This is how I feel. Positionless is perfect, but I do have a problem with FVV becoming the primary initiator again. We started our offensive improvement the game that Ime started distributing the iniator job. FVV getting hurt did cause us to start losing, but not because of his pg skills on offense, but rather his defense and his threat as an outside shooter. Nobody but Amen and FVV are capable of guarding pg's on this team. With both FVV and Jabari, Amen has had to dedicate more of his time as a forward and he had one less guy to space the floor.
I'm in the same boat as you. I've never heard a logical argument about why he should play PG, even though I believe he will be able to and I don't mind trying it. You'll just lose advantage in speed/transition wherever you'll gain in height/strength, it's a meaningless shift, he creates a mismatch at every position except SG. If we don't use that to our benefit, there's no point having it. Right now FVV is better than Tari and Brooks, so clearly put Amen at Point Forward, let him get a quarter of the usage with Sengun/Green/FVV. None of them are good enough to carry more for an excellent team tbh. I also have 0% interest in being an offense dominated by one player unless it's Nikola Jokic.
He's adjusting to double/triple teams by getting his teammates open looks and now increasing his assist opportunities. This is how you win playoff series. Defense, resilience, rebounding and making teams have to pick thier poison, and making them pay for loading up to defend a player. He can play any position needed and is a mismatch everywhere. If we have a lot of talent at forward, move him to PG, talent at guard move to the forward spots. One thing fans forget about young players, they are far from a finished product. Young sophomore players get better, develop shooting, have a bigger offensive bag, are smarter and more effective on both sides of the ball, and mature with intangibles. Our team is very exciting to watch grow over seasons.
This is not emphasized enough imo. Rockets should have added another defensive specialist during trade deadline because injuries happen. Adding player like Javonte Green or Matisse Thybule would have been ideal to save wear + tear on FVV + Amen (even Tari). Tate, Tari, Bari + Brooks are at their best on wings + bigger players.
To me this is simple. Let the players decide. Right now despite @Hemingway's protests, the Rockets offense does not function without FVV because FVV is a PG and he adds shooting. If it does at some point int the future, then you look at what to do with FVV. FVV does not prevent Amen from getting on ball reps. I want Amen on ball. I want Amen off ball. My guess is that forwards will never be able to guard Amen and regardless of if Amen does everything a PG does on offense, it would likely be best to have two other guys on the court that forwards can't guard. If Amen gets to be the same way with guards, then it doesn't matter if he's a guard or a forward.
I love plays like this. When Amen gets the ball close to the rim, the defense has to focus stop him, but even if the prevent him from scoring, he's just so good at finding cutters and shooters. I love how Cam goes to the corner while Reed relocates to the top of the key pulling the two defenders apart like the Red Sea for Tari to cut through.
if anyone actually thinks Amen is a legitimate PG, u need to enter rehab immediately because all those drugs got your brain fried
As great as Amen is he is careless and lack focus frequently which is very costly as seen in the last game vs Warriors
Amen is still a raw project. People got too high during his good stretch. While I can't say with confidence he will ever be a PG, or even a lead guard, he's already shown a ton of growth in 1.5 seasons when it comes to playmaking ability. He's actually facing defenses that are keyed on him right now. It may cost us some wins, but it's also great for potential growth. Teams don't have John Stockton or Magic anymore. The idea of a PG that racks up 10 assists and orchastrates the offense doesn't actually jive with the PGs that have won titles.
How do you define “legitimate”? What is illegitimate? He has played combo guard all of his life, running point and making plays. He got a little time playing PG this season before Fred went down but assumed that role since FEB 03. He avg 3.85 TO in 7 games. This is literally his first year running point instead of standing in the short corner most of the time. And it’s only been 7 games he’s started in. The point is a very difficult position since you control tempo, set up the half court, initiate in PNR’s, look to make plays etc. First year as starting PG TO’s per game Luka: 3.4 Cade: 3.7 Harden: 3.8 He does have mental lapses and misses players at times but give the man some time to grow and put this together
folks are giving neither JG or Amen the grace needed for them being forced to play PG it’s the silly turnovers that they need to cut back on - and the driving into the paint with no plan when teams are packing paint against us he needs a floater and to keep working on that FT line down Jumper and corner 3s since he likes to crash baseline / dunkers spot
None of those 3 are technically point guards, Luka is a Point forward, Cade is too, and Harden was a SG that ran point. DD
What’s your point? I don’t get it. They played that position and assumed that role much like Amen. Anything else is irrelevant
They all played point guard as their primary role. Amen only played point forward on back to backs with Tari out during this stretch since FEB03. But that’s irrelevant. The role of the point is the same as he set up the half court, initiated actions, and looked to make plays or facilitate for others.
I think Amen can do it before we add someone. Van Fleet seems like he's just trying to get his. I'm worried about Tari in terms of injuries. If we don't we can't win.
Right now with Alpi and Amen on court we play like a traditional NBA team with PF / C maybe if we ran some type of offense like the triangle it could work but in todays NBA when teams have over 40 games to know Amen not shooting 3s and Alpi not shooting 3s and keep JG from getting to the rim and watch the Rockets struggle a lineup of FVV JG Williams Tari Bari would be interesting when teams go zone… just to bust them out of it - then thrown Amen and Alpi back in to punish the paint
Raw project implies he's not currently a good player. Don't get me wrong, his offensive game is still raw, but the impact he makes on the game is well above project status. Considering the Rockets record and the lack of shooting, bare minimum, the Rockets have 3 Top 50 guys assuming one thinks the Rockets don't have a player that is currently an All-NBA talent. I think Amen is one of the Rockets 3 best players.
