Yep. The game could’ve gone either way. Also, Dorian Finney-Smith was out for the game. This guy was a big offseason acquisition that gives the Rockets a string 6’7” wing that can hit the 3 ball and play good defense. Overall, I thought the Rockets looked pretty darn good considering they lost FVV for the season.
They did look good for their first game. Their offense is a work in progress and unfortunately they have a pretty sh*tty offensive coach. The players are going to have to figure this out on their own. Amen is going to have to get selfish which I think he will. He easily could have had 30 points last night. His ability to drive to the hoop will free up Durant, if he punishes the defense by scoring and getting to the line. I think he ends up a decent 3 point shooter, I think he had the jitters much like he had the first game of the playoffs last year.
My only concern is Amen. I know for certain KD and Haliburton's Achilles injuries began with calf issues. If I'm the staff he's sitting until he can go a week being pain free, even if that takes a month.
Amen sitting isn’t an answer to fixing the lineup because he is elite at everything else. A lineup of league average PG with Amen, KD, Jabari and Sengun would be very difficult to deal with. Amen in the dunkers spot and slasher role is devastating. There should be enough spacing with KD, Sengun and Jabari and a decent PG. I think Amen can hit 30-32 percent of his threes this year. He has clearly put in a lot of work.
Here's my overreactions: Trade Reed he's a mediocre shooter not elite, a full blown midget and his "explosive hops" apparently only work when nobody's watching, a bit like the invisible boy in that movie. Tari can get benched for DFS if he keeps playing that way. Şengün is god. That is all.
Usually the best players in league on best teams ala Curry, LeBron, Ant, Jokic. Gonna be hard for rockets to get past the teams. If defense can't do it , then they might need to trade for one Maxey?
