Having a quicker 2nd jump should not be an negative. Being #1 in OREB has been significant to Rockets success this season + Alperen improvement in this area has been critical.
Maybe there is a skinnier Zion type in the Draft, Rockets have draft capital. It comes cheaper and you don't need to trade players until you really have to.
Many of us wait for those fancy moves (not in risky clutch situations) but Jabari was wide open, Alpi pulled all the defence to his path and it was not actually a very difficult pass for him. If it connected, it would be a fun ending. It's still not a good decision but I don't think Alpi should be harshly discouraged doing such things.
Alperen has the highest plus/minus for the Rockets this season, at +226. 25-12-4 Post ASB. He isn’t there yet, but imagine If he gets there. 24 more games to find a rhythm.
Another outstanding 88 defensive rating game for Alpi. One of my favorite moments was a FT attempt box out where Lopez unloads on him with a push but doesn't even move Sengun.
I have a very hard time believing he worked on his game much this offseason. My guess is he ate a little better to lose weight, maybe worked on lateral foot speed a little. But his shooting muscle memory, from any distance, is horrendous. He doesn’t just miss by a little bit, he misses badly, like someone who has never shot from that particular distance before and has no idea how much to put into it. He clearly lacks the natural shooting talent, but pure repetition like thousands of times from varying distances can improve it. He’s just too much of an immature bonehead (as evidenced last night with that late play) to put in that work without someone on his ass 24/7.
Sengun has clearly gotten stronger, he was backing down Giannis and Lopez in the post pretty easily. Should be able to maintain that while working on his touch this summer.
Team looks like hot garbage on offense when Alpy isn't in there. Regardless of how good or bad hes playing.
Alpi was a force on defense. One of his best games this season on that end. Finished better at the rim. He’s got to use his legs/core on his jumpers if he’s going to take face ups over 7 footers. And obviously never make that stupid pass at the end of the game again
The face he made after making the no look was priceless. I love the two things that followed. Aquaman wraps one arm around Sengun and walks with him. Second, Ime never subbing him out for the final 30 seconds for the switch everything guys that rarely works. I am disappointed Udoka didn't use some high brow humor in the post game for that pass.
It's truly funny to me that people question Alpis work ethic. He is coming from a small town in Turkey, his parents were rather poor, he isn't an elite athlete, he doesn't have elite size. Actually the only way for a player of his archetype to make it to the NBA and become an all star at 22 is hard work.
...the problem was not just the pass - it was the recognition of the situation. The reason why Bari didn't continue to run to the rim was because we weren't trying to score - we were trying to run out the clock. Everyone seemed to understand that except Sengun and that is why the pass didn't connect.
it’s been a problem with Tari … and just recently with Amen (hoping it’s just all the minutes kind of getting to him) Alpi it’s reared its head this season and becoming maddening…he’s thinking way too much vs just shooting
yeah, Ime also kept Tari on the court after several lazy passes including the back to back turnovers that gifted KPJ back to back dunks. There was a time in the not so distant past when Tari(or anyone)would have been glued to the bench after making back to back blunders like that.
