That's all that really matters when it comes down to it. I actually couldn't give a **** about which of the 2 is the "numero uno," "franchise player" or whatever else. I think our young duo of future star players is on par with the best of all of them, I have faith they'll make us competitors sooner rather than later.
There is no way Alpi will keep shooting 37 % from the field. With his normal FG %, you are looking at about 6 more points per game already. The assists...I see that more as an Ime problem, and a problem of some other guys like Bari just bricking too many open shots. Should be around 5. I'm expecting something like 21/11/5.
Tonight was a good example of how both Jalen and Alpi can be productive even when neither had outstanding games. I love that we won and feel like I'm nitpicking, but I really want the coaches to get the offense figured out. I honestly don't care who is the #1 or #2 but need the coaches to figure out a way to get both of them some easier shots. Some of the shots near the end of the game had ridiculously high degrees of difficulty and I don't want to depend on those when the games on the line.
Funny thing is he has played crappy 5 games in and still pulls in good numbers. When he hits his stride, oh man, gonna be good!
Agree 100%. This is the same point I was making a few days ago about not wanting Sengun benched. I don't think Sengun fits with Udoka.
They fit fine last year because Sengun was a lot better than Jalen. Jalen fits well as a #2 around Sengun as #1, his skillset complements Sengun as top dog (or "numero uno", if you prefer). But Sengun is not an ideal running mate for Jalen as #1. If Jalen really is going to be this good (as good as he has been so far this year), a player like Sengun is not an ideal #2.
lol there is literally a thread (and a post in that thread from tonight) claiming the exact opposite. We are 3-2 and should really be 5-0. And that's despite Alpi shooting like crap to start the season, compared to his normal shooting. We'll be fine.
I don't know that I agree with this. That Jalen-Alpi pick roll looks pretty good to me. It adds another dimension with Alpi actually being a scoring threat that the Jalen-Adams version doesn't have. I get what your saying but with the right offensive scheme the Rockets could kill with this duo IMHO. What has me scratching my head about tonight's game is that with Alpi sitting both of their bigs with foul trouble the coach decided to go small with Dallas instead of staying with his big and punishing them. I don't get it, but perhaps that's why I'm not an NBA head coach.
Yeah....I'm gonna say there's at least 185 million reasons to believe Udoka is just fine with Sengun.
Yeah I should clarify here and say I don't think we're going to be bad. They're still two really good players. I wasn't suggesting the team is going to be a disaster. But imagine if we traded Sengun for a player who is better in the PNR, sets better screens, has zero post up skills, is a mediocre passer, but is a rim protector and switchable defender? Based on the way Udoka likes to play, are we better or worse with that guy? Because that guy is also probably cheaper than Sengun. That's kinda the point I'm trying to make. Not that we'll be bad with Jalen/Sengun, but that we can find a better #2 for a similar or lower price. I also think it works better with a different coach who is more offensively creative and puts more of an emphasis on offense. I think that kind of coach is more likely to utilize Sengun to his full potential and get the most out of him. And that is definitely not Udoka.
We did and if I had to guess it was also to allow us to switch everything defensively, but I feel like we did that last year too with Alpi on the floor. I just want us to utilize our best players and at this point though I love Amen and Tari, I don't think I would sub Alpi for either of them at the end of games. Just me.
Yes, exactly. I agree. Sometimes a player is best as the secondary option on a title contending team rather then the go to guy on a middling team(pau).
Tonight, you could have gone with Amen, Jalen, Brooks, Tari, Alpi and could have taken Fred out. He wasn't bringing it tonight. But Ime loves his vets.
What you are saying is actually a huge indictment against Sengun as a player. If you are correct, Rockets need to trade him. We'll see what happens this year. My hope is Alpi regains his mojo, begins relentlessly attacking defenses, starts scoring 20+ ppg and shooting over 50% from the field again.
Sengun is looking slow on the court. I don't think he's completely healthy. We need him to get going soon.
This right here... agree 100%. I'm down to give Coach Udoka the benefit of the doubt and believe him when he says that they haven't installed all of the offense, but he really needs to get to work on the installation, because these offensives droughts are getting old. We have entirely too much talent to not be able to score consistently.
According to NBA com before this game we're 9th in the league in offensive rating. Other teams in the league are doing worse in comparison, that's a good start for this young team. https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced?dir=A&sort=OFF_RATING
