Ime Udoka benches starters, criticizes lack of competitiveness in loss to Warriors 2/13/2025

I do think he'd do that. My issue is I don't think he'd be willing to accept the rocky start required to see a shooter like Sengun start developing.

Like why on earth isn't Sengun shooting more this season? It's so incredibly hard to be consistent while taking 1 attempt every 3-4 days. That means every attempt is cold AF.

If they've worked on it two summers, we should have had it set in stone that he will take 2 per game even if he can only hit 30%. That's what it would take for the awkwardness to go away and the pump faking habit to go away. That's how you then get a player in the second half starting to tick upwards in %. I don't think he's willing to do that.

However Ime - unlike some of his irrational fans - already admitted last season that the Sengun/FVV offense was "unfair" to Jalen's style, that Sengun needs to work on his shot too and he followed through by sending several trainers to Turkey this summer. He seems to be aware of how important it is but he's just too risk averse to let Sengun gain some traction. Ime gets stressed quickly and then he defaults to traditional, it's his pattern.

All of that applies to Amen too. It's criminal that the team sporting Amen Thompson and Jalen Green is as poorly spaced as the tanking teams. We're missing out on so much. It's also criminal that people think Amens FGA issues (sometimes only 3's available so he takes low FGA's) and Green's low drives/FT's is unrelated. We're sitting on TNT just need average spacing to detonate this thing.

I've estimated amateurishly that the trio needs to average a collective 34% for this to work. I'm not too iffy about what mix brings that about but if those three are shooting 34% and the other two starters are elite shooters, we won't have an issue anymore to win a title.

 

Very good analysis. Thanks. I think the collective shooting might need to be a bit higher, but that of course is very subjective. Ime being able to put these guys in a position to succeed on offense and sticking to it, is the bigger concern for me. I know it is a common falacy of fans to blame coaches and scheme, but we do have some evidence (Boston improving immensely at offense with the same personnel), that make it a legitimate concern that Ime may not have the necessary capability to make this a championship team. Only time will tell, but I would only give him another year to figure it out, if Stone does his job and gets some shooting on the roster.

 

Rockets have generational production at OREB, not just good, not just lucky. Combine with low turnover + transition efficiency + FTA + defense > offense, OREB is sustainable. Rockets play SMASHBALL first + foremost where 2 pts is more efficient + more successful for them than 3 pts. Rockets increase their possessions while limiting opposing teams possessions.

 

I don't know much about basketball, but I see offensive rebounds as a second chance for a missed opportunity. It is like you are running for the bathroom but you can't make it because your older brother stops you on the way. Your mom changes your pants and hopes the next time you will make it. You have now your second pair of pants -as opposed you your brother, who still has one pair, but it doesn't change the fact that you peed on you pants the first time.

 

Haha.

 

meanwhile the Rockets are 10th in offensive efficiency even tho they’re the worst free throw shooting team in the NBA and bottom 10 in FG and 3 point percentage

Ime makes u goofies look dumber by the day

 

Sheesh, seems like I was too conservative here…seems that rough stretch with all the injuries is what started the growth catapultization, and perhaps the playoffs will bring about an even bigger leap!