Amen Thompson is the only problem in our offense now

Yeah, most of us love Amen regardless of what limitations we may feel he has.

I don't think many of us would give Amen up as a trade piece - he just affects the game too much. He's almost untouchable.

 

Dumb post...

 

This is the kind of thread that makes us wish for a thumbs down button.

One time I ate a baked potato with something foul on it. Literally **** my pants making a delivery like an hour later, had to cut them off me carefully in a Wallyworld parking lot, go in and purchase some tighty whiteys, redress and clean up in the bathroom and get back on the road.

So I want you to take away two things from this comment. One, I hope the next time you go to walmart you remember that some dude may have just **** himself and could use a little grace. Two is that I feel better telling you all about the time I **** myself than I would about posting this ****ing drivel.

 

As much as I had to fight back outraged emotions with the thread title, the debate is about moving Amen off the ball. I personally would like to see that in the new year because I think it better suits his skill set. I like that he’s gotten the on-ball experience early in the season though.

I don’t believe non-shooting point guards can succeed in today’s nba. There’s also the ball-handing deficit. So I’d like to see Amen at the 3/4.

I believe Amen is our highest up-side player and if we traded him I’d probably stop watching Rockets basketball for some time. But the debate over whether or not Amen should be moved off-ball is more than reasonable. I think Reed projects as a better on-ball guard. I think it’s important to give Reed the minutes to get comfortable in that role so he’s ready for the playoffs. And I also hope we acquire another ball handler/facilitator before the deadline.

but regardless of what position he plays, Amen is our future and the org will rise or fall as Amen does.

 

He needs to be more aggressive going downhill and in transition. At the Cav game there were multiple times where he had a 1 on 1 against a poor defender in transition and didn't attack, we were all screaming for him to go to the rim.

Rockets are missing that downhill/explosive and transition element to their offense this season, want Amen to step up more there.

 

Sorry, I guess I need to re-consider your intent which I read as giving up on Amen as the PG this season, because it isn’t working yet. You say we should continue to develop him as a point guard and then proceed to outline why we shouldn’t do it this year. It’s a very confusing post. You also don’t offer up any alternative solution. How do you prioritize wins a little more?

 

He's doing most of his damage in transition, early in the shot clock before the defense gets set or at the rim on assisted plays.

He's not a very good distributor / playmaker and not really going to break down a defense and create shots for others on a regular basis (right now - maybe that changes, maybe not).

We can call him the point guard .... but what I want to see and have said before is bring the ball up quickly and test the defense early, if there's a path to the basket, take it, otherwise pull it back and give it up and assume the dunkers spot.

There's nothing wrong with him not being a half court offensive engine, he can still do damage early in possessions.

 

This is well thought out and I could get behind this. I think the offense is kind of working like this already. Amen is not initiating the offense even 50% of the time now. My major issue if not Amen then who? I’m assuming Reed, which makes me nervous especially in the playoffs where grabbing and bullying all over the court is no longer illegal and is passed off as “playoff basketball” (except for handpicked players that still get the calls).

I think we’ve already seen how putrid our offense is when Durant is double teamed aggressively. That leaves Senhub which I think is probably the best alternative. Being able to use all 3 strategies would be great, but I don’t see Ime being able to orchestrate something like that. More than likely if Amen doesn’t take the job by force, in the playoffs he will revert to handing the ball to Durant at the half court line and say go get it big guy. Much like he did last year with FVV and Jalen. This year we don’t have the stellar defense to think that will make us a winning team.

 

I think Tari adds that chaos aspect that Amen can thrive in because both KD and Sengun are much more methodical in their offense.

He has the toughest defensive assignment so I'm not necessarily surprised but he has not taken that next step forward. I think his processing has improved and his free shooting.... but he is such a non shooter. Glad he's been taking those corner 3s again.

 

Somebody please explain to me why it's so important to develop Amen as a point guard. Wouldn't it just make more sense to develop Amen at the SF position that he's clearly better at, and better than anyone else on the team? And concurrently develop Reed at the PG position that he's clearly better at, and better than anyone else on the team?

 

I’ll use a baseball analogy. A catcher that hits .275 and hits 25 hr’s is at the top of his peer group and the difference that makes in the baseball lineup compared to other teams is magnified. If that same guy is at DH, he is just an average guy. An effective Amen would be a totally unique PG. One that no other team could account for. As a small forward he would still be a really good player, but not as much of a delta from other good SF’s in the league. It is like the difference of Magic Johnson playing point or playing SF which would have been more common for a man his size. At either position, Amen is going to have to become a better shooter to be superstar level.

 

If the concern is Reed in the playoffs, it's all the more reason to develop him as a starter NOW in the regular season while there is still time. Chances of FVV being available in the playoffs is extremely slim. And I am against trading any of our young core for a quick PG fix.

 

Don't have any interesting thoughts of my own to contribute to this subject, but I do think these stats are pretty interesting regarding Amen playing with a point guard vs Amen playing without a point guard (aka Amen is the point guard).

 

I agree. Amen and Reed should share the PG load and that could also be the future when they are the starting backcourt as well. No need to pigeon hole either one. Right now it would work best with Reed coming off the bench, because of the lack of opportunity with Durant in the lineup. Reed’s elite skill is still shooting and the Rockets need to lean into that both now and in the playoffs, but it will require Ime putting some sets in to free Sheppard up. He isn’t just 30 games away from overcoming his physical limitations and being able to overcome the bullying that is headed his way in the playoffs. Start working on offensive schemes other than just ISO’s.

 

I totally get the analogy and it's one I've thought of myself in trying to work through the Amen conundrum. I just don't agree that PG and SF are as different as catcher and DH. More like infielder versus outfielder, or shortstop versus 3rd. I think Amen can be a huge difference maker as a SF, and I also think that if both he and Reed are developed to their full potential as PGs, Reed will be the better one. Plus, Reed can't realistically play a large role on a contender as anything but a point guard. He could be a decent SG, but not as impactful. Waste of court vision, decision-making and passing that are quickly becoming elite.

Ultimately, the Rockets will be a better team with Reed at PG and Amen at SF, and that will happen in time for the playoffs if both are allowed to develop at their natural positions. My opinion.

 

And what role would that be. I agree with you but what’s the role /position for amen?

 

Thank you for the PS