Not sure about that. I think it’s more about delusion, and arrogance of our GM. He thinks he’s such a genius that he’s put together the greatest team ever that just needs another season to prove it. Meanwhile all he’s doing is delaying the inevitable. Actually last season was probably the best this unit is going to perform together. Look as a fan of course I want them all to stay healthy and have a great season, but let’s be real…. We got lucky last season with KD and the young core’s health. I think we are also delusional if we think that this season there won’t be injuries as well and without really any ball handlers or facilitators to begin with, we are looking at another very frustrating offense with very little depth to sustain a competitive defense. I think we will be lucky to win 50 games again. I will be shocked if we win enough games to secure home court in the playoffs and could actually find it challenging to avoid the play in. But that all hinges on Amen Thompson imo. Hes the one player who can take that leap they all are so confident about even though they’ve built a team that is the opposite of what you’d want if you actually wanted to highlight Amen’s talents.
Y would u be surprised? We kept Ego way too long - and that was in the midst of a full blown rebuild... lol and of course we're trying to contend... we're not a top 3 team in the west... but we're gonna win 50+ games and make the playoffs... and then hope we get lucky (or other teams get injuries and become unlucky...) Why do people act like we're a bottom feeder? We'll finish the reg season no worse than the 6th seed - and we've won a championship from that slot previously.... I'd say we have a 5% chance of winning it all... we're certainly not a favorite, but why are our own fans already tossing dirt on this squad...? I hope we make another trade (Kyrie) that doesnt mortgage our future and improve those odds... then we hope our youngsters take another step forward... and then next year we get 2 frps and start phasing out the old guys...
You hit the nail on the head in your last paragraph. Amen will improve assuredly, but the odds of him taking that huge jump in a system that is the antithesis of what it needs to be to highlight him is remote at best. He would have to overcome hog ball KD, a stacked lane, and a brain dead coach, that won’t trust him with the ball. I’ll eat my words, if Stone does what he needs to do and dump FVV and KD for perimeter scorers.
You are putting a lot of faith in 2 frps in what is reportedly another very weak draft class. I’m not for gutting the team, but getting something of value for KD while you still can is the prudent move. It would be selling high, instead of Stone’s normal mo.
I'm still excited that the Rockets will trade KD. I see that they are talking to the Pistons about a deal.
I actually thought prior to last season Sengun was the most fun player on the rockets to watch. However if you really believe that Amen is the future and you want to put your money where your mouth is, the easiest thing you can do without overhauling your roster is to trade Sengun, move Jabari to the 5, and run an athletic, fast, switch everything system ala the LeBron era Heat. This is an incredibly slow methodical half court centric offense. Much of that is because of the reliance of Sengun and KD to create from the freaking half court in most cases. Take out Sengun, and it would (in theory) force Ime to actually use that athleticism to get out and run a bit more. I guess you could look at it the other way too that Ime has neutered Sengun too with taking away his only perimeter scorer who attacked the basket which led to him being able to make passes and plays cutting to the rim where he had more space to work with. It’s just crazy how this front office just doesn’t care to see how important it is to have someone… anyone who can break down defenses and get to the rim to facilitate your offense. When you miss Jalen Green that much it’s a pretty bad sign for the rest of your team’s talent.
As much as I dislike their principles and beliefs towards team building and know it’s a bad playoff formula.. Stone has maintained the player trade value and asset equity to fix it quickly. Perhaps not to championship level but we should still be around Timberwolves level in the mix with a punchers chance. I don’t know why Ime deviated so far from the style that got him in the position he’s in. The Jan 25’ team w/ FVV, JG ,DB, Amen, Sengun was on to something and in line with what worked for him in Boston. The Adams zone working for those few games, impatience, and maybe some narcissism to be different and bring a different style, be bigger and tougher got into their heads before the 25’/26’ season and set us back. They overestimated height, went to far down the efficiency stats rabbit hole and severely underestimated speed and skill. I think some of the doom from fanbase comes from how easily fixable it is, while they refuse to do it and own up to making a mistake. This isn’t a Scola/Aaron Brooks team over achieving.
and I would say that trading KD would plunge us into the doom and gloom that others are proclaiming of our present squad... Chemistry/tweets aside, KD is the guy that gives us a punchers chance at possibly doing something - although granted those odds are pretty slim... but I'd rather have a slim chance than no chance at all... If Adams is healthy (a big if) and we have a decent pg (not relying on KD or Amen to facilitate) - that alone makes us a better team than last year... and we won 52 games last year... and we actually had a better record post all-star break after Adams went down... again, not saying we're a favorite... but we've already improved our bench... if Amen develops a decent mid-range shot this off-season and Alpi can improve his d a knotch - then we're right in the thick of it... Obviously injuries are a huge factor and we are more susceptible than other teams... but it isnt like guys such as Tatum and Haliburton didnt miss entire seasons... Injuries to Shai and Wemby and its anyone's ballgame imo...
I don't think they are cooked if FVV, Adams stay healthy. Games last year against OKC, Knicks, Wolves, Lakers and Tim Hardaway flop game all came down to our guards not being seasoned enough. The problem is relying on 30 years olds coming off serious injuries. Then again, FVV could never shake anyone off before.
Well, we won 52 games last year ... without a PG all season and without Steven Adams for about one half a season. One could even argue that the Rockets could have won 57-60 games if Adams remained healthy. With your above logic, we must have lucky to win 52 games ... lucky or perhaps Ime's coaching was a real difference maker If both FVV and Adams miss next season due to injuries, I do agree that 50 games will take a miracle (or more Ime coaching heroics ). Maybe one could blame Stone for signing old AF broken down vets ... and one young AF broken down Tari. If the Rockets stay mostly healthy, they have a shot at 60+ wins ... which is decidedly not cooked. Even in this best case scenario, the Rockets will struggle against OKC and SA in the playoffs and would likely require some serious luck to get past them. Beating OKC and SA in the near future is going to be a real problem with this roster. What to do? We could run it back and hope for the best. We could make like Orlando et al and rebuild ... with no guarantee that we will have any different luck than the last rebuild, where we got good players but not the 1A superstar that championship teams need. There is no clear path forward. The current team does have a young core that are still several years from their peak. It is still possible that Amen and Sengun learn to shoot 3s, that Reed learns how to play NBA PG, that Bari learns how to create his own shot, etc. I am guessing that the Rockets will have 2 more years before they have to decide to rebuild or not. The next two years will be really rough for fans. One would hope that the Rockets org does everything in its power to develop its young core over the next two years. We will see.
I hope you are right, but it will have to be after all the pending transactions the Pistons have made are consummated. The Pistons are a 2nd apron team and have to match salaries dollar for dollar which is pretty much impossible with their current roster and given who they would have to give up. They do have guys coming in Collins, Huerter, Joe, and Green that could help make it happen. Their draft pick capital pretty much sucks, so it would be even better if we brought in a third team. Duren’s RFA also complicates matters. I don’t think the Pistons will do anything else until that is resolved.
I can see that point of view as well. In fact, I wouldn’t be dismissive of moving both KD and Sengun to pursue a modern day “showtime”. I just don’t think it’s possible with this FO and this coach. It’s more practical to move KD and hope Sengun develops a 3 pointer and Ime screws a cheerleader.
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr is the slowest forward line assembled by any team in the last 5 years and no one talks about it or considers it a problem. We don’t have to do the Alperen Sengun is the reason we play slow thing, it’s prove-ably false.
Given how strong the east is and we’re clearly below Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets & Wolves, there’s really no reason to pretend injured FVV, KD and Adams are going to go anywhere. We have potentially better shooters, but one of them is also injury prone and has seen his best days and Smart is alright. So threading water here.
The Rockets literally were gifted that scenario in April against a Lakers team with a 41 year-old LeBron, no Luka, and no Austin for the first 4 games. And they looked like sh-t in Games 1 and 2 and then coughed up Game 3 to spot LA a 3-0 lead before being eliminated in embarrassing fashion at home in Game 6. Luck ain't saving this franchise.
no... but hopefully a competent pg will... not getting a pg at the deadline was Stones biggest fu imo... ANY decent pg and we would have been spared the KD turnover debacle... We needed to fill our holes and quit trying to fit square pegs into circular holes by asking guys to do things outside of their skillset... KD is a shooter - stop asking him to facilitate... Amen feasts at the rim - quit having him on the perimeter... Our issues are not irreparable... well aside from possibly FVVs knee... lol... but hes gone after this year and we've already put in a bu plan in Smart and Thornton... but would still love to trade his expiring for Kyrie...
0-3 vs fakers w/o Luka and Reaves. Can't even get past round 1 vs old ass has been teams for the last 2 PO series. Watching low turnover, offensive rebound focused possesion msth based on iso ball sucks. Don't expect to see round 2 in '27. Cooked for sure.
You're basically conceding they're cooked with a take like this. You admit Fred is potentially washed, Stone still hasn't found a replacement(even if Reed's that guy, Ime won't play him), and that we're not utilizing our players properly on offense. Well, how is any of that going to change now? We're right up against the 1st apron, and our only real assets are those 2027 picks(which Stone won't give up), a 25 mil expiring contract for damaged goods, a 13 mil trade exception, and KD(again whom Stone won't give up). And with Ime and his staff coming back, the offense will still be putrid and the defense won't matter since ultimately they won't able to consistently score at the other end.
Well bro, I guess it comes down to your definition of cooked... Imo a playoff team that has a punchers chance is better than 50% of the Rockets seasons since I've been a fan... lol Cooked is having Jeremy Lamb as your top guy and expecting him to carry you... lol! As I said... we're not a favorite... but we got a slim chance... Hopefully Fred comes back to form or we trade him and improve those odds... if nothing else having Smart at pg rather than Amen or KD as your primary ballhandler is a step in the right direction... Youve been on this board since 2002... prob a fan since b4 that... u know we've been in far deeper holes than this...
