Did you watch the Clippers game? it’s not Udoka affecting his confidence. He’s a poor midrange shooter, bricking wide open 10 footers. He has every reason not to be confident in those shots.
Alpi had a bad offensive game tonight, but still contributed, and helped to seal it in the end. Loved the passion. Amen and Tari the MVPs tonight. Jock also solid.
Not Alperen's best night, but gawdamn was it nice to see him pay Udoka back for having confidence in him.
Imagine how many more assist he would have if people would knock down the wide open threes he creates
But not the best shooting night but he made some key defensive plays and rebounds tonight. Zubac was giving him some issues in the third though.
[ What are they saying about Sengun? "The rim protection has been excellent. He is everywhere." Clippers broadcast.
It was no secret that Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun had not played up to his potential to start the 2024-25 NBA season. Through his first six games, the fourth-year center from Turkey had made only 38.6% of his shots from the field. During that time, the Rockets had problems finishing in the lane, as they averaged 46.3 points per game in the paint. Much of that had to do with the inefficiency of Sengun missing what he and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka described as easy shots. After a slow start against the Golden State Warriors at the Toyota Center, in which he played less than 25 minutes of an overtime loss, Udoka and Sengun sat down for a one-on-one talk prior to Monday's game against the New York Knicks. They both knew that Sengun’s rhythm was off, and they needed to correct it. One thing about Sengun is that he is very coachable and responds well to advice given to him by the coaching staff. Against the Knicks, he finished with a team-high 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 109-97 victory, and followed that up with a 16 points in limited minutes during Wednesday's 127-100 blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs. In those two games, the Rockets averaged 64 points per game in the paint (62 vs. the Knicks, 66 vs. the Spurs). Those efforts were led by Sengun’s 73% shooting average around the basket. “It always helps talking with him,” Sengun said of his discussions with Udoka. “He was helping me get my confidence back.” Not only did Sengun’s dominance help Houston win back-to-back games, but his effectiveness in the paint also helped point guard Fred VanVleet see a resurgence. After shooting a measly 20.3% from the field in the previous three games, VanVleet watched his shooting percentage rise with a 57.1% game against the Knicks. Two nights later, he was nearly perfect (10-of-11, better than 90%) versus the Spurs. Even with the slow start on offense, Udoka was confident that his veteran point guard would find his rhythm. “I think he has been around long enough to realize that good shots are going to fall eventually,” Udoka said of VanVleet. “At times, vets take a little bit of time to get into the season. “Whether it is pacing themselves in training camp, whatever that may be. I think that he and Alperen, when they were struggling, as long as they were getting quality looks, I was fine with it. I know it was going to flip at some point. They have been aggressive, get the work in, and are confident in what they are doing.”
His biggest problem right now is he needs to get to the line. I’m not sure what can be done to get a good whistle and it’s not just him, but he and Jalen both would benefit a ton from getting a good whistle. He plays really physical so nights like tonight where he gets 0 free throws are gonna be really rough.
He was on the floor after the dunk. Yet he recovered and outrun everyone on the floor to block the shot!!
Playing Alperen Sengun with one cutter in the starting lineup is crazy. Jabari will be fine. Start Amen or Tari. Current starters do not mesh.
Alperen Sengun 2021-22: DFGA: 5.7 DFG%: 61.4 2022-23: DFGA: 7.3 (12th in the NBA) DFG%: 61.6 2023-24: DFGA: 8.4 (4th in the NBA) DFG%: 59.6 2024-25: DFGA: 8.6 (4th in the NBA) DFG%: 54.4 Evan Mobley 2021-22: DFGA: 8.1 (5th in the NBA) DFG%: 53.0 2022-23: DFGA: 8.1 (5th in the NBA) DFG%: 57.5 2023-24: DFGA: 8.3 (5th in the NBA) DFG%: 53.8 2024-25: DFGA: 7.7 (12th in the NBA) DFG%: 55.0
