Well, that’s the hard truth. It doesn’t really matter what the Rockets do or don’t do. OKC and SA are positioned to be dominant dynasties for years to come. Sad but true. I think I favor getting what we can get for the older players after this season and then hope some of those Phoenix picks turn into gold. The Rockets are a good team right now. But, I don’t see them becoming a top two team. I hope they prove me wrong.
Option (a): Win 47-52 games, be the 4th-5th seed and have zero championship equity and lose in the first round or get smoked in round two, with a team of young core + old guys who are invariably getting worse or close to retirement and depreciating to zero. Option (b): Win 40-45 games, be the 6th-8th seed and have zero championship equity, with a team of young core + other players in their twenties who have a chance of getting better + a couple extra future picks. To me personally, obviously option b is superior. 5th seed in the West vs. play-in team doesn't matter to me at all if you're gonna get smoked by the actual contenders either way. Either you think your current roster can win a championship as is in the future, or you're in pursuit of changing your roster so that it can. (Or you are a small-time franchise not actually pursuing titles). Is that controversial?
Phx is winning, they might end up with a better record than us, and that is without Jalen ....... We are struggling because we have a coach who is so stubborn he refueses to adjust - I honestly don't know if he is just too stupid to understand complex systems, or just figures playing HARD is the answer - teams rarely are able to sustain playing hard all year long - it is best to be able to outscore folks ....every night, put the pressure on them with TALENT.... We have a center in Adams who is at BEST a part time player when we match up or need a rebound - he is 100% a waste as an offensive threat. We have KD trying to beat guys 15 years younger off the dribble, and he can't anymore - and he is LOUSY at reading defenses and passing the ball he is a finisher...period. We have an offensively gifted guy who is amazing at passing but is obviously learning the position, but we can't get him 30 minutes a night to lean into his gifts and let him work on his weaknesses. We are 100% doing so much wrong - it is MIND NUMBING to be a fan....hard to watch......frustrating to see a guy FLAILING as a manager, and all he can say is CLAP CLAP play harder, play defense. Ime is just a good guy, who isn't a great coach, he is literally not doing his job....which is to make decisions that help players be their best selves....he is fundamentally in the team's way, at this point. DD
The problem with defense is that Ime's system requires smart defenders like Fred and Dillon. Terror Twins are good at being agents of chaos but they are not defensive leaders the way those two were.
One thing that caught my eye last night was that while Harden was on the free throw line, he was directing where his teammates were supposed to position themselves. It was a reminder of the leadership on offense and defense that this team lacks due to FVV's absence. The team is disorganized on both ends of the floor due to the lack of someone who directs the players on both ends. I remember Phil Jackson stating in an interview that when Pippen was not playing, the Bulls were disorganized despite the gravity of MJ. I think the team is sorely missing FVV and his leadership. As it is, it would be great if someone would take on that leadership role.
we aren’t far enough into the season to say we’ve seen the whole show. A lot of what is said in the original post is correct but I do believe that what we have on hand represents a higher potential outcome for the next couple years. That being said, we are one player away. it definitely needs to be somebody that could more efficiently orchestrate the offense and probably even drive and distribute to a certain level. finding that player will be difficult, although I do believe we have the contracts as long as we are willing to trade Fred. I think Durant has been good, but I do agree with most of the original post points and that we are too reliant on him. for the time being I would like amen and read serving his point guards and taking their lumps. I would like a little bit more of a Motion around Senhub built in and then using Durant as a fourth option and of course, just a shooter and finisher. Jrue Holiday is the player that sticks out to me that accomplishes a lot. I think the argument can also be made for Harden. neither of those players should take a lot to acquire.
Thompson's advanced defensive stats are noticeably down this season. There's zero possibility he'll make another all defensive team this year. In some regards he's regressed when we expected a leap forward. Add that to the lack of a seasoned point guard and there's the problem. KD isn't the problem. You guys are talking like he's shooting 40%.
Ime basically turned Kevin Durant into FVV. They're playing almost the exact same role with disastrous results. Like Silas trying to turn KPj into James Harden.
Reed can’t play defense and Tari has the basketball iq of a peanut….that lineup is a first round loss waiting to happen.
Yeah I am definitely all for the significant upgrade and swing to potentially win this year and that includes Harden or Holiday. it would probably require an injury on Oklahoma City’s part but I don’t think we’re far away. I think things look entirely different if we have a veteran Manning point guard for 25 to 30 minutes a game. I would prefer he be able to collapse the defense, although this is not necessary. while I agree with the idea that the coach could be better in regards to some of his offensive awareness, these also might be things he already knows. Some of these guys being thrust into these rules are getting them sharpened a little bit. Not to say that will be their final role as we embark on the playoffs. I love VanVleet and what he has done for us. But we cannot afford to use that cap space this year with him sitting on the bench. come end of January. They need to either evaluate if he is going to be able to pull a mid April comeback or they need to trade him. This might disappoint him because of the opportunity in front of him next season, but ultimately we’ve treated him very well and part of the reason we signed him for the dollar amount that we did is for trade flexibility. we took the league by surprise last year, and that was all well and good. we are going through the necessary growth. That comes with change. I have seen enough to lead me to believe that Durant can be an effective player for the next three years. We need to drastically lower his minutes soon. Not only his minutes, but those of amen and probably even Sengun. Eason and DFS eventually each taking 20 or more minutes a game should help. We need an offensive stabilizer and creator. Once DFS and Eason are back and in rhythm Amen should level back up defensively. He and Reid can continue to get experience because they together will be the point guard and shooting guard of the future. I truly believe in that combination, but not necessarily for this year. Harden or Holiday please.
People will be sure that KD is cancer to a team if Rockets are not going well this season. KD knows it.
My thought is that KD alone is not the answer. Though a game-changing talent, Durant doesn't fit our forward-heavy roster. We're a step slow on D at multiple positions. This problem isn't going to get better without jolting the roster. Adding an attacking guard that can push the pace would do wonders for this group and Durant. How could the front office remedy this problem via the trade market? I'll suggest a trade deadline deal: Jabari, Tari, and Capela for LaMelo Ball. I know, I know, it's unlikely. Humor me by hearing the logic. If healthy and motivated, Ball is the kind of player who would balance the floor. He's never been known to play D, but he's also never played on a team with genuine playoff aspirations. If Ball bought into Ime's "system" (to grasp the offense, Ball might need about five minutes in a pre-game walk-through to capture all the nuances), he would make plays for others. I can see Ball and Sheppard meshing well. Durant would be your starting PF, DFS off the bench, and Amen would thrive with someone actually willing and able to run with him. Because Ball hasn't proven durable, Stone could argue that Charlotte shouldn't get anything other than those players (so maybe no future picks, ha!). Tari and Ball are the same age (24); Ball is only 1 year older than Sengun. I wouldn't mortgage the future trying to add Ball. We should get something for Eason while we can. If Charlotte is trying to deal other vets for picks (Colin Sexton, Grant Williams, Miles Bridges, etc.), the idea of a 3-for-1 for Ball might look appealing. My guess is that Stone waits, sees what we have in DFS, and after we flame out in the first round (or play-in), looks to tinker with the roster in the off-season. Durant will then be thirty-eight.
KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4. KD is a 4.
