People are focusing on Reed Sheppard, but really it's Point Amen who really need to step up

Correct. This is much more about Amen than Reed, but both guys must step up big time at the point position early in the season.

Rockets will now 100% trade for another PG, we just don't know when.

 

So, the idea is that we force Amen into a role he's not any good at, and prevent him from doing the things he's really, really good at? Smart.

 

Dribble it up and get it to the Senhub for all of your initiating needs.

 

Amen is not a point guard.

 

Not sure I agree with much of your post at all. Amen doesn't need to "step up." He's already established himself as a fantastic player who can play multiple positions. Nor is he pigeonholed into being a PG. He should play whatever position is best for him. The Rockets shouldn't make any drastic conclusions that could impact his development just because FVV - who isn't a factor in our long-term plans - is injured.

Also, the idea that the "optimistic" projection for Sheppard is a "backup PG" is ludicrous. He's a second year player who was a top 3 pick. The front office has said he may be the most gifted offensive player on the roster (aside from KD of course).

Amen doesn't need to "step up." He's already stepped up. Sheppard is the one who needs to take a step.

 

I was encouraged by how much growth Amen showed in the time FVV was on the shelf last season. He still wasn't good, but he showed significant improvement. FVV isn't really a playmaker, he's more of a game a manager. If Amen can continue on his trajectory I think he can certainly manage that. Run a basic PnR, or get the ball to Sengun/Durant.

The point of attack defense and shooting concerns me more. Amen can guard anybody, but now if we face a team that can put multiple scoring guards on the floor it could be an issue, not to mention our already bad spacing issues.

Reed is certainly the one who needs to take an offensive leap to cover. He's gonna take some L's on defense but he has to become the shooting/scoring threat we hoped he would be.

 

Yes. Sengun has shown over the years, and much more at the Eurobasket, that he is an excellent playmaker. All Reed has to do is protect the ball as he dribbles it up the court and hand the ball to Sengun and KD. The other players should be moving and Amen cutting to the basket regularly. Reed can get out of the way and try to free himself for a shot from outside. Reed is a better passer, and shooter, on paper, than FVV. His main weakness is on defense that he, hopefully, has addressed in the offseason. I have confidence in him to step up. Amen, without being a threat as an outside shooter will not be effective as a PG. His handles are not even that great to handle the PG duties. His biggest asset is his inside presence and defense.

 

Sengun needs to step up to play Point Center.

 

People forget how Fred made things a lot easier for Sengun. He was the best at getting him the ball in the paint and off of pick and rolls which other players seem to struggle at. People downplaying Fred saying they never wanted him re-signed is going to see a big difference.

 

Amen is now not only going to somehow replace Brooks, as someone argued a bunch in the summer, despite playing more minutes as a starter than anybody on the team, but also replace the next minutes maxxer in FVV?

There's one Amen Thompson, he ain't going to be the top wing defender, the top POA defender, the top post defender, and now also be the top playmaker

He's not really a natural pick & roll runner yet and him & Sengun aren't well equipped to run it.

Rockets went from having 2 credible P&R ball handlers to having none - that ain't good matter how much you hated FVV

 

He'll step up and they'll step back into the lane.

 

Wish full thinking but, Amen's 37 minutes and zero turnovers in game 7, (closeout), is a good start. He's ready. He was the only one not shatting the bed in game 7. Reed will be the backup 2 guard, until he gets the hang of passing around these long player.

 

Lol at the separate threads, both Amen and Reed have to step up equally, no doubt about it.

1. Amen has to keep up what he is doing on Defense and develop on Offense......keep improving his shot.
2. Reed has to become a Floor General. Become consistent at making the 3.

 

Not only will he step up, but he will excel and his career will explode. Not worried about that. He'll give you 7 assists and 3 TO's. A lot of the time we just dump it to Durant or let Sengun handle the ball. It's one of the easiest PG jobs in the NBA.

Bigger worry: it's now impossible that teams won't sag heavily off him if he can't shoot. This will become a regular fixture in our games, and it's going to make Amen and Sengun lose a llot of impact on the floor. You can hide a non-shooter off ball or at C, but once they have PG duties then teams will exploit the hell out of it. I really really really hope one of them has improved their shooting.

 

Can Amen bring the ball up the court and run the offense? Sure, absolutely. Should he be the "Point Guard"? No, absolutely not.

Why? On defense, he can guard 1-5, that's his biggest strength. If he is your PG, then you lose that versatility, because the opposing "1" is typically not even close to their best player.

This has nothing to do with Reed, I think he will step up this year, but he certainly won't be the starter to start the season. Also think Amen shouldn't either, but, he might be. Amen is much better suited to be a 2-4 than a 1. Of all the people on the roster, we only have 3 players who can guard an opposing small point guard, and I for one would hate it if Amen has to do that night in and night out.

 

Amen will be one of the initiators in the half court. Before it was going to be Amen, Sengun, and FVV. Now it will be Amen, Sengun, and maybe Reed if he can step up or even Durant. FVV was going to spend most of his time playing off ball this year and Reed will have the same role. One of the reasons we were such a poor half court offense last year was FVV’s inability to break down his man one on one. Amen will not have that problem. Reed last year had the same issue as FVV.

Amen will guard the best offensive player 1-4 when we are in man. Saying because he is running point on offense means he will be guarding the opposing pg shows a lack of understanding of the game. The Rockets play incredible team defense and nobody is pigeon holed into one defensive position. Amen also has an insane ability to help all over the court even while shutting down his main assignment.

Losing FVV is a blow mostly because of Reed’s inexperience and because of FVV’s defense which was still an asset, although fading somewhat. Reed has quick hands and seems to be coachable. Hopefully, he can become a better team defensive guy than last year.

 

I think when I say you lose a decade of experience is not an understatement.

It does not necessarily say anything for or against Amen.

 

^^^ actually, the WHOLE ROCKETS TEAM needs to step up...

 

What I think is “ludicrious” is that somehow people take what the front office thinks or says at face value when we haven’t seen anything close to that. Also it’s laughable if they actually said that. And yes, the most optimistic for Sheppard is a good back up PG this year. He will always be a thin small midget by NBA standards, not even sturdy like FVV, and that is never going to be a starter in this league.