Good question @DaDakota. Killer instinct for me is the uncommon will needed to overcome any obstacle to victory and then crush your opponent both mentally and physically. Brooks, Adams, Amen, Uncle Jeff and Tate have it. Key is remaining calm in the storm and that's where DB's passion over comes his KI sometimes. Alpi, Jalen, Jabari, FVV, Tari, and even Jock exhibit it in spurts, just not enough consistency. Hell Aaron sparks sometimes as well. BTW I love how he comes in firing for effect off the bench. Reed is TBD. But Ime and his staff have instilled a never die mentality that is infectious and gives us a chance to beat anyone. How far we go in the playoffs this year will be certainly be determined by how our young talent can harness that KI and execute it with passion and precision.
killer instinct and mentality is what separates the alphas from the cream of the crop. everybody in the nba has genetics, amen has top 1% of top 1% of genetics AS WELL AS alpha killer mentality.
To be honest, I think all of the Rockets would be too young to have Killer Instinct. It came out on the Super Nintendo in 1994, so maybe only Uncle Jeff might have it?
It seems like they all have it in some capacity. Jabari is especially interesting to me because he seems to have something like a "mean" streak. On the face of it he always comes across as a very Christian mommas boy who will always try 110% for the coach. But underneath the mask he's borderline sociopathic. Mean streak. Tari get's the most devotion from me but also frustrates me more than any other player. He can be a DAWG on defense, rip the ball right out of the other teams hands, then turn around and block himself on the rim. Then grab his head and be the last guy back of the court for defense. Maddening. I feel like Jalen has come the farthest this season. Until the all-star break I felt like he could be too easily taken out of a game. No DAWG. But since the all-star break he's been different. He might have 3 forgettable quarters then explode in the fourth. Feels to me like he's developed more patience and persistence for, and in, his game. If I got cornered by a group of toughs in an alleyway the 3 Rockets I would want to have my back would be Amen, Uncle Jeff, and Jabari.
I think Jalen is going to be tasked with showing it. Results will be ok. They need to lose in first or second round for next step.
You can have killer instincts, but not be a killer. Skill is still needed. The Rockets blow a lot of dunks.
