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Amen Thompson - Point [Forward or Guard?]

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by kpdark, Oct 6, 2023.

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Where should Amen spend most of his minutes?

  1. Guard

    240 vote(s)
    58.4%
  2. Forward

    135 vote(s)
    32.8%
  3. other

    36 vote(s)
    8.8%
  1. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I like the Marion comp, but would add that Amen is already very good at passing. I defintely want Amen to work on his handles to develop "guard skills". I, like you, want him to keep doing the forward tasks as he looked pretty good in a 30 game or so sample as a forward.

    I will say that Butler in his first year, he shot 18% from 3, and Amen compares very favorably in most areas to rookie Butler. Though, Butler had a really big jump in 3point efficiency that most players can't make while increasing usage the way he did.
     
  2. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    Andre Igualada
     
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  3. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Good comp. I think Amen is much more aggressive than I remember Iguodala. Iggy settled for mid range a lot.
     
  4. saleem

    saleem Member

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    If he can't shoot the ball in the preseason, than he can't shoot it all in the regular season. Unless, his shot improves, he will struggle against better teams.
     
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  5. Dobbizzle

    Dobbizzle Member

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    He can't shoot period, it's going to take time. What you're proposing is a horrendous strategy.
     
  6. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    Unless you have 4 knockdown shooters on the floor Amen Thompson ain't a point anything
     
  7. gumbleton3

    gumbleton3 Member

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    You need a PG who can shoot in 2024.

    Unless he completely revamps his jumper, he'll be a secondary ball handler at best.
     
  8. BaselineFade

    BaselineFade Member
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    Reed's the future PG. He ended that discussion. Reed and Alpi are who they should build around.
     
  9. Rokman

    Rokman Member

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    Amen is Ben Simmons minus the attitude but the issue still remains, you can't play 4 on 5 on the offensive end and expect to succeed. Outside of putbacks and an occasional fast break dunk he really has nothing to concern the defense about. This won't become a glaring problem until the playoffs when teams will slack off of him to force him to shoot and he will be unplayable. This was my concern with drafting him last year and I don't think it's going to get resolved.

    He needs to come off the bench. Period.
     
  10. rockets1995

    rockets1995 Member

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    Amen Thompson should start over Jabari Smith. Jabari Smith should be coming off the bench and score against other bench players.

    Tari Eason and Jabari Smith as Center together off the bench I think can work.

    Steven Adams won't play many games this season only pick and choose games like Minnesota Rudy Gobert and Milwaukee Brook Lopez.
     
  11. Strawberry Gum

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    Shooting was our biggest problem last year, and Amen moving to the starting lineup doesnt make things easier on that front. I'm very conflicted about this whole thing but I think Brooks should still be starting. At least for now.
     
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  12. J Sizzle

    J Sizzle Member

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    Huge fan of Amen, but it's clear his jumper is irrevocably broken. He's Iguodala, can't play him at any guard spot.
     
  13. harold bingo

    harold bingo Member
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    I think we'd be lucky if he can ever shoot as well as Iggy did.
     
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  14. AroundTheWorld

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    This seems pretty clear to me.

    I still think Amen can have a huge role on the team.

    But the people who will say that Amen has the higher ceiling than Alpi are - in my opinion - often just people who were anti-Alpi to begin with, and - after realizing that neither Jalen nor Jabari are going to be "the guy" - are looking for someone, anyone else to latch onto.
     
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  15. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    He is a jack of all trades master of none guy, if he can't shoot he will be a very high end role player, Draymond Green ish...as his top end.


    DD
     
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  16. cml750

    cml750 Member

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    Reed is the PG of the future which will make Amen a forward.
     
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  17. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    ?? Amen typically either is really great at something or really bad at something. For guys with over 1,000 minutes last season, he's probably in the Top 10 guys that are least like a jack of all trades, master of none.
     
  18. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist

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    Oh hell no. Don't confuse bad fit with bad player. You can totally build a 4-out team around Amen where he'd be a nightmare to guard. Example:

    JJJ
    Jabari
    Tari/Brooks
    Amen
    FVV

    The problem is he's not compatible with our best player yet. We're not trading Sengun. We're not starting both. We need more spacing than last season. It's just not a strategic fit.

    More importantly he needs on-ball minutes and he won't get any touches with our starting lineup. It's truly best for him to come off the bench. He'll develop better and build confidence. He'll get to run a team. He'll get to play in dynamic positions.

    Are people exaggerating the importance of starting? Our best developed prospect is the one who was brought along slowly from the bench. Have an open mind about how we can get him to start at PG next season instead of pigeonholing him this season.
     
    #1498 Mathloom, Oct 10, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2024
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  19. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    FVV is compatible with almost any player.
     
  20. AroundTheWorld

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