Every single player is different some need tough love some need a hug - it is the coaches job to figure that out and get the best out of them all so the team gets that benefit. It isn't all that hard to know, but apparently some are too dense to get it. DD
I was skeptical of Ime's character when he got here because of what he did in Boston. Hopefully it's under control. As far as being head coach, we have got one of the best in the NBA. No one's perfect but that dude's a leader. If Cam doesn't fall in line then get rid of his ass. This has everything to do with why Cam dropped so far in the draft. We didn't get lucky.... We got a head case. Ime turned us in to a tough defensive team. I'm looking forward to where he gets us moving forward. My biggest concern is we will be the latest place KD didn't work out.
Hope it works out but at the end of the day Ime is too dominant of a personality and KD was throwing shades on his last teams. If things go well, things go well, if things become difficult, no telling what happens. Usually when the team is not playing well, guys tend to implode as well.
The league turned their back on Cam in the draft because he was a knucklehead. We took a gamble on a knucklehead and it didn't work out. Pat Riley and Greg Popovich are my way or the highway coaches. Just stop talking,
Same deal with Jalen. Falling in love with potential bc the guy can jump high. If Von Wafer was on this team, we’d be demanding to give him a max contract and start him.
There’s a reason dude was 20, when he had top 5 skill. It’s between the ears. This isn’t on KD to convince anyone, or Ime to see the light. If Cam had Reed’s body language and attitude (Take a look at Reed going to talk to Ime during games - he looks engaged, nodding, asking questions etc.), he wouldn’t be in this situation. I like Cam. I do. I wanted him here and I still think if he can get the right mentor to help his mindset, he could be a great player. But, all I see is a young kid with bad body language and some questionable quotes to the media this season, who also can’t pass and doesn’t defend. If he’s in this situation, it’s because the Rockets don’t see a willingness from him to grow up at this point. Maybe he’s like this at practice, too. Sulking, pouting. Who knows? But, if they are ready to move on, they’ve seen enough these 2 years. If this was 2022 with Silas, dude probably would have whatever leash to do whatever he wants. Maybe even scoring 20+ per game. Who knows what he would’ve become, but this team is now a title contender, and seems like the franchise has decided that they don’t have the time or patience to baby him along. And that’s ok. It is what it is. I was so excited for the 2024-2025 season. I flew out to Vegas with some buddies - saw SL games with Reed and Cam. Had a blast. I had never watched media day before, but tuned it and I was a bit shocked by Cam’s answer to a question regarding what he worked on and did this first NBA offseason. He said something to the effect of - traveled a lot, lots of vacations. Relaxed. He didn’t say a word about anything he worked on in the offseason or anything he learned from his first season. I found that striking. When they ask Reed that this year (or any of the other guys), see what they say. I bet it isn’t that. I’ve seen videos of Amen and KD and others putting in work. They’re getting ready. He’s immature, but can he find his way? Sure, he’s still very young. But, it seems as though the Rockets don’t like what they see, and are prepared to move forward without him. I trust their judgment, and am ready for the 25-26 season.
Again I’m a pretty big fan and I think there’s a lot of potential. Keep in mind that Cam can either get to the basket in the half court nor can he create for others in the half court. I don’t know if he can even get to the levels where green got last year in regards to these two qualities.
Don’t understand the backlash against Cam. The majority of the hate has been nothing but unfounded accusations and assumptions. Again he only expressed his honest frustrations as any man would. Unfortunately he spoke his honest opinions and gave perhaps an overly emotional response to the media who kept leading him with questions about playing time. There’s been no report of him being a distraction to the team or any professional issues. When he was on the bench including the playoffs he still cheered teammates on. Let’s drop this narrative that he’s negative or resistant to coaching etc until we have evidence through reporting.
A report this week by Sarah Todd of The Deseret News shed some light on Whitmore’s slide. Todd says she personally heard from executives on five NBA different teams who were concerned about what they called “character issues” on Whitmore’s part. The report adds that there were specifically questions about Whitmore’s “motivation,” “level of care,” and “attitude Report reveals why Cam Whitmore slid in NBA Draft
Cam is a weird case where his on court play does not deserve dnp-cds. You can argue he takes too many bad shots and that he has zero court vision, but even taking all those account he has been a rotation level player. Which for a 19yr old is pretty damn impressive. Which means its all the stuff you can't see on the court. And since im not privy to behind the scenes stuff, i can't really take a side beyond just hoping they can work things out. Because Cam the basketball talent is not someone the Rockets should just let go
Lol. DD advocating for the old arm around the shoulder approach on Whitmore and Porter. Baby them. Hope they Turn it around with some positivity. This Is how you know that this man has never led a team of individuals. He may have had computer nerves that worked for him and reported to them, but not in the sense where he had to grow leaders. Newsflash the ones that deserve the tough love or Porter and Whitmore. Whitmore acted like an ass last year. Porter is a criminal. Ime has done what leaders do.
One vague report. What exactly was said in the interviews. The report even said the teams did not think he was a “bad” person. Furthermore there has been no reports on any character issues during the past 2 years with the Rockets.
When you’re a new coach trying to establish a winning culture on a team that has been hopeless for a few years, you want guys who totally buy into the team concept. The eye test AND Ime’s rotations tell me that Cam has yet to be one of those guys.
