You play to win the game! Pulling Fred would have been merciful by Ime! I would have lived to see Cam. & Reed get an opportunity
Again I don't disagree with you that it should have happened. I'm just saying that's what I THINK is happening, and what I think happens with alot of NBA teams in this situations with veteran players on big contracts. NOT with the #3 pick though I will say. Most teams who take someone at #3 are playing them, and would go to a player like FVV before they even drafted Reed, and told him they are taking him, they still value him, but he's going to play since the #3 pick is such a huge investment. So get on board or go find a trade. Most teams likely aren't going to essentially red shirt the #3 pick in the draft. That is an anomaly I do think we should be allowed to criticize Stone, and Ime for.
That's part of it. The other reason he won't be put out there is because Ime arbitrarily shortened the rotation. He trusts Aaron Holiday and even that guy got zero minutes in Game 1 despite the Rockets being unable to score and Fred and Jalen both stinking up the joint. If the offensive struggles with the backcourt continue, Ime should just say the hell with it and try some unorthodox lineups like Alpi, Steven, Jabari, Aaron, and Reed. That would give them 3 solid rebounders to dominate the paint AND 3 reliable outside shooters.
In a normal draft you might have a point. Last year’s draft was the worst in a long time so Reed was not the typical 3rd pick. Reed did get playing time to start the season. At some point, the coach and GM had to decide which was more important 3 or 4 more losses or developing Reed. If we lost 4 or 5 more games we wouldn’t have been in the playoffs. They should have sent Reed to RGV for about half the year and then tried to integrate him into rotation for 15-20 mins a game and he might have been ready to contribute. Even with that, they would have had to have a short leash if the playoffs was the goal.
Much rather have Bari and Reed hoisting up end of the shot clock 3s then FVV and Green. Give Reed 13 3s instead of FVV and the Rockets win game 1.
True but despite the quality of the draft, the payscale is the same as a loaded draft so from a team mgmt standpoint, the red-shirt model for top 5 picks really is uncommon. In alot of cases, you do have to trade away players like FVV if you are going to draft another player in their position. I've seen comments that he did get PT to start the season, and while I agree that I do recall him getting more PT at the start of the season, it wasn't what I would consider a true role. I'll also note that I have been pretty consistent throughout the year that I think he's just a little too small for the NBA, and was drafted too high which is why on a team that is trying to get above 50 wins, you couldn't reliably play him. So I get that... but still... top 3 pick, and huge investment for the franchise either way. Either way, it's just a weird situation, and I do think the freshman red shirt year is water under the bridge BUT him, and the team need to put a huge emphasis on the summer, and fall to prep him to essentially take over, and they need to handle FVV's situation with Reed in mind IMO.
Why did the Rockets not draft an "ime guy" like Castle or Clingan? You think Ime had no say in the Sheppard pick? Sheppard will be a part of the rotation next season. I'm sure of it.
Exactly this and you're right. When you look at it that way and the fact that Castle is your prototypical "Ime" player....that's really all you need to know as it pertains to Reed's future on the team. The Rockets were zeroed in on Reed and I don't think considered anyone else unless Reed was gone.
I really hate how much they trust Fred when he has proven that he doesn’t have it this whole season. Fred would be better coming off the bench. It’s time for the young guys to spread their wings and fly. I think we can win with the young guys.
Ime clearly thought Reed was just going to be park at 3 point line and forget kind of guy. And played him as such. Which is why Reed had trouble shooting when he was being off the bench for 10 minutes at a time, but looked much smoother when he was starting and get into the flow of the offense. This is the issue with a coach focused on defense. He simply doesn't know how to get his shooters in comfortable positions to shoot. Especially with a smaller rookie not quite equipped with the experience to deal with tall, fast, lengthy defenders running at him on every 3pt attempt. And when Reed couldn't play the way Ime wanted, Ime gave up on him and went to Holiday. Who is that kind of player, even if he's not a good player.
A - ****ING- MEN !!! Ime needs to get better, because clap clap clap play harder defense is not the way to a ring.... Popovich found a way to get the most out of Manu, and it wasn't just benching him. DD
There is a lot of truth here. Ime doesn't get the most out of his shooters. His style is to outwork and overpower people, which is fine in a knife fight, but this philosophy doesn't help snipers. They need spacing and strategic player movement to open up angles.
While I don’t disagree with the premise at this point, it’s really saying something that we’re talking about a #3 pick who has so little confidence in his game that outside forces can throw him off. I would have loved to have seen Sheppard come in and FORCE Ime to play him more. Show him why it would be stupid to take him off the floor. He’s been far too easy-going, like he’s just happy to be in the NBA and whatever happens now is gravy. Grow a pair and make yourself indispensable in whatever PT you get.
How can you force your way when you are playing out of position and getting yanked every time you get beat on D? Part of this is on Reed, part on the lack of patience by Ime. DD
Yeah Stone and Ime need to find an offensive coordinator this offseason. Ime's great and all but the offense has been so uninspiring and desperately needs some creativity. Pop's ball movement and player off ball movement was something Ime clearly couldn't grasp
