player in low pressure minutes, but when the competition stiffens, he tends to fold. Some of that comes down to physical limitations, but it also looks like he’s playing scared, trying too hard not to make mistakes, which ends up causing even more. He doesn’t look comfortable or assertive on the floor. It’s still early, but I have to say I’m disappointed. We should be seeing more from our 3rd overall pick by now.
There is only so much regular season help a bench guy playing 20 minutes can contribute to overall record. He definitely showed his worth in the playoffs. I didn't have any issues with the Rockets extending him. I did have a problem with the Rockets adding Capela afterwards though. Felt a 3rd center could've been more of a minimum guy than one making $7mil.
One way Point Sengun will pay off over the season is by creating less fatigue. Centers run basket-to-basket every play but now Sengun doesn't have to go full court all the time.
Reed Sheppard offense isn't enough to compensate how bad of a defender he is...the offense ran smoother when Aaron Holiday substitute for Reed and Amen played the 2. Since we like playing zone, why dont we run a 3-2 zone against good 3 point shooting teams?
I've noticed this as well. When you're bigger and stronger, it's easier to play defense and it's more difficult for the opposing team to guard you. My main tinfoil hat worry is that in a playoff series against GSW or one of the other smaller teams that the NBA actually likes, the refs will swallow their whistle when the other team starts wrestling Rockets, and will pull it back out as soon as the Rockets are on defense.
Sengun has not actually improved at free throw shooting or three point shooting, and this will be made clear as the season goes on
I think he's been a little timid in the zone defense, focusing on staying inside over being overly aggressive. He's gambling less in man-to-man, and it appears he's making an effort not to foul (especially on closeouts on three-point shooters). I think his change is more coaching-driven than Tari's contract. It really looks to me like Tari is trying to do what a lot of of his detractors wanted him to do. I personally preferred his previous approach, but I acknowledge that this could be the best in the long run if Tari can find a happy medium between gambling, not fouling, and playing sound defense.
