2024-2025 Death Lineup: Last year the Rockets had one 5-man death lineup with a net rating of +30: FVV + Amen + Dillon + JSJ + Sengun. Yes, there was a time when Amen and Sengun played really well together. But the point is, we brought in Durant to further supercharge that squad as an upgrade over Dillon. Then FVV went down, which led us to: PG Amen: Amen was asked to play out of position, and now we have a PG who isn't a pullup 3pt threat that allows opposing defenses to cheat inside. Result: NetRtg +9.3. Not bad, but not at all elite. PG Reed: They've tried Reed as a FVV replacement, but the NetRtg of Reed + Amen + Durant + JSJ + Sengun is... -1.8. That won't do it "PG Kevin Durant, man". Not my words, unmute for the audio at 3:48. This was only 2 years ago. Asking all time greats to play out of position typically... works. 5 of the last 7 MVPs are 7 foot point guards, after all. The math is simple. When you have two guys on your roster who can get 16+ dimes in a game -- the only 2 who have done it in Houston the last 2 years -- and one gets hurt, you give the ball to the other guy. FVV went down, now it's KD's turn. And oh, that other guy is a top 5 shooter in NBA history, a marksman from downtown. 2025-2026 Death Lineup: PGKD - Amen - ? - JSJ - Sengun. The ? could be any one of DFS, Tari, Reed, Okogie, et al. This is of course until FVV returns to full strength The funny thing is, @'ing KD on X and reminding (or trolling) him might be enough for the Rockets to try it. It's his team this year.
KD sucks as a distributor he turns it over, playing him as the PG has caused all of our collapses, every one, teams blitz him and he turns it over, or we get a bad shot. DD
Been saying he's the pseudo point guard for a while now .... I don't much like him handling the ball or facilitating so much, rather see him finish possessions than start them. But imagine this team without him, its bad with him and would be downright putrid without him. I really wish they would just force feed Reed reps in the pick and roll with Sengun / Capela and live with the mistakes ..... but that's Udoka getting in the way.
Why did I know DD would be the first to respond to this thread? Still, yeah, let's be grateful that KD can handle the rock, but as full time point guard, just, "No." No more of this: Get another point guard, Stone. February 5th, comin' on up.
The opposite of what needs to happen....we need the right pieces with KD...chief among them, a a good PG playing with him.
KD as the PG is an easy 1st round exit might as well trade for Westbrook and have him run point if we’re just spitballing on ways to give up on this season
Durant might already be getting stretched thin playing the 3 than the 4. He arguably needs to go back more frontcourt than guard lol
He is having a resurgence in production and able to play high minutes which he was unable to do in PHX. He is better at 3 than 4. Making him 4 makes him bang for rebounds and guard tough physical forwards who weigh more than him.
Amen and Reed are supposed to be the good pgs to run with Durant and Sengun.If we still need a pg why are we keeping these two around? Amen already can't shoot, if we determine he also cant handle the ball and playmake for others then why is he slated to make the max? A defensive forward who cant shoot and also cant handle the ball, thats like a 9M player at best. If you compare him to Tari, thats like a lot worse than Tari cuz Tari can shoot and provide spacing for others. Reed has had a lot of fans (me included) with his stellar plays and finishes but he also isnt the pg we need? Then why are we keeping him, you cant have him and a small pg together thats just gonna tank the defense. Also whats he gonna do when the pg is the one handling the ball, just spot up for 3s? Stone didnt get a pg because we need PT for Amen and Reed at the 1. I would rather keep investing in these 2 than get some random stopgap just so we can say we have a pg now.
Not a fan of the forced KD iso. The Rockets offense is best right now when they don't force one option on the offense. Amen and Reed alternating as the on-ball guy has worked often as the defense typically is geared to stopping one or the other, but not both. I'm not a big fan of isolation ball, but the Rockets do pretty good on KD isos once he has the ball and the guy at the wing can shoot (i.e., doubling KD is harder). The KD iso should be mixed into other sets such that the defense can't tee up against it. I get that Reed with Amen, Sengun, and Durant on the court at once has not always been the best so far. I think this is mostly a chemistry issue. The Rockets need to find a way for their 4 best players to share the court.
