That was before FVV and Adams got hurt. His injury really busted all our plans. With Fred playing we had a realistic shot to win it all.
Took 16 replies.. but someone finally mentioned the Shaq-sized, pink elephant, wearing a skirt. FVV's injury likely puts a 2nd round cap on this team unless PG is upgraded. Fred would have paired well with Reed, because Fred's previous health history already called for 25-26 min/game. Stagger a little and Reed gets 26-30 easy. If Rockets can manage CF this year (even if short series L), it projects next season better than this year had Fred been healthy.
Here’s the left field answer: the problem for the Rockets was the Luka trade. Our FO has been stockpiling high value picks and young players for years, and done it well. Do these assets fit together as a coherent team? Not really. But we were first in line to trade a massive trade package for the next time a young superstar came available. Then the moment came, that player was traded (Luka)… and Stone never even got a chance to bid. Now nobody’s gonna trade a player like that ever again. So Stone has an ill fitting but talented group of assets, and no young superstar on the horizon to trade for. So KD was his chosen path to paper over the cracks and at least win a playoff series, to keep the wheels spinning for a little while.
We got him, because the price was right and we needed a closer. So far it doesn’t look like it is working out as well as we thought, but the team seems to be gelling a bit and playing more team ball. We still have some of the best draft assets in the league. Phoenix is a Booker injury away from sucking next year. Dillon has come back to Earth and Jalen is not a savior. The Nets and Dallas picks are also more than likely lottery tickets as well. We are still locked and loaded to make a significant move in the next year or two if the opportunity presents itself. This team is still in a great position, if Ime can get his act together. We have a punchers chance even if we continue to slog it out with this defense only coach. I think it is a mistake for the FO not to make an attempt to bring in another backup guard that can shoot 3’s. With that one addition, our odds of competing rise fairly significantly.
it may be time to segregate CF.... between the people that want to enjoy the ride... and those that insist on pushing the doom and gloom... Honestly, the negativity on this board is just overwhelming - and rather surprising given KD and the national spotlight... I feel like people were less pissy during the 'treadmill of mediocrity years (Scola, KMart) than now... and of course the whole Reed Sheppard thing is prob the most divisiveness since the LOFs... I like breaking down and analyzing our team... but some folks just gotta show up everyday with their over the top negativity... smdh
This is a very disingenuous take since most of the older players don't actually play rotation minutes. Well, had FVV been healthy this number would've been closer. But as is by minutes allocation the Rockets are 18th in the NBA. And this number is skewed towards older side for contenders since, obviously, contenders are trying to win now. Among teams trying to compete the Rockets are basically middle of the pack.
Here was the quote from Stone about the question if they are in "win now" mode. “We certainly weren’t going to do something that would hurt us on a going-forward basis… We’re looking at the long term more so than anything. When you have that many young, talented players, you want to see what they become and not rush to judgment on anything… We’re trying to win. We’re in the development and winning stage at the same time.” So acquiring KD puts the Rockets in Win Now mode ...but it also put the Rockets in Win Later mode. ...and yes, the FVV injury was a massive setback ...but he'll be back before the playoffs and hopefully Adams will be as well. Don't panic. The Rockets are poised to make a run this season, and many more seasons to come.
I like your post except the FVV and Adams part. There is actually a chance that their returns would hurt more than help. By playoff time this team should be adjusted to their roles and playing much better team ball. Bringing back FVV and Adams bears too much risk with Ime screwing up the synergy that will be built by then. Double bigs sucks. People forget how sh*tty FVV played last year.
Fair points. It'll be interesting to see how Ime integrates everyone back together at full strength. Honestly, the weakest link right now is Jabari. You could start FVV and move Amen to the 4 so he can play in the dunker spot, where he is so dangerous. Who knows. Hopefully they'll have a few weeks to sort it out before the playoffs begin. That said, I don't buy into the narrative that FVV is washed because he had a down year. FVV played wayyyyy too many minutes. The Captain Obvious comment, but apparently is worth saying, FVV didn't have KD on this team last year. FVV was required make plays, which ain't his bag. Jalen was supposed to do that and now that's KD's job. How much load does that take off of FVV's plate having KD as an option? C'mon. You can't compare. Last year the Rockets lost close games because they couldn't hit a shot in the 4th Q. That is now fixed. This year, the Rockets can't execute in crunch time. Put that together and what do you have? Reed ain't it. Amen ain't it. Alp ain't it. KD ain't it. You need a reliable PG to set the table. The Rockets have that dude, in street clothes. I want to see what that looks like. As an aside, I hope that Reed develops as a reliable PG ...but he's not ready today.
I’ll go along, but think FVV would best fit off guard most of the time. Amen is doing a fantastic job of driving and dishing lately. That is something that FVV doesn’t bring. The main point is how would Ime use his best buddies. Adams returning is much more troubling to me than FVV, to be honest.
That was true last year with Jalen. FVV often deferred to Jalen bringing the ball up the court. The problem in that equation was Jalen, not FVV. When FVV is back, he'll also defer to Amen as the primary ball handler throughout the flow of the game. But in high leverage situations, FVV usually took back the reigns. Even KD controlling the ball has been a mess. I never realized how turnover prone KD is. On Adams, not sure why you think a positive net rating is a problem. But regardless, if the team is fully staffed up, everyone's numbers will go down, including Adams. In basketball, you play your best players and then work out the system around them. Adams is probably the 4th or 5th best player on the team, which is why he gets PT. The dude is a baller. It's not any more complicated than that.
We got KD and they're pretending he's 26 years old. I can't believe they're going to stand pat at the deadline and are fine going into the playoffs with two PG's who are both learning the position. Plus the stupid rebounding gimmick they wasted half a season on. I think we'll regret taking it too easy if that's what we end up doing. Please go get a backup PG.
