Yes, the offense is better. Yes, the Pace is better Yes, this year's team is better No, it isn't FVV - it is just that we have upgraded the team with better offensive players. DD
I think we can all agree that while we didn’t have much turnovers with Fred handling the ball in the last two seasons, our offense was kind of hard to watch and felt stuck most of the time. If it wasn’t for fast breaks generated by our defense or 2nd chances thanks to our offensive rebounds, we would probably had one of the worst offensive rate teams last season. So yeah we’re gonna have more turnovers, and we’ll miss Fred on close games when you want to have a slower pace. But our offense may flow overall much better, and I hope that by the mid-season this thread won’t age poorly.
Yeah, I think this is the correct take. It's not Fred whose absence has made way for other guys stepping up and doing a better job of moving the ball. It's Jalen.
I would say that "the offense looks better with KD included and with Sengun & Amen having a more important role". Wouldn't say "without Van Vleet", in fact, all of above is compatible with the inclusion of Fred. BUT, Reed by himself does not have a better impact than Fred. I'm missing more Dillon right now, to be honest. But partially it is caused by the absence of DFS, we will see.
Turnovers would still be slightly up but the up tempo game could result in Turning over the other team after one's own TO. Thrive in Chaos.
I disagree, but not for the typical reason. I think Reed over FVV causes a better impact to the team because it speeds things up and improves the team FG% and TS%. For all that FVV brings that are positives, he takes a ton of bad shots that Reed won't take and FVV demands the ball more than Reed will.
I do, like some on here, think it’s premature to make such broad generalizations after a couple preseason games against bad opponents. However, what’s undeniable is we are certainly playing with a far faster pace without FVV. I’m not sure how anyone can dispute that.
Very much TBD when it matters in the playoffs. That is when we will miss FVV the most. We do have the mid-season deadline if we are under-performing as a back up.
I do think that the injury is ultimately going to be a blessing in disguise. Fred can come back late in the year or next season and play inside of the top nine players or maybe his salary is critical this year to making an additional significant upgrade. Amen Thompson can get to the rim at Will and needs the ball. he is going to turn it over relatively frequently. With increased practice he will become adept at making the right read. The spacing should be very, very good. This alone should do a lot for us. Using Sengun, Durant and Sheppard as other means of creation should give us a very diverse attack.
Nope, we won't because by then we will have an all NEW chemistry and heirarchy. I don't think FVV fits as a starter, and at best MIGHT be a backup - but in reality, he has probably played his last game as a Rocket. DD
Yes we can all agree overall as a whole especially defensively Reed isn’t as impactful as FVV yet. However Reed offensive ceiling is way higher and he may already be a better offensive player than Fred. And Reed on game 1 will be a much different player than Reed in game 82. I’m excited to see game 82 Reed.
Last season starting lineup Rim pressure: Sengun, Amen Spacers: Fred, Brooks, Jalen This season starting lineup Rim pressure: Sengun, Amen Spacers: Reed, Jabari, KD While the rim pressure is the same -- likely better because of growth of the two guys, the spacing personnel is completely changed, a huge upgrade.
