I’m not capping what Amen can be. He may go on to become a ball dominant player you can run an offense through. But if he never becomes a really good shooter, he’s probably not gonna be best used in a Luka-type role. But is he better suited to play a Draymond-type role, which we all know is incredibly valuable? Amen may not have the handles and passing to be an elite point guard, but he has the ball handing and passing to be an elite mismatch at the forward spots. He’s the best cutter on our team. Best around and above the rim on our team. Best defender on our team. Best rim protector on our team. Excellent rebounder on both sides of the ball. Best rim attacker on the team. Can eventually become a good mid-range shooter. I’m all for Amen getting the 1st half of this season to hone point guard skills and get a chance to see what he looks like on-ball. But I love the idea of him playing a Draymond Green role in the dunkers spot over the long term. What role do you see Amen playing over the long term? And for clarity, I’m talking about the Draymond Green role. Not saying Amen is like Draymond Green.
Because Amen’s not a great passer or decision maker with the ball. Honestly, Sengun is closer to Draymond on offense than Anen.
My biggest issue with Amen initiating up top like Draymond does is not even the passing or decision making. It’s. The. Shooting. This was my single concern with drafting him. Especially to be a pg. Draymond is the Steph Curry of Amen Thompson’s. Draymond has never had a season shooting in the teens and Amen is working on his second one. Amen shot 13% from three in year one, got it waaay up to 27% last year and is back to 19% this year. Other than Draymonds first year where he barely played or shot threes, 27% would be Draymonds career low whereas so far that is Amen’s career high. And Draymond shoots a higher volume as well. When Draymond has the ball at the top as a passer teams have to at least somewhat respect the threat of a shot. That creates some space since the defender knows he can make them and will attempt some. That allows for more open passing and cutting lanes. Watch how teams guard Amen. They basically just hang around the paint when he has the ball. That’s why he always has those pull up middies available because they concede all that space and dare him to make anything other than dunks or layups.
I don't think he's Luka or Draymond honestly. The closest player in today's league in terms of how his offensive game functions is probably Giannis. But there's some question whether a Giannis-style player can work if he's 6'7" with a 7-foot wingspan instead of being 6'11" with a 7'4" wingspan. And indeed, Amen has not looked as unstoppable going downhill as of yet. But to be fair, it also took Giannis years to become the guy he is now. Maybe Amen will just be the poor man's version if he doesn't end up figuring out his 3P shot, and with some moderate improvements to his strength/finishing ability, passing, and midrange game, will be more of a #2 option on offense who also brings elite defense. If he does figure out how to shoot it he can still be a true superstar. Still plenty of time for his shooting to come around, and the FT% is promising. Speaking of Giannis, his best-ever season for free throw shooting was worse than Amen's 79.7% mark right now.
Amen has only had that role for 40 games. I don’t think you are qualified to make those assessments. He gets better everyday in every aspect of being a pg.
I think the comments about Amen’s questionable decision making with the ball relative to Draymond are valid (Amen is still so young though), but on the shooting, it’s worth pointing out that Draymond is career 32% 3pt shooter and for many years during his prime he shot in the 20’s. Amen may never become a really good 3pt shooter but he can become a good mid range shooter and a low 30’s 3pt shooter like Draymond.
I would also add that he is 22, an unmatched work ethic, and 40 games at Pg. He should be our no. 1 option to initiate by the end of the year. Reed, Jabari, and Durant should be our offensive closers. With the right offense, at age 22, will average over 20 points, 7 assists and 8-10 rebounds with an outstanding TS%. The 3 point shot will come along eventually, but he can be our best player for the couple of years it takes to get there.
Amen is my favorite Rocket right now. Has been for a while. There are skills you’re just born with. The best PGs never had to work to be wired this way..they just saw the game that way. I don’t mean it to suggest he can’t get better…he can. But I think there’s a lot to being a quarterback or a PG that is just hardwired in. If you haven’t before, read “Blink” by Malcom Gladwell. Some people are just gifted to be able to see things happen right before they happen. I think you’d enjoy that book if you never read it before. Again, I love the guy so much…I’m so glad he’s a Rocket. I don’t really buy jerseys, but if forced to, I’d be buying an Amen jersey (hopefully in a new uniform that leans back into history but that’s the subject of a different thread lol) I think we’re asking him to be something he isn’t and that diminishes what we could have from him being exactly who he is. This team needs a real tablesetter, and we shouldn’t ask Amen to be that, in my opinion. But I’m wrong a lot, as my wife could definitely tell you! Lastly, I always love reading your posts…..I look for them.
long term I think Reed is better suited to be the rockets’ point guard as opposed to Amen. Do you disagree?
Same reason Lebron can't be your Draymond. He's just too good to be that. Amen's handle and PG abilities have developed significantly over half a season. I think there's more than a 20% chance he'll be ready to start at PG by the time the playoffs roll around. While Reed seems more natural at it, I don't think he'll be ready to be a starting PG before the playoffs. I think they can help each other by starting together in the backcourt. The rest of this season should give him enough reps and more chemistry with the starters. I know it's been hard to watch, but things are made much more difficult by the fact that we've had a lot of roster turnover and no stable starting lineup. That's the last thing he needed during the season he's learning PG. There are some PG passing opportunities that will just never open up for him as long as he doesn't have a jumper so he needs to keep intensively working on that. Having a jumper means a defender has to guard you closely and loses the option of sagging and disrupting passes. It especially becomes a problem for us in the playoffs when teams get more aggressive with sagging. We just need 33% on 2 attempts (i.e. equivalent to 50% from the field) from him as a start. I can tell he's not far from that given his FT development and general improvement in form/mechanics. That's just enough to make defenders take a step closer to him and that will change everything for his ability to drive or see over the defense. Might be this season or next, but I think we're going to get over the hump. Once he's over that hump, all this super-role-player talk will be history.
Amen's going to have a good point guard next to him eventually, likely Reed over the long haul...in the meantime, perhaps another. This will free him up to do all the things he does best. It's going to be a quantum leap for our team. That said, he doesn't remind me of Draymond at all. Amen's not just the best on OUR TEAM regarding that list....all those attributes, save for the midrange are top 3-4 in the NBA. And, when not playing out of position, he belongs alongside Wemby as the best defensive player in the LEAGUE. But, the kicker is, as you said....the ability to handle, dish, or finish from the wing...Kid's gonna be a top 3 player one day. Amen HAS the will. We saw it against GS as he was leading us back before he got hurt. Greatness is in his future....and, W's.
Is it just me but I see a lot of similarity between him and Westbrook? Great at finishing at the rim and not quite as good 3 point shooter.
yes, but much much better defender and taller. I don’t like Westbrook QB teams and it hasn’t worked out despite his incredible ability to fill the stat-sheet. Which is why I prefer Reed as the long-term answer at point guard position. I think u have to be able to shoot at a high level to keep defenses honest. Something neither Amen or Russ can do.
Yeah it's annoying, but the only generational talent we got from our tank is not only a generational athlete, he's also a generationally bad shooter...
Draymond lol........................Amen is already better than Draymond. Draymond has never been a "dunker", he isn't athletic enough. Draymond is just lucky he got to play with Klay and Steph Mid Range? he shot 49 percent from there last season
