So I’m guessing y'all are not ready to talk about Amen Thompson.

It is a good thing we have our starting PG for the next 10 plus years sitting in the wings ready to go. That will allow Amen to go back to his Tasmanian Devil style of play he is so good at.

 

Free Amen. Let him play basketball, not a role.

 

Of course not. But Amen last season in that Marion/Iggy role was already performing at a superstar level IN THAT ROLE. So all I think PG is saying (and I'm saying) is for this season lets get Amen back in that role especially while Durant still playing at a high level. Let his offensive playmaking role expand gradually over time as KD declines, and as Reed hopefully grows to be able to bring the ball up the court more reliably.

I think Amen eventually be what Kawhi was for the Spurs, and Raptors where the offense can run through him even though he isn't a point guard. Or basically be doing what Durant is doing for the Rockets now even though he probably will be a different offensive weapon at the top of the key he can still eventually be someone we run sets for.

But right now, I just don't know why the team is adamant about him bringing the ball up to make him look like he's playing point guard. It gets him to his spot way too late in the play and drains his energy and focus when there is ball pressure. Let Reed, or Holiday do that crap.

 

The offense is best when he is initiating more than half. Who brings the ball is irrelevant to me. I believe Amen’s ability to drive in the lane and dish is elite. Watch it closely and you will discover his assists numbers should be the roof. Last game 6 wide open 3’s he set up were missed. 4 layups he set up were missed and he is still struggling to put the ball in the hoop on layups. His potential assists average is 11 per game. Alpi’s is 11.9. Even with the bad luck on his teammates converting, he is still creating great space to the offense. After he drives, he is perfect position to get offensive rebounds. He is obviously thinking a bit too much in his new role, but he is playing it quite well. This board is awfully keen to make changes after 13 games. Amen and Reed are in the perfect positions to work out their roles on this team. You just have to let it cook for a while. Holiday should never see the floor when Reed is in and way less than Okogie. If everyone is having a poor shooting night and you need someone to break the ice, that is Holiday’s role.

 

I just think people are making too much of it. Amen's in a bit of a slump the last couple of games - I feel like people are trying to find a "reason" when, really, his role isn't that much different than last year. Sengun and Durant brought it up a ton last night.

 

This board wants people traded or relegated after 3 games. Just watch the Reed thread the minute he has a bad stretch.

 

I don’t think Reed gets blasted as much as others would if he has a bad stretch. His fan club is huge, some because we have been thirsty for shooters so long and he can certainly do that. HIs height and relative lack of athleticism gives him the underdog crowd as well. I just think we should all be patient with these young guys, Amen and Reed especially as they just haven’t had enough time in their positions (Amen offensively and Reed defensively) to make huge judgements. And BTW to all the sky is falling guys, we are 10-3 and 2 of the losses were against no. 1 seeds.

 

He’s struggling with the positional change, which has impacted his production. He doesn’t have the handles to be a point guard. But Amen will be fine.

 

AND 1 of those no. 1 seeds won 68 games last year and is a heavy favorite to win the chip again this year.

IF ANYTHING we are ahead of schedule!!


Go Rockets!!
.......
.......
.......

 

He's just pressing and missing shots he'd normally make. He will figure it out, it's only been 13 games, and he's not been bad by any means, just not up to his usual standards on scoring efficiency in particular.

 

The Reed detractors are convinced he will never be anything more than a prototypical 6th man high effort white guy. The Amen detractors are convinced he will never be more than just an athletic connector piece that should defend and be on dunker spot duty. The minute one or the other struggle, they come out of the woodwork to make proclamations about their shortcomings.

The truth is that they both have immensely high ceilings and they need to work through their current issues. They are our backcourt of the future and I can see a future where all 3 of our young guns are All-Stars.

 

He literally blanketed Mitchell for most of the game and when Mitchell got off it when Ime started putting Reed or Holiday on him. Why does a pg have to be there for all defense Amen to appear?

Amen's defense is dependent on himself not on any other player.

 

I am not convinced, PG. Did you ask ChatGPT yet for its take on Amen?

 

Jackson Gatlin put it best the other day:

Of all the fans in the NBA, Rockets fans have the least excuse for jumping the gun on draft picks. We've drafted 11 players in this rebuild. Jabari was one of the worst starters in the NBA and now he's an excellent starter for a contender. The number of players called a bust is SO MUCH higher than players who become busts.

It's gotten so cheesy. Here you go again so you can stop making a fool of yourself:

Sengun and Amen are averaging more assists than Sengun and FVV did last season. Our offense is #1. For 12 games in Amen is killing it.

 

p

Paragraphs. They’re your friends.

 

Exactly correct.

 

Please, don't start that again.


Amen is fine ....

 

This team - with Sengun & KD running the show the majority of the time doesn't really need a traditional point guard.

Amen is kinda like PatBev was with Harden where you didn't need him to do more than run it up the court and give it up, hit 3's crash the board and play good defense.

Amen can play the point guard in transition .... other than that, its the Sengun & KD show.

 

No, I believe noone is ready and noone will ever be

 

Yup, he's getting really great experience even if he's not a long term PG. That improved playmaking ability will go a long way later on. And it doesn't really seem to be costing us wins so I'm not too upset about it.