I don't see Ime benching Dillon either. He's shooting almost 40% from 3. Fred would be the one to send to the bench, but Ime ain't gonna do that. If we assume that Dillon and Fred are permanent fixtures in the starting lineup the rest of this season, then it's either Tari, Jabari, or Amen starting at the 4. It's safe to say that decision has already been made with regard to Jabari. He's a reserve. I just think Tari fits better right now as a starter vs Amen.
Jabari also seems very comfortable taking that FT line (or similar distance) mid range jumper, and he converts them at a reasonable clip for such a young player. I almost never see Tari attempt those. Plus, Jabari is two full years younger than Tari, and spent one less year in college ball working on his game, despite their being from the same draft class. I personally still think Jabari is the better long-term prospect, especially once you factor in injury history. But it's fairly close.
Maybe, but Tari has huge leads currently in rim pressure, passing, dribbling, and rebounding on the offensive side.
The most predictable thing in the world as soon as I saw the title of this thread was going to be people saying "take out Dillon Brooks and replace him with a non shooter" when he's shooting 40% on high volume from 3
Like we found out when Fred was hurt - the best players don't make the best lineups. Amen is a much better player than Smith or Eason or Fred, much higher ceiling. Maybe even the highest on the team. Maybe he's even the best player on team right now. He certainly has a case. But .. .. Having 2 guys on the floor - him & Sengun, that you don't even have to close out on shooting 3's ruins your spacing. You get zoned up, you look like crap in the halfcourt like the Rockets did for long stretches when Fred was out. That's why the Rockets adapted and had to go to the "double big" lineups, figuring that if you can't beat them, join them. I don't love Jabari Smith, I think he's a role player, but I do think that if he hits the above the break 3, it makes Sengun & Green's lives much easier than Thompson hanging out in the dunker spot.
Maybe in the playoffs Amen and Sengun doesn't work, but so far the Amen and Sengun lineups have excelled on offense in the regular season. Those two have collapsed the defense and have made it easier for the shooters. The problem has been more the defense with Amen, Green, and FVV during the regular season. I fully expect Ime to try to solve the defense problem with FVV, Green, Amen, Brooks, and Sengun as starters through coaching, and I hope it works.
Jabari isn't a non-shooter and as I've been saying for years and years and years, yall over value shooting in the first place. The Rockets as a team are one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA right now and also 2nd in the conference. People are confused as to why double big works so well, it works the same reason it worked in the 90s, no one shoots 100% and you simply give your team more possessions when you control the glass. Jabari helps towards that a lot more than Brooks and Tari does and gives the team an advantage in length that other teams simply can't match.
You're both right to some degree here I think. Sam's correct that we should not bench our only guy who's been a really great 3P shooter this season--or at least should not significantly reduce his minutes. You're correct that Jabari is not a non-shooter and that his length helps us on the glass and protecting the rim (although I have to mention that I think Tari brings some of the same advantages, he's not a total non-shooter and is an elite rebounder and a good shotblocker for a forward). In any case, I'm not too worried about the exact starting lineup. I'm kind of with Ime on this--it's more about who finishes each game, matchups, who is playing well at the time. I think Dillon should probably still be playing more minutes than Tari and Jabari because his shooting has been so vital to our ability to put points on the board, but all three of them should be getting in the 25-35 range, and as long as that continues to be the case, I'm not too unhappy with it.
Dillon Brooks is leaving the starting lineup as non-shooter Amen is being returned and inserted in these proposed lineups - taht is literally the definition of being replaced by a non-shooter. Eason for Smith is a wash, both average. But both guys you have to close out on - unlike Thompson or Sengun. Basically you took an elite shooter - probably the best high volume 3&D player in the league this season, it is maybe him & lou dort vs. everyboy else - with a complete nonshooter who teams don't even close out on. Spacing hijinks ensue. I know this because we saw it happen numerous times when teams went to zone at key moments before this winning run and totally choked the Rockets haflcourt offense. The "double big" lineup was a reaction to this. But frankly, It doesn't really matter because this would never happen, even if Dillon was shooting 30% and not 40%, he is absolutely locked in to Udoka's starting/closing lineups, as he should be. I'd be surprised if he's ever moved to the bench during this contract. I know that will make a lot of people angry, but it's true.
Doesnt matter Professional NBA teams are tough and wins don’t come easy. We lost multiple games to “lesser” opponents (hornets, jazz, heat, kings etc). Bottom line: win games.
Dillon Brooks & FVV combined # of games off the bench the past six seasons including this (since "20): ONE. Dont bet on that. Brooks to bench on a long winning streak at #2 seed shooting 40% threes, aint happening. Then FVV was already that example of "even at 30% he's starting".
Amen cant shoot. Ball in Fred's hands Amen will hide somewhere near the rim. I still think Tari is more fit for starting.
He started, dominated Herro and we won. What happened this game? What about his shooting, hiding and handles?
