[Poll] What it is CF pulse on team direction/superstar?

This is still an evaluation year, especially with the extensions given to Green and Sengun.

We are clearly overperforming in terms of record/expectations so far and that is mostly due to us being a very elite defensive team. Clearly that number one option on offense is what is missing.

 

I like Sengun a ton, but I don't think he's what I think you're asking about in this thread. I had the conversation with a few others in a thread about the Kings game the other day....I think we're going to have to clearly define what you mean by "superstar" and/or "foundational star."

I expect a report on my desk by 1:30.

 

Key word is eventually. Need to make sure what we have first.

 

Man, I'm going all lawyer mode, because I'm thinking for the most part making the playoffs in the NBA is comparatively easier than in most other sports. More teams are allowed into the playoffs than excluded each year.

But the names you gave are all first All NBA players...Jokic is an insanely generational player. Luka is an MVP candidate every year. Harden was an MVP and was a CP3 hamstring injury away from beating one of the better teams I've ever seen in my life (and I'm old)...Giannis has already won a title by VERY CLEARLY being the guy.

So my answer is no. I don't think we have a player on this roster of that caliber. We are winning at a high level regardless. It seems to me we very clearly need a consistent scorer....and we absolutely need some shooters PLURAL...

 

I think we build around Sengun and get 3-D players on our team...better 3point shooting provides better spacing for Sengun to operate.
Our opponents are clogging the lane and daring us to shoot the 3 where we're still ranking in the lower echelon in 3-point % in the league.

 

Barring being able to bring in someone more proven to be "the guy" I completely agree with this. Then we cross our fingers and hope Sengun becomes all that.

 

If this was poll was coming off the OKC victory instead of the GSW loss, the instant results would probably be different. I think we need to add an alpha at some point but I do think Sengun and Amen will be fringe all stars for the next 5 years.

 

I doubt the guy is on the team.

Sengun and Thompson, I really think a ton could fall into place for both of them if they develop a 3 defenses have to fully respect. The fact that guys sag so hard on both of them really stifles their overall game and off ball impact. So I don't say with certainty the guy isn't here yet.

Eason isn't that guy, Jabari even as a prospect was never projected to be that guy. I'm still a fan of Sheppard and think he'll be a hell of a player in a few years, but even my most optimistic outlook was as a secondary scorer.

Jalen Green is who he is, he ain't that dude and never will be. Cam, he just doesn't get it and I highly doubt he ever will.

 

For this team to even have the hope of contending, they need to add at least a Houston-level T-Mac/CP3 type player to the roster. Not necessarily a superstar but at least all-star who can run the offense. Unfortunately, such a player does not exist on the trade market. So if this year ends up being a "hey we have like 48 wins and lost in the first round" I'm still good. Going forward though, the Rockets need to either have someone develop into that guy or trade for one.

 

Being a star and being a superstar/franchise player are massively different. I think Amen has a good chance to be a star and Sengun does as well, and a case can be made he already is one. Someone like Jaylen Brown is a star but unequivocally not a superstar/franchise player. I think even Tatum is borderline but he’s on the fence. I think it’s highly unlikely anyone on our roster develops into someone i would consider a superstar/franchise player. I think our best path is keep the young guys and assets, play our this season, play out next season, and just wait till someone asks out. Hopefully it’s a superstar but even if it’s a booker type, having 3 stars (amen, alpi, acquired guy) should give you a chance to contend.

 

The idea of this post is so good you earned a like from me while referencing my two all-time least favorite rockets.

 

Jokic can shoot. Sengun can't.

Again, this is an evaluation year. Unless somethings fall into our lap, this will be the core for this season.

Obviously we wanted high draft picks to turn directly into a franchise players/stars/superstars, but we still have a large war chest.

 

The Rockets have one of the best records because of Defense, team work, toughness, rebounding and turning into Offense.

But I am no inch wiser than last year in terms of how far the youngins progressed.

Okay, Terror Twins are the real deal defensively, DB and FVV are still what we thought they were, positive influences, the only conclusion.

 

Team is scrappy and plays the right way. That's all you can ask for in a team that's playing above expectations... I don't think anyone is a what fans would call a true "star" nor will be. The only person that I thought could become that was Jalen prior to the season, but I was wrong. I just hope the team keeps winning at a 50-55 year pace for the next 2 to 3 years and maybe someone grows into the clutch, go to scorer, that the team needs .. OR we can cut a corner and trade for an "already peaking" star ..

 

no, we do not have a foundational star and will eventually need to trade for one

right now, we get by and win games with our defense and out-hustling/having more energy than the opposing team

 

It's nice to see that despite the best attempts of SOFs to post meaningless engagement content ("Sengun is the first player since Jesus Christ did it in the 70s to get 15 consecutive post game high fives from his teammates" - therefore Sengun is our savior!), the larger fanbase here is aware that while Sengun is our best chance at a star on the roster today, he is likely not the type of superstar you want to build a franchise around that will one day compete for multiple titles.

I agree with much of the thoughtful sentiment shared earlier:
- we do what we can to improve in those areas where we are different than other teams - continue focus on developing defensive intensity in our guys - especially those with high defensive ceilings
- we try to find improvements in our team shooting through roster development/trade/FA and hopefully improvements to our offensive system to get easier shots
- we stay on the look out to use trade chips for a #1 scoring option/foundational player who is hopefully a guard/wing. I believe in the Jokic prototype but I don't believe very many bigs will ever get to Jokic's levels and Alpi has a very long way to go before we can start considering him a potential Jokic like franchise player. I think the way the league is officiated and the importance of 3pt shooting to larger offensive efficiency metrics just means your franchise guy has to be a wing/guard - Jokic really is the rare exception in the modern game. Alpi rarely shoots 3s and isn't a particularly efficient scorer in the paint either.

 

I don't see a lot of young guys out there who will be the megastars of the next generation - those guys who make you a top 5 team in the league just by having that player alone. We may be entering into an early 2000s like era where the talent in the league is relatively top heavy. I mean Ben Wallace finished 8th in MVP voting in 2002 and 7th in 2003 as an example. No shade to Ben Wallace but the Lebron, Curry, Jokic, Giannis level is a whole other level of domination and right now Luka and Wemby(and maybe SGA or Tatum can grow into that because of their relative youth) are the only guys even approaching that level in the league.