The "franchise player" debate has been settled. It's Amen.

I've stated how disappointed I am with the year to date efficiency. Don't care about last 10 games, it's a nice sign but it could also just be cyclical or related to schedule.

What I do care about is the other day Amen said he and Sullivan have worked and are continuing to work closely together on his shooting. Sullivan gives him confidence, tells Amen to see himself as a confident shooter and is encouraging him to let it fly. Amen said out loud he believes he's a good shooter. That's the kind of semi-realistic affirmation you need to get rid of the nerves. I was so worried that Ime would drag another player down into playing 90's basketball (idiotic "take whatever the defense gives you" mentality). No wonder Ime was horrid at shot selection in his career. They kept giving him midrange jumpers and he kept taking them at 35% lol. Follow the Durant rule: get the shot you want, work hard for it, the defense will only give you crappy shots.

It's purely a confidence issue for Amen that he's not making 33% from 3 this season. His FT% is better - typically a big sign that good shooting is forthcoming. His mechanics, form and arc are better.

I think he will take 3-4 attempts per game and make 33% or better the rest of the way. That small change will dramatically lift our offense and it will make driving/dishing so much more fruitful.

 

says the guy who wrote a chapter for his idol after 1 good game

 

Imagine still wanting to build around a shittier ben simmons in 2026

 

these people decided to go after Amen

after a game where Amen had the best BPM, played most minutes, most assists with 3 to 1 AST to TO ratio

and the rest of the team going 29 of 83 (35%) from the field and 7 of 32 (21%) from behind the arc

imagine his potential assists with all the shots his teammates were missing

 

Same guy also came at me for saying Amen isn’t projecting to be a max guy…just a couple weeks ago lol

 

Amen without a jumper doesn't deserve anything close to a max extension.

 

Kevin makes too much for being 37 and IDC how good he still is....he took a bigger paycut when he was still in his physical prime.

 

Still our best prospect by far. Just needs to stop deferring to Kevin.

 

Would you agree that this all comes down to his shooting, though? Would you agree that he's not a max player if he never develops a shot?

 

Amen's fit is a bit tricky..... With both Sengun and FVV out.... you can really see how Amen just hasn't taken that offensive leap.

 

???

Dude is giving you 25/5/5 on 50/40/90 how does he make too much?

His age is irrelevant he is still extremely efficient on offense and is one of the better defenders due to his size, length and quickness. We lose because we have no game plan other than pray for KD to win every game for us, thats not his fault even the MVP isnt expected to win every game for his team single handedly.

 

What's his max? Like $40m?

I feel like he could very well earn the max if he gives you 20 efficient points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 stocks and all NBA first team defense guarding the best wing every night.

I would take that over a guy who gives you, say, 27 points, 5 assists and poor defense.

The thing about the jumper is he becomes worth more than the max. At that point you're talking about a 1A franchise player - typically worth more than the max.

 

this is only because he suffers from the same **** Jalen Green suffered with: not knowing how to draw fouls attacking the rim.

Don’t know if it’s the athleticism that makes these types of players not learn how to draw fouls but Amen needs to learn how to or he’s going to a wing do the rest of his career (fine by me)

 

Yea I've noticed that....

I think Amen has more functional athleticism than Jalen but it still seems like he's not strong to finish through contact and instead finishes around contact.

 

Yeah, good point. I was thinking 1A. Lots of players that are clearly below the 1A or even 1B level are still worth a max, so maybe you're right. It's just tough from a teambuilding perspective to fit someone in that is a literal non threat from anywhere on the floor, so much so that they don't need to be guarded. It's hard to build an effective offense with one of those on your team unless that guy is your 1A. But there is a counterpoint to this claim staring me right in the face, which is this current rockets team, a top 3 offense in the league. So maybe I need to rethink this.

 

It’d be pretty foolish to give anyone on this roster a max until they prove themselves against being defended like a #1 option. Teams are literally not guarding Amen right now. Some sort of shot is necessary but not sufficient for him to get a max right now.

 

Agree. I don't like it. It's too limiting. It becomes costly making all the others fit. It's "selfish" in a way.

There is a way: you have 4 shooters on the floor with him and push the pace to a crazy level. The C can either get out of the way or pick and pop with him. That was Milwaukee's way, and I believe the reason they had 2 stretch 5's the whole time.

Hopefully we won't need to worry about this. Sengun has progressed as a shooter, Amen seems to be getting there. That will make things awesome.

 

If you are a max guy IMO you need to be defended like one. Amen isnt there yet, people are ignoring him more than Capela which is hilarious. I think we will see in the next 2 yrs cuz even Jalen Green raised his 3 pt shooting to 36% by that time.

 

I gotta say, that stat is worse than I expected for Amen. Though him not being guarded tightly should not surprise anyone.

 

Lineup should be:

Sengun
Tari
Amen
Durant
Reed