I don't think we've seen that. I think Dillon is a better defender than Jabari. And other than these last few games, the numbers support that. The defense gets better with Dillon on vs off, it stays exactly the same when Jabari is on vs off. The defense is also way better with Dillon and no Jabari than it is with Jabari and no Dillon. I'm also not sure Jabari is a better shooter than Dillon, Dillon shoots 3s at a higher percentage and he also takes more per game. I think Dillon is way more likely to let it fly when he's open compared to Jabari who is very tentative and often kills offensive advantages by holding the ball rather than shooting it when he's open. This post sounds like I'm being really hard on Jabari, and I don't mean it to come off that way, I think the Dillon vs Jabari is close. I'm not trying to say Jabari sucks. But I think Dillon is a bit better.
I think Brooks is better than JSJ. I don't think Brooks fits with Amen. I don't think JSJ currently fits with Amen. I think Amen starting has caused some really weird stuff. The offense shows what happens when Amen is playing as a forward with skill players. The defense has been weird. I don't think the Rockets are able to maintain energy on defense with Amen ramping up energy needs on offense. I think Cam instead of Tari and Jabari also amps up the offense, but causes more defensive breakdowns. I don't think getting JSJ back will miraculously cure the defensive problems and I don't think he's a good enough shooter currently to capaitize on all the open shots the team is getting for Brooks.
JSJ is Jabari I suppose, I am not a big fan of acronyms that have more than 2 letters. Bari should cater to Amen and not the other way around, he has to find a way to play beside him, rebound and pass to Amen quickly.
Another thing is, I honestly think Dillon is a true small forward and Jabari is a true power forward despite some posters trying to convince us otherwise. Dillon was being shot over all night by JJJ, he's not well-suited to guard taller PF/C types at all. Too short and doesn't have a plus wingspan. Jabari would have done a better job, most likely, because he actually has the height to challenge JJJ. On the flip side, Dillon is much, much better at guarding perimeter players at this point in their respective careers.
I agree that Jabari or Brooks need to cater to Amen. I just have not figured out why the defense has fallen apart. My inital guesses are either using more energy on offense or weird matchups caused by Brooks and Amen being on the court together. I think this depends on the taller player. Usually, Brooks is fine guarding bigger players. I think JJJ may just be too much for Brooks. Though, JJJ was mostly held to usual number last night. I think the problem was getting out to shooters...notable Bane being 4/5 and Wells being 3/4 behind the arc. I kind of wonder if having Brooks and Amen in together is causing some weird cross switching that other players aren't use to. Amen is generally taking the playmaker. Brooks and JSJ generally handle the preswitching and scram switching with Sengun. Brooks getting tied to JJJ and Amen to Ja would leave Green and FVV to preswitching and scram switching with Sengun. It takes me a while to figure out what is going on defense as I end up ball watching too much. I've just been more chill/tired lately and I generally have more motivation for finding out what is working than looking for what is going wrong.
I won't argue with any of that, but in my mind, there's no doubt Jabari will be the better player in another year or two. Reason enough to give him adequate minutes, even if they come at the expense of Dillon. And come playoffs THIS year, we'll need them both.
Great point, this is incredibly obvious in hindsight and I somehow overlooked it entirely. It's also more important than all the reasons I listed. I'm changing my vote to Jabari.
It's annoying that it took an injury for us to have this conversation. And any injury would've worked outside of Sengun. FVV, Jalen, Jabari or Brooks. Amen just makes everyone better. Amen/Sengun/Jalen work. FVV probably needs to command the ship at least for the rest of the year as Amen isn't ready and Reed is nowhere near ready. So odd man out will be either Dillon or Jabari. And it's probably not Jabari.
Yes, the odd man out is clearly the guy who has played the 3rd most minutes in the last 2 seasons, the leading 3 point shooter on the team among the regulars, who is also playing All-Defense level defense, while serving as the lead defender on the other team's primary threat for most of the last 2 seasons. This is a very likely thing that will almost certainly happen if you keep trying to speak it into existence.
There are 240 minutes in a game, that's enough to give 30 MPG to 8 players. Thompson had been up to 31 MPG the month before Jabari went down with injury. The fact that Tari has an injury that probably still needs to be managed (when he ever gets back to begin with), there's plenty of minutes. There's no reason one of them has to be "out". If Jabari has to come off the bench, there's really no big problem. Udoka will probably want to stick with the veteran Brooks as the starter, but the starter/bench player dynamic is grossly overrated by fans. The players that are working best in a game get to close, we've seen that consistently from him. As long as all 6 are getting 30+ minutes I don't see the issue.
I think this is a pretty good assessment, although the perimeter defense is much closer than you indicate. I think Dillon guards guys he can overpower on the perimeter better, like Wemby. Quicker perimeter players, Jabari guards at least as well, because of his wing span and he moves his feet really well as does Dillon. I think saying there defense is a wash would be fair, but Jabari is a much better rebounder which is the difference maker to me.
I don't agree on the starting unit from bench unit being overplayed. Most coaches play their starters around 8 mins to start the game. It is critical for certain players to get off to a good start. Having Amen as a defensive starter from the beginning serves 2 very important function. Helping Jalen get off to a good start and contributing to the other teams best player getting off to a slow start. Taking FVV off the ball has turned us away from a slow plodding team to a very fast team and Amen is playing a key role in making that happen, especially when he gets the defensive rebound.
1) FVV is still on the ball more than anyone else. He's just not on ball all the time and a lot of FVV is just getting the secondary ball handlers setup. 2) The Rockets current starting lineup is running at a slower pace than they were without Amen in the starting lineup. The faster pace tends to be more from the bench units with Cam and Holiday getting up shots early in the clock. This isn't to say that Amen isn't causing more transistion, but overall the Rockets still take their time when they aren't in transistion. The efficiency has skyrocketed having more ball handlers on the court. Fast does not equal good.
F FVV is not commanding the ship. That is the main reason our offense and Jalen are better. He is available if the team needs calming down, which is exactly how he is being used
Who would Cam Johnson start over? Certainly not Amen. He doesn't have the length of Bari or the defensive chops of Brooks. I think he's a decent player, I just have a hard time seeing him as good enough to significantly improve upon what we already have.
I think Brooks is the key component in making the current starting lineup with Thompson work. Brooks often takes on the other team's best offensive big, and despite the size difference, he does a good enough job that the Rockets do not have to constantly send double team help. Also, I think this is allowing the Rockets not to be at a defensive disadvantage with Thompson at the PF position even against bigger frontcourts. And on the offensive side, the Rockets are getting the most out of Thompson's speed, athleticism, and decision-making. It's the best of both worlds, and Brooks is a big reason for it working. And I agree with what you say about Smith. In a few years' time, when Smith gets physically stronger, the fact that he is a true power forward with his skillset and athleticism (for his position) will become a massive advantage. Right now, though, it's a work-in-progress, but that's to be expected.
How much is Amen worth on the open market right now? Not a dollar less than $30m. He would probably get offered up to $40m.
