Who ate Amen Thompson's shots?

The starting lineup would be FVV, Jalen, Amen, Jabari, and Sengun. Both Jalen and Jabari are better team defensive players and rebounders than Dillon. We will miss his three point shooting at times. Dillon and Tari will both be fine coming off the bench. If there was a decent shooting combo guard available at the deadline for second round picks we should’ve gotten one, but that’s water under the bridge. I hope we continue to play Cam and Reed as opposed to Tate and Holiday, just for development purposes.

 

If only we had drafted the Greatest 3-Point Shooter in the History of College Basketball, a GENERATIONAL SHOOTER WITH PERFECT FORM!

 

When I was in high school the tennis coach often claimed someone stole and ate his sandwich for lunch. It turned out to be the star player on the varsity team.

Perhaps Amen should become the star. Then he can eat the sandwich.

 

You jest, but that's exactly what the team needs to break the zone. Well, that, and a playmaker from the high post (Sengun).

 

Exactly. If Sheppard were as good as advertised (lock for ROTY, the next Stickton/Nash/Price), we'd have partially solved this problem. But he's not, and he won't be this year, if ever.

 

don't get bobby started

 

People are going to be surprised when Jabari and Reed actually have confidence in their shots. Part of the reason this losing streak doesn't stress me out at all. Jabari and Reed in that Chris Paul range are going to obliterate zones next year. Amen is also developing a decent mid range game but I don't see that really getting good until his 4th year or so.

Biggest issue with the team right now is at the 2 spot. Absolutely need an upgrade or an alternative there.

 

Green a better team defensive player than Brooks.......Are you trying to sell oceanfront property in Arizona again?

 

I would say Luka if he still lived in Texas.

 

Doesn't the two spot generate some of the most gravity on the team that gives guys like Amen easy opportunities?

Also this is scary to think about if we buy into your narrative that the two spot is our weakest offensive link given that our supposed best offensive player has a worse scoring efficiency on lower volume and a higher percentage of assisted makes than said player that is filling the 2 spot.

What happens when your best offensive player has a worse wffirnft on less self creation than the weakest offensive link?

 

The energizer bunny may be losing some of his charge, his recovery + 2nd jump have not been as freakish as earlier in season, all the minutes he's been playing is starting to show.

Also more difficult to amass double digit rebounds if also primary POA defender. Being ball handler also prevents Amen from getting his points as cutter + dunker, especially when both Alp + Fred are out.

 

Jabari was supposed to be 6'10 Klay Thompson but his rookie season was abhorrent too even with double the play time plus a default starting spot. Rookies have to adjust to NBA.

 

Alp has had good success breaking the zone. Problem is when he sits or 3ball not falling.

 

Just an applause to the community here for largely seeing that defenses are responding to how to play Houston and specifically guarding Amen. It's always nice to see people with a good sense of the larger context impacting these players.

There are a lot of knuckleheads here - but a lot of smart posters too - kudos!

 

I actually meant to say Amen and Jabari, whoops.

 

Amen at this point is going back to the bench and that’s okay. We need Jabari’s spacing.

 

I thought for a second that the thread title was "Who ate Amen Thompson's lunch?"

 

Who unlocks Reed?

 

I disagree on Jabari, but it at least is debateable. Jabari will help on the boards. If JSJ replaces Brooks, I hope I am wrong and that JSJ fixes the problem. I expect it will fix the board issue, but will just swap out guys that rotate well.