we don’t know if he’s better this year since he’s only played one full game. The point of this thread is about how differently the Rockets would play with 4 shooters and the halfcourt more spread out. Their offense right now is very limited and compressed in the halfcourt with 2 non shooters. This isn’t about individual stats. It’s about the function of a team with all the parts combined. Let’s focus on that instead of making this about Green.
The Rockets did not make a mistake trading Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and pick #10 (Khaman Malauch) plus second-round picks for Kevin Durant. It’s up to Sengun and Thompson to get in the gym and develop a three-point shot so they can function well offensively together on the court. The same problem would exist if Brooks and Green were here instead of Durant.
They gave up brooks to match salary. Jabari was still on a rookie deal unless they did a sign and trade or trade contingent upon extension deal which I don’t think suns necessarily wanted that. Tari was probably in play but again rookie deal. Sheppard and Amen makes 10 mil a piece for being lottery picks. That would have worked.
I don’t think it’s that simple. Having Brooks and Fred would be great but again we have 2 non shooters in the starting lineup playing major minutes. Defenses sit back and load up taking away driving lanes sagging back or playing zone. This is due to us not being able to spread the floor. We are seeing the same issues today we saw last season and in the playoffs. Brooks and Fred wouldn’t solve the spacing issues if Amen and Sengun both need the ball and both are starting. Well some might say Sengun had 4 shooters starting around him last year. Yes he did but he didn’t have durant. Green was the only guy besides sengun that could draw doubles and teams had to guard them at the line. With Durant that gives us another guy that could get doubled or tripled team on the drive or post. This opens up for JG drives or 3. Teams would have to guard the Rockets differently and game planning against us would be difficult
Jalen is a good player, not great but good. However, everyone has their own assessment. I think he improved under Ime and I think he would have continued to improve. The problem with Jalen was that he never learned how to play basketball, he was and has always relied on his athleticism. From highschool, to G-League Ignite, to being coached under Silas. I think the Rockets pulled the trigger to quickly. But maybe they can bring him back after next yr
im not saying star at all but i do think durant would open up the game for him. Our offense would have a completely different look and feel
always everyone else's fault Alpi learned, Amen learned, Jabari learned... after that playoffs, who wouldn't pull the trigger...
I don’t think that would be the case. The offense would focus around KD and Sengun is still a hub. JG would feed off them and his role simplified much like how Wiggins game was simplified with Warriors. Its about fit and Combinations that unlocks players potentials. Some guys aren’t meant to be the num 1 option like Wiggins wasn’t. Minn tried for 5 years and it didn’t work. Rockets tried for 4. But given a new role and better surrounding players the synergy would be different.
Could they maybe have picked up Jock's option and made it Jabari + Jock? Not sure what the cap implications of that would have been
I'm with the people earlier in the thread who think it's not Jalen we messed up by sending out, it's Dillon. If we'd have moved Bari or Tari or both instead and kept Dillon I think we're likely an even better team. He stretches the floor and brings the fire we've been missing since our culture flipped to KD's "high as a mother****er but still dope af" model.
Yeah I know the argument was that Dillon was blocking other, younger players like Smith, Eason, Thompson, but if this version of Dillon was always there, maybe they were the ones blocking him. Though, I don't think it would have worked salary-wise since Jabari's extension starts next season so it would have been hard to not include Sengun or Green in a Durant trade (though i guess you could have put in FVV pre-option/pre-injury for matching).
I can’t. I’ve tried. I guess as a Rockets fan since Dream’s rookie year, I’m more mad that the Rockets FO thought he was the best available at 2, and is really an (ongoing) indictment of their player evaluation at the top of the draft. I truly feel bad for the kid and believe that when he looks back on his career (outside of the count the money part), he’s going to see a lot of people deceived him early on.
Dillon has come back to Earth. He is getting high usage in Phoenix. His FG% is 45%, his 3pt% is 35%, he is still a terrible passer and rebounder. 1.8 assists to 1.9 turnovers, 3.6 rebounds which is putrid for his body type and position. Dillon also slowed down for us the 2nd half and played awful in the playoffs. SF is not our problem. We need a SG that can consistently hit 3’s and play defense and we have a fighter’s chance with health. Sengun needs to get well and I think he will get back to early season Sengun. No to Giannis or anyone else that cannot shoot from 3. No to anyone over 31 or so, unless they are cheap and rentals.
