TF: Shut up and listen--Rockets Immediate Action Plan

Pretty sure I saw Tilman seated next to the governor today at the inauguration.

 

Pulling absolute numbers on most turnovers is not super helpful. Missing context of usage and play styles. Plus a bit lazy since that number is easy to get.

What's more interesting is if the reporter figures out who's the starter on each team with most assists: the point guard (the Brunsons), point forward (Lebron), or point center (Jokic).

Then look at their Ast%, ToV%m and Ast-to-TurnOver ratio. Rank and compare KPJ to see where he is among other starter point position. Is he low / mid / high tier?

A two minute search of NBA.com or basketball reference isn't advancing the conversation much.

As far as broad strokes overall numbers, KPJ is tied 26th/27th in assist, top 5/6th in turnovers (per game). He falls out of the top 50 in overall NBA assit to turnover ratio; in which case need to find only the starters with high usage.

 

First, a lot of this stuff is up in the air.

Jalen Green fits the type of player that sometimes takes a little longer to develop. So there is still a good chance that he gets a lot better over the next few years. Having said that, I don't see the level of competitiveness that I have seen in players like Kobe, Jordan, Harden or even Ray Allen. Maybe it comes out when he has an actual NBA coach.

Jabari Smith hasn't set the league on fire, but he has shown the ability to score inside, he is very competitive and is the leader of the team. So I think he will be at least a good starter, if not an all star.

Sengun is very gifted offensively, but cannot defend a paper bag.

The others.... who the hell knows.

There were (and still are) obvious limitations when the Rockets took Green at #2. He is small, he is boxed into being a 2 guard. He will have to defend point guards, he has some court vision issues and defensive issues. Would the Rockets have been better drafting Mobley at #2 and then they could have had a frontline of Sengun and Mobley? Possibly.... would Barnes be a better fit? Wagner...... all that stuff is up in the air.

At #3 the Rockets took the guy just about everyone would have, when they took Smith. He is never going to be a high volume scorer or creator but defensively he can be at least very good, if not a true stopper. He can play multiple positions and can get boards as well.

Sengun looks like an all star on one end of the court, but looks lost on the other. Can the Rockets afford defensively to have both Sengun and Green on the floor together?

It is easy to look in hindsight and say the Rockets should have their 3/4/5 set with Mobley/Sengun/Smith or maybe Sengun/Smith/Barnes.

So, I wouldn't say they picked poorly, but it clearly wasn't a homerun.

 

In hindsight, Mobley / Ivey would have been the better combo. But its not like the Rockets picked Stingley Jr. over Sauce.