To even have a chance I think the Suns pick would have to land at #10 or better. That's a possibility given their schedule, but it's not where they're currently at. They're at #12 right now. I don't think it's likely that Maluach will be as good as Sengun. He would have to become a jump shooter to be in that Evan Mobley/Chet Holmgren/Wemby-lite range to actually be a better overall player IMO. That's possible, but it's more like a best-case outcome than something I would bank on. Currently he projects as more of a Nic Claxton type of dude. He'd be a great backup center for us who would probably work well in double-big lineups sometimes like we're doing with Adams.
I agree with this analysis. I do think he would be a great get at 10 as our future backup center. I like Adam’s, but he will be unplayable in the 4th quarter in a close games in the playoffs, because of his free throw shooting.
Until someone on the Rockets turn into a top-10 player, these questions are pointless. Whoever among the Rockets youngsters become that Giannis, Jokic, LeBron, Tatum, SGA type, at that time figure out who best work with him. Until then, it's just wait and see who gets to that level.
just trying to figure out if folks think Sengun, Amen and Jalen can fit. The 5-out spacing thing is real; we just saw what Boston did with it. There’s a narrative that you can’t win with more than one non-shooter on the court at the same time (a narrative I reject btw). There’s been a lot of questions about fit. I think those 3 are such unique players that the conventional wisdom may not apply. yes we are winning at the moment but we all know this is the easy part of the schedule and the playoffs are gonna be a different story. The shooting is real issue. So I guess I’m curious of folks think we can make it work long term with two non-shooters. And while I don’t think it’s the perfect fit right now, growth will continue to happen, and it’s hard to look at Amen, Jalen and Sengun and not want to build with those guys because there’s so much potential there. I like this team and I want it to work, but I’m sympathetic to the 5-out/4-out philosophy.
I just think if you are going to keep Sengun, you need to put players around him that highlight what he can do to elevate him. That doesn’t necessarily mean NOT Amen, and Jalen… but it does mean pairing him up with a rim protecting big man for sure. Second I do think he needs more shooting. I think FVV and Brooks are good fits a lot of the time. Stephen Adams is a good fit but there’s concerns about his health longterm after this season. See what happens this postseason, but assuming we don’t get to the WCF (which would be amazing), I think you put the brains of the operation together after the season and think long and hard about building around Sengun and make sure everyone is good with making moves that might seem to sideline other players (like Jabari, Jalen, etc.) and go get some more established players in the offseason that elevate his game even more. If everyone is on the fence and the data shows it to be problematic, I think you gotta look at what trades are out there, but do NOT trade him if there are no killer deals out there.
It's more a question of Jalen. Sengun/Amen are the core and it's whether or not Jalen fits around that core. He is not the savant that either of those guys are so he needs to be incredibly efficient off of passes and setups from those guys. If not then we need someone who's more of a movement shooter that can play defense (Klay type). Reed likely is the PG in waiting so at the SG spot we likely need someone who is bigger and more accurate (like a Lu Dort).
Yes they can work, and they are showing that they have something special going. Right now Sengun, Green, and Thompson all have shown the abilities to put the team in their shoulders for stretches at a time. The young guys (2021-2024 drafts) are all 23 and under. And you see vast strides from last year to this year. Even Sheppard (the lone rookie core) was starting to feel it when he went down with the broke finger. Whitmore - 20 (exp 2 seasons) Reed - 20 (exp 1 season) Smith - 21 (exp 3 seasons) Sengun - 22 (exp 4 seasons) Thompson- 22 (exp 2 seasons) Eason - 23 (exp 3 season) Green - 23 (exp 4 seasons) And that group has the Rockets as a top 3 team in the West!
Delusion at its best. Adapt to a player that can't shoot with no defense? Sengun's range is 2ft from the basket. Amen is the player that the team need to adapt to because he controls the game more than anybody
Yes it can work. The other two starters need to be shooters. we also need a larger center that can hit the outside shot. A Kelly O. I think it’s pretty much a safe bet that a man will develop a corner three. That shot looks good from him right now. no reason to think it won’t get to a decent average. so if he is off ball, he is either looking for that shot or cutting. when he is on ball he is using the screen from SG and spacing should be plentiful.
The whole build around Sengun talk is nonsense. If you just mean the Rockets need more shooting, I think we can all agree with that.
I think these three will be SOMETHING SPECIAL in the playoffs They may not win the Championship THIS YEAR but I think they will Be so much better this Following Season 2023 Celtics: Tatum 30-5-9 Brown 27-4-7 Smart 12-6-3 6th Man Brogdon 15-4-4 The next year they got Holiday I think and won the championship I think we can do this - We already got an Holiday Rocket River
It is amazing that a thread like this pops up while the team is in second place in the tough WC and it is making a run for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. All this while Amen is not even playing and Tari is in and out of the lineup. My observation is all of the three players mentioned have improved quite a bit both from the individual and team points of view. Alpi has regained his shooting touch around the basket and has started to play off of double teams to find shooters who, in turn, take their shots in rhythm due to the defense's focus on Alpi leaving them with space and time. The team has also shown that they don't need Alpi to be taking long threes when their other players around him can shoot from distance with better accuracy, and while taking advantage of the double and triple team against Alpi. Jalen has started to shoot better because he is no longer forcing his shots most of the time and he benefits from the team moving the ball more. He is still dribbling a little too much but he has started to become more aware of passing to open teammates. He has also started to recognize when to attack and when to pull up. He has still some kinks to work on but he has become a much better team player which has made him more effective. Amen is still improving and needs more time to develop his mid and long-range shots. His handles still need quite a bit of work but he is a major contributor in defense and rebounding. Overall, the team has shown great chemistry, and the constant noise about trades is not helpful at this time. That Morey Syndrome of constant trading needs to be put to rest since it failed to deliver a championship despite all of the hype. He can't even deliver in Philly. Let's enjoy what this team is doing and giving us after years of misery and disappointments. It is an exciting time for Rockets basketball.
Frankly the post is quality and the poster is quality. it is a fair question to ask. back when you were mindlessly trashing Jalen green. The post quality was much lower. Obviously you are the asinine one.
just to be clear there is no pessimism meant in this thread subject. Enjoy the winning. I think it’s hard to definitively project what plsyers are or can become when they are so young. Part of the concerns about fit are based on what these plsyers are right now, but what will they be 3 yrs from now? Amen and Sengun could develop core competencies with certain shots (corner 3, etc.). And that has to figure into how strong the need is to make major moves this summer. With Jalen’s emergence this season maybe tinkering with the roster is better than trying to make a splash trade. Patience isn’t sexy, but these 3 core guys are proving to be special players. Love this team…even if the lack of shooting is frustrating. Maybe that can get addressed without a franchise altering trade.
If Jalen's making 36% on 8+ attempts that's gigantic. Along with 2 elite shooters, that would be one of the best shooting trios in the NBA. People don't understand what a massive volume Jalen is taking, he's top 18 in the NBA last I checked. It can work. That's different than "can they win a championship?". To me the answer is no. If Amen or Sengun never improve their shooting, to be honest I would not want to pay them the max and would look to move the lesser one for an upgrade. I don't think it can work. It blocks our perimeter guys from getting to the rim too so you're also preventing Jalen from helping them by getting to the line more often. One thing that can change that formula is if we were to acquire an excellent rim protector who can also shoot like a JJJ (moving Sengun to the 4 defensively). If the opponent's rim protector has to stick to our C, the paint is way more open than it would be from getting shooting from another position. A stretch 5 is far more space-creating than a wing shooter and a creative offensive coach might be able to work with that.
