This is certainly possible and would not dismiss it. I tend to think that the Rockets end up searching for that player in trade or a future draft - but it is very possible that Green, Sengun or Thompson take a major step in the next 12 months. I just don't see it certain enough to count on it. I see some guys that be #2 for sure - but I think that Stone is shrewd, he will be calculated in what he does.
We just won nine games in a row before this game lol. It was a close loss and every team shortens thier rotation for the playoffs, very few if any teams go deep in thier third string for the playoffs even in preparation. An 8-9 man roster depth is the norm for the postseason, the Nuggets played 9 last night, with 8 getting the majority of minutes, and the ninth man got three minutes. The Celtics also did the same last night.
I am mostly concerned with how Amen and Sengun handle the playoffs as I think they have the potential to be a bad fit if they can't handle how prepared defenses adjust to them. I don't want FVV dominating the ball, but I want the best chance for Amen and Sengun to succeed in the playoffs. I think playing without an NBA ready PG would likely not get adequate information on how those 2 handle the playoffs. Also, I think FVV will be here next year. I think the Rockets young guys as a group will be better. There is plenty of time to prepare for 2028 playoff runs. Not so much for 2026 and 2027 when the Rockets could be very scary if any of their young players becomes a Top 20 player.
You didn't answer the question. Who gets benched? You threw shade at Udoka for pulling Tari out of the starting lineup.
Give Amen time to continue developing, I think he can be a franchise player. Give Green time to continue developing. Sengun is a 22-year-old All Star. Jabari, Tari, Cam, Reed, these guys are all young and can and will improve. I'd be fine with drafting with the draft picks we get from Phoenix and otherwise, to fill holes and continue to see what this young team can do. I'm not willing to ascribe the ceiling that others do, given their talent. (Of course, I'm also fine trading some picks for a young superstar who demands a trade to Houston.) I also think that the Ime may be a JVG type of coach that excels at defense but doesn't bring the most out of his players, offensively. We may be in need of a Rick Adelman type eventually to unleash a better balance, like we did in 2007. Of course, JVG got four years and Ime's only had two so far.
For whatever reason, even though THompson for Smith is clearly a much better player, the starting lineups with him in it are way worse than the Smith ones, and they've played a lot of minutes. Starting 5 with Smith +5.3 in 446 minutes Starting 5 with Thompson -14.3 in 266 minutes Just perusing the lineup data - I actually would not mind seeing Fred sit more, the lineups with 3 F's & Sengun & Green as a nominal PG are pretty good (+12 in about 200 minutes combined)
The problem is not between Amen/Jabari/Tari it is between Amen and FVV. They should not be playing together. Amen needs to play in space and all FVV can do is PnR with Sengun. Our defense suffers greatly without Jabari our offense suffers greatly with Amen playing the dunker spot which relegates him to standing in the corner, hoping to get a lob from a bunch of bad lob passers. It’s too late now, but Amen should have been getting his starts at PG for half a season to get ready for the playoffs, but Ime is so scared of turnovers he is all-right playing a PG 40 mins a night that has a fg% of 39 and averages about 5-6 assists a game. Everybody shouts about the early season wins, but most of those were generated by the terror twins coming off the bench and upping the tempo. Our offense looked it’s best when Ime purposely took FVV off the ball and let the half-court offense run through Amen, Jalen, or Sengun. It doesn’t help that Sengun has fallen off the cliff offensively this year. Being swept in the playoffs is not good experience, unless it convinces Stone and Ime to not re-sign FVV.
Fully agreed -- thanks for sharing. I think you could actually see the mistakes and then the resulting growth by the young guys with Fred there to organize them in his injured stretch. It's a shame Reed got hurt in his breakout game -- it would've been good to see more for him to build on.
Starter Net Ratings for the Rockets from NBA.com Just weird how JSJ and Green aren't in the Top 5. I get fit is really big in basketball such that the 5 best players may not always be the best lineup. I'm surprised JSJ was so low on this table as he's played mostly with a lineup that worked (i.e., the FVV, Green, Brooks, JSJ, Sengun lineup works). I'm surprised that Amen isn't last as he's played a lot in the FVV, Green, Amen, Brooks, Sengun lineup that has not worked. I guess the units in games with him as a starter with bench players is the cause he's that high. Granted, I expected the starter minutes would drown that out. Eason is at the top because he's better than JSJ, and hasn't had to start with the trio of FVV, Green, and Amen that I recall. Edit: Eason probably has had an easier schedule as well. Green's at the bottom because he's played a lot in the FVV, Green, Amen lineups as well as the Amen and Green without FVV lineups.
Sorry, I thought I answered this earlier. In the scenario of Amen and Tari both starting, I thought I was clear that FVV, Brooks, and Sengun are the best other three players. Green is the answer by the process of elimination. If Green has to start because of the Commandment: Thou shall start Green, FVV should be benched. I think having a PG is important, but that is better than what we've been seeing from the FVV, Green, Amen, Brooks, Sengun lineup. That lineup doesn't always crap the bed, but it does way too often.
PG/PF Amen Thompson SG/PG Jalen Green SF Tari Eason PF Jabari Smith C Alperen Sengun Both Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were supposed to be temporary stop gaps until the Young Players are developed, they are ready to start. Both Fred and Dillon should come off the Bench.
If the Nuggets and Lakers can stay fresh so that their high-end players can produce in the key moments, they will win. I just look back at the TWolves vs. Nuggets games last year, in which the Twolves wore Jokic out. The Rockets would try to make the key moments be when the high-end guys are tired or not in the game.
Exactly but it should’ve happened months ago not with 10 games left. We are stuck with the Ime/FVV love affair until after we get swept. But for all the idiots’ sake, look how many more wins we got and we will get that “playoff experience”!
We have tough schedule in April. I am not surprised that we have another 5 losing streak. Ime's mind better does not go too far.
I just can't envision a world where the leading scorer gets benched. Benching FVV right before the playoffs? That would be nice if we had somebody else that could reliably run a play during crunch time without a turnover. This year, I don't see it. Regarding turnovers, Jalen and Amen are #1 and #3 on the team. Not a good recipe during the playoffs. Those two would get exposed at PG. I wish the Rockets had a better alternative but you gotta go into battle with what you got and not what you wish you had. If you are hell bent on starting Tari and Amen, benching Dillion is the best bet ...but is it?
There is almost ZERO chance of anyone on this roster outside of Amen taking a major leap, these players in their 4-5th pro seasons are who they are, Sengun isn't going to get bigger and faster.... Jalen isn't suddenly going to hit at a high clip when he has consistently been where he is.... Bari isn't going to get more fluid and athletic Amen is the only player who has a chance on this roster that plays to break out.... Maybe Cam and Reed but we don't know enough about them yet. DD
This is not true of course, but Is the conclusion you're trying to draw here that if everyone walks into a trap then we should just do it too? I don't understand that.
