4 years in college yes but still only 21 by the end of his rookie season. Amen is also an old sophomore by today's standards. edit: I am comparing Amen with Duncan because the masses underrate both of them. Hell, many Rockets fans have been sleeping on Amen until recently, which makes me want more to see him fulfil his potential. I think the Rockets org and especially Ime knows that Amen is a special special talent.
The Warriors came prepared for Amen. They weren't going to be beaten by a kid. It's up to the coaching staff to do some counter adjustment. Maybe start Bari to create better spacing and then put the Terror Twins in to throw off the Warriors offense mid game.
I'm a huge Amen fan and I think he was the main problem, not the Warriors prep. But he turned a corner during the game and I'm optimistic about him going forward. I'd rather Amen toss up a 10-footer instead of Fred jacking up 3s when he's cold as ice.
They aren't going to let Amen dunking on them. He needs to hit those close middies/floaters to make them pay. Sengun could still score down low when they packed the paint because he has the hook shot and footwork. Amen needs something to do the same or he might as well come off the bench.
The paint is impossible to penetrate with multiple non-shooters on the floor and that made it possible for their perimeter defenders to not give us a shred of space on jumpers. They don't have to exert any effort to take away the drive, we're doing it for them. No one in the West is giving up 10-foot floaters any more than they're giving up a dunk, that's a ridiculous strategy to pursue. Overall, Amen is a 30-something% shooter on pull up midrange jumpers (i.e. midrange minus floaters). He's not going to be the midrange guy. I was fine with his offense other than picking up his dribble way too often. He made the right choices given the coach's strategy. My issue with Amen his first ever playoff game was his defense. We're relying on him to not let Curry put up above-average numbers. If he can hold Curry to slightly below his season average, he's done his job. He will bounce back.
Tbh Amen missed two dunks and at least one layup that he normally makes. And the four freebies. And the Warriors missed so many open shots and threw the ball away for no reason so many times to let us stay in the game. Could have been much worse; it's all a game-by-game thing. Warriors were celebrating after winning one freaking game lol - they dodged a bullet: the game was theirs and they let us steal it back almost. And Amen is gnna be fine.
Scottie Pippen archetype. DPOY level wing with playmaking chops. If you're a team that's serious about wanting to win the championship, then Amen is the most untouchable asset. He can become the second banana on offense, while simultaneously being the MVP of the team.
Was at the game…. And Amen looked off physically. He was never standing up in the huddle and was sitting down a lot. Not sure if he was sick?
One of the worst games I've seen Amen play. His brother was reaaaally bad as well in their first matchup as well. Think it's typical play-off rookie jitters.
I also thought he was sick. Saw him on camera drenched in sweat on the bench but wiping mucus off his nose.
He probably has a great career ahead of him if this is one of his worst games: other than going at too frantic of a pace, he looked far from awful. He was making the correct reads but just didn’t execute his moves properly especially on offense.
