This is an eye-ball thread. Anyone watching games would have noticed that the Rockets started weaning off of FVV as a primary ballhandler in December last year, with a drastic change once Amen became a starter. As it already happened (other than in the playoffs when FVV had to take reps from Green), one can safely say Ime did not need FVV to get injured to make him a secondary ballhandler/reduce his on ball playmaking.
You are so lucky this is a thread with no stats given that every single stat in existence, including things as simple as straight win-loss record or rebounding numbers, can prove how factually incorrect this entire statement is. This is like saying the Broncos must clearly be SB contenders after beating a great Texans team and held their high powered offense down this past Sunday.
Ime made noise about moving FVV off the ball more and did it for several games. He reverted back pretty quickly, but maybe that was because it was Jalen that was tasked in the Amen role this year. Maybe he would have opened up the year with that mindset, but would he have abandoned that quickly with the TO issues we have started with? I don’t know that’s why I said maybe. It doesn’t really matter now so not worth arguing over. I love that Ime is using mulitple offensive schemes. It shows growth as a head coach that I was skeptical was going to happen. It’s no secret that I have wanted FVV gone or moved to the bench since the start of last season. I think he was terrible on the offensive side of the ball last year and was just as culpable as Jalen for our putrid offense.
I mean the roster was severely limited offensively last year. I don't even think he is innovating that much compared to previous years. FVV was literally our only life on offense against the warriors. If you watched that series they were doubling him off the pick and role to force Jalen to do something. FVV is a huge reason we won game 5 and 6. Our players developed and become better thats why there is more flexibility on offense. Jabari has been much more confident and is actually hitting shots consistently (almost 40% from three) KD is an actual closer who generates offense when he is double teamed Sengun has developed an outside shot which is forcing teams to actually close out on him so they can't pack the paint. Amen has improved his handle and can hit some mid range shots Reed isn't scared anymore and will actually shot the ball Looking at our roster last year there was very little Ime had to work with. Jalen was hot and cold which essentially crushed any offensive efficiency on certain nights. We would have won 60 games if we had a closer.
ahaha ok and a couple playoff series. Im willing to bet money we would have beaten that T wolves team to the ground. Amen would have locked up ANT and Randle is a headcase who is easy to defend. OKC on the other hand . . . . .
OKC showed a lot of vulnerability in the playoffs against the Nuggets and only beat them because both MPJ and Aaron Gordon were injured. Nuggets were the best team in the playoffs last year IMO. The question is would the Rockets youngsters have been up to the task in WCFs even with KD on the roster. Amen, Alpi, Jabari and Tari are more mature and developed this year, so you cannot project what they are doing now back to last season's playoffs.
It's not luck that I'm making my points chief, I also have wanted to drown you in stats and have faced the same issue.
That does not match what happened. The Rockets were easily much better offensively with FVV last year, based on eyeball tests of anyone who was reasonably watching. Lucky for you that you are hiding from stats. Go watch some of the games from January last year. Fast forward through any time with Green on the court. Amen and Sengun were really good not having to share possessions with Green. I get Amen's usage is January was still a little below what it should have been. It should be easily apparent that if you watch the minutes with FVV and Amen without Green....that Amen magically has a lot more on ball usage. The usage for Amen went up a little without FVV and with Green than having all three on the court. Granted, what happened does not fit your narrative. You decidied a long time ago that FVV was a pocks on the Rockets, and despite what happened in games not matching your narrative, you have continued on with it. Despite all the times the you said the Rockets wouldn't make the playoffs with FVV, my eyeballs watched the Rockets not only make the playoffs, but make it pretty easily.
This is just where we want them right now and supports the notion this roster is deep and talented enough to overwhelm a lot of teams. After some of the rough edges are refined, there should be a lot of blowouts during the Jan & Feb period when a many teams hit a brick wall.
Exactly all the whining or complaining right now is hilarious, they are missing a GREAT team being born, and it is just beginning, enjoy the ride. DD
Eye test still says to me that Alpi's arrived and should be an all NBA player. I'm loving Amen starting to show out more, but I still think Alpi's closest to a superstar/top 5 as we are currently. Absolute BEAST of a player.
Honestly outside of the first couple games when Amen looked really off, he's been All-NBA caliber too. Last five games he's averaging 20, 7, and 7 on 53 % / 33% shooting. I doubt we'll see three Rockets make All-NBA this season, but wouldn't that be something?
