RidiculousUpside.com: Breaking down TJone's game and fit with the Rockets

I don't see Jones fitting with the starting lineup. I think he can be a poor man's Lamar Odom for us off the bench

 

Jones stock will rise if and when Asik is traded, which could very well happen by the trading deadline this season.

Will Omer Asik be traded by the trading deadline on February 20, 2014? I think he probably will. Which will make immediately increase the value of T Jones to this team.

 

I feel like you need to keep him for sure. Not sure if he's the best fit to start though. I think he could get there eventually though. Still very young. He will have to work on his shooting form if he wants to be in the starting lineup.

 

ugh...Jones has such a way to go.

 

Agreed. He's actually pretty good at handling the ball going to the basket. He can do that with the second team.

What Dmo has that Jones lacks in terms of meshing well with the starters is BBIQ. Dmo can make the smart pass and knows what to do on offense.

Jones is just...not that bright yet when it comes to spacing, passing, awareness.

 

I agree that Jones doesn't mesh very well with the starters but neither does D-Mo, imo.

I feel like we need a solid low post defender opposite Dwight. A guy like David West or Lamarcus Aldridge will end up feasting on our young PFs this season because of the below average post defense both players bring to the table.

If I were to have a choice I'd rather have a guy like Chuck Hayes at the 4 just for the solid post defense he'd provide. On this team we'd have more than enough offensive compensation coming from the other 4 guys int he starting 5.

But of course we would love a more balanced PF in a perfect world. I'm sure we'll have this issue resolved either internally (via improved talent) or by dealing a few players for that type of guy.

 

We have the 7 foot version of Chuck Hayes who happens to be the second best defensive big in the NBA.

 

Would love Chuck back but with him and D12, the paint is going to be way too clogged

 

It looks to me like a sacrifice must be made. If you put Asik in, then you sacrifice a lot of offensive potential. The paint will most likely be packed and that really hurts the attacking guards and Dwight's post up game; remember, spacing is key. I see D-Mo as the best fit for the starters, but really, his defense is something that I foresee as a huge hole not only for himself, but for the team as well. At the same time though, D-MO has some sick post moves and it would be a damn shame to not let him use it.

 

Thanks for sharing my article, Carl. I appreciate it.

Even after following him all season long in the D-League, I only realised how raw he is offensively when I was going through the game tape. Still, with all the weapons the Rockets have, he won't be asked to shovel a big scoring load, which is good for him.

 

How'd I know these were coming.

It doesn't have to be Chuck Hayes per-say. I understand his limitations on offense but if you think the offensive end of the court will be clogged imagine what the defensive end would look like.

You could have Chuck or a player like him that would do an above average job of funneling his opposing player to Dwight for the block or taking a charge against them. The paint would be a literal cage with Dwight and Chuck holding it down.

It would be nice to find a guy with both abilities (offensive and defensively), of course but I don't know of any guys who would be available on the trading block.

It would be nice to shut guys down defensively in the post but I know everyone wants their star power forward to space the floor on offense and do the same Chuck could do on defense.

 

I may be completely wrong.

But I would like to see Beverley and Jones starting.

And a bench of Lin Dmo and Asik. I think and with a little improvement for Dmo from last year, and that would make that an extremely good bench that could score in bunches and have Asik hold down the D.

Then again by the time the first game comes Asik could be traded and Dmo and Lin could be the starters and I would be ALL wrong haha

 

So pretty much what most said about him coming out of college....tweener that is solid a most things but not elite at anything.

His current strengths are rebounding and one-on-one defensive potential. Not really a great fit next to rebounding/defensive machines like Howard and Asik.

We need offense (specifically jump shooting) and help-defense from our PF. I think DMo has a better chance at becoming this.

 

sad but true
the perfect fit is actually Battier

 

2009 Battier yes.

 

Is there a way to change the font so that it's not large and bold? I notice this with all of SB Nation stuff.

 

A fair assessment of Jones. But the Rockets have 2 big men who are great at rebounding. Without a consistent three point shot Jones is not going to get many minutes. The same is true of D-Mo, but to a lesser degree because of his polished offensive game and his optimal size. All in all I foresee long stretches of both Casspi and Parsons on the floor together. But my opinion could change tomorrow. Jones is certainly not out of the competition at this point.

 

Jones is the best fit in the starting line-up out of the PF's. He won't be asked to score much, but he will do all the other little things that are needed to win.
He showed proof of that these last two games against Indiana.

 

Really well done. A great writeup from someone who actually pays attention to the player. I've seen too many articles discuss a player and it's clear that the author only watches highlights.

Do you think Jones could improve is shooting techniques like Parsons and Lin apparently did over the offseason? For Jones to be effective as the starting 4 he's going to need to be able to hit the open 3 more consistently. Ideally in the low to mid 40% range