Amen Thompson is the Rockets' REAL franchise player

I'm bringing up Jalen Green. I think you have to accept that. Might have to put me on ignore. And yes the guy I replied to was baiting. Trust me.

 

Or you can actually know what you’re talking about for once.

 

Im just hoping he can at least be Derozan like. Let’s see a consistent 15 ft FT line or elbow J. Maybe implement a post game with his size.

 

Basketball is moving positionless so who really cares if he's the 1, 2 or 3. 90% of the league has a wing fetish anyway. We need someone who can create plays for himself and for others with a high probability of ending in a good, high percentage shot. Right now for example, if Amen breaks down the defense and dishes out to a shooter, who do we want that to be? You could theoretically have a lineup of Amen/Cam/Dillon/Jabari/Sengun and it'd work. FVV/Jalen/Amen/Tari/Sengun also works. On paper anyway.

Ultimately this is the year for everyone not named Reed (and Sengun because he already has) to earn their keep.

 

What happens in a half court set when a defender presses up on him and he stops his dribble?

 

For one, he doesn't always stop his dribble. Sometimes he leaves people standing in the dust on his way to the rim.

 

Absolutely usually in transition when defenders are backpedlinh or he gets in a iso situation at the wing where he has to go by one defender.

But in situations where he has to navigate multiple defenders like slithering through screens with a live dribble and having multiple defenders brush up at you and swipe at the ball?

No. He almost always stops his dribble in those situations. But those are the situations that primary ball handlers have to deal with all the time.

 

We'll see. I'll examine this during the upcoming season to see if it's a legit issue.

Did anyone else notice this?

 

I mean someone like Sheppard would be ill advised to play the 3 or the 2 for extended minutes as he is so small...

 

Lets say the Rockets ran Sheppard/Amen/Cam. Who is what number on offense/defense? My guess is on offense Amen is the 1, Sheppard the 2 and Cam the 3. On defense Sheppard the 1, Cam the 2 and Amen the 3.

 

Some young players who aren't use to being the primary playmaker may have the tendency to do it. That's pretty easy to fix with proper coaching and more reps, especially if the guy has high IQ.

Amen does need to improve on his handles (same with Reed). I am not worry about it. Shooting is more difficult, or takes longer, to fix.

 

On offense, whoever initiates the offense is the 1, the other two are the wings. Traditionally, the 2 is smaller and have better handles than the 3. But who cares what they are called.

On defense, unless you are playing zone, otherwise you simply matchup according to size and speed of the opposing players, whatever position they play.

 

So on the Heatles of 2012 who was the 1? Lebron?

 

Yes. Good teams have more than one initiator. So in any given play, whoever is the initiator is the 1. But there is usually one primary initiator. You may call that guy the "1" and the secondary initiator "2". (The name "shooting guard" is very misleading. Sounds like his only duty is to shoot.)

Of course, whoever is your "1" should have good enough handles not to lose the ball easily. Normally, smaller players handle the ball better. That's why "point guard" is usually the smallest guy in the lineup.

 

This is false of course. You seem to always ignore volume and shot difficulty when looking at stats, seen you make this mistake a few times.

If we're still allowed to say his name, the best finisher on this roster - as a wing - is Jalen Green.

So sorry I mentioned Green, I must have imagined with my bias that someone wrongly named Amen the best finisher on the squad instead of the right answer: Jalen. I must have telepathically told Green to make sure he's the best finisher on the team just so that I could have this moment. I don't trust myself anymore.

 

He’s so gifted athletically, getting to the paint seems like it’s not even hard for him especially on weaker defenders. Some sag so far though, he can just walk it up to the free throw line. His range shot isn’t great but his free throws are decent. I’d love to see him get to that area and show a competent jumper from there. Teams might not ever pick him up beyond the 3 but if they know they have to pick him up inside the line that’s at least some spacing to operate.

A floater game would be legit as well, even though he seems to have a bit of the “dunk everything” gene. The weaker defenders he can continue to put in the rim but when he levels up and starts drawing better defenders it’s going to be important to have that counter. I remember a specific drive in his summer league appearance where he basically took off from like 15’ and almost looked like he threw the ball down into the bucket. Idk that I’d call it a floater but I’d damn sure call it unblockable.

I think Amen is my favorite current Rocket.

 

Him, Sengun and Reed are the Rockets I'm least worried about. Amen and Reed specifically seem to be gym rats (and Cam oddly enough). Both of them are probably rocking iPhone 4s still. People freak out over Amen's shooting but I'm not worried about it. He's dedicated to his craft and I really like his overall approach to the game and just taking whatever it is that's available to him. His finishing at the rim is really crafty and he has enough size/guile to finish through any size of defenders.

I've no idea what to expect from him this season. If his offensive game is more developed I don't see how he doesn't start.

 

Amen actually has a pretty good percentage at close midrange (3'-10'), better than Cam, Dillon, Tari, Fred, and Jalen. And that consisted of 25% of all his shots.

So he is not just a dunker like some narratives want you to believe.

 

As long as he can guard the opposing PG, he can play the 2 or 3 on offense. FVV can switch onto a 2. Granted, the Rockets likely only do this if Green has shooting issues again.

It will be up to the other team to play 5 guys in which Reed can't guard and still have a working offense. Amen was playing the center on offense last season to a dominating effect.

 

I see Amen and Sengun being the two best roll men on the team. I'd want them both to start, but I can see it if someone doesn't want to play them as much together as having another shooter on the court probably helps both their offenses more than another roll man.

I do want to add that while the offense with both of them on the court can be difficult at times, the defense is really great.