The Athletic: Bruno Fernando Will Start Over Sengun When He Returns

You can check NBA.com for the single game stats.
Bruno had a 130.8 defensive rating and 100 offensive rating against Memphis.
Alp had 125 offensive rating and 106.8 defensive rating

Against Atl
Bruno had a 101.8 offensive rating and 105.6 defensive rating
Alp had a 100 offensive rating and 110.2 defensive rating.

 

@LeDakota
i think this work is almost a year old

 

And you can check out basketball-reference.com that I linked for you.

And how do you know if Bruno got hurt but kept trying to play?

Here are Bruno's numbers in the first quarter [ vs Grizz ]
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202210210HOU.html

And here are his second quarter numbers [ vs Grizz ]
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202210210HOU.html

His first quarter numbers are better than Sengun first quarter numbers (vs starters)

 

The numbers still say Bruno is not some defensive stalwart. He was abused by Trae and Ja

 

You can make a case for Bruno starting, and I really like what I see from him.

But it would be a big mistake if that comes at the cost of making Sengun a focal point - he's shown us what he can do these past few games. He needs to get 25 minutes at least and be featured in those minutes.

Garuba is also looking good.

One way you make room for these guys is to finally trade away guys like EG and Tate.

 

You can believe what you wish.

Fact is that the Rockets were
* implementing the Lionel Hollins
defensive scheme in the first week (showed vanilla defense in preseason)
* Incorporating Jabari (rookie making rookie mistakes)
*Incorporating Tari (rookie making rookie mistakes)
*Top notch competition in first two games.

Now put Bruno with
*Jabari who now understands defensive rotations and scheme better
*Tari who now understands defensive rotations and scheme better
*Kenyon who now is playing well and has started diving to the rim offensively.
*KPj rubbing his opponent off screens better
*Green who is rubbing his opponent off screens better

I'll give you the last word

 

Jabari is literally a part of the 3 worst 5 man lineups on the rockets.
KPJ and Jalen are really bad on defense right now, specially in ISO defense.
You can make excuses for them all you want, but bottom line is the entire defense is bad. Bruno isn’t a better defender than Alp by any metric. That’s not to say either are capable of making up for the guard play and Jabari who was supposed to be a game changer on defense.
And you don’t choose who gets last word or not. We can have a discussion or not. Doesn’t matter to me.

Im all for the betterment of the team, but it’s dumb to put Bruno in over the best player on the team right now in Alp. And putting his development over Garuba

 

why the penny pinching? we already have too many future picks... why not just bench/sit them for the season?

last year we made the same mistake played the vets david nwaba etc too much, didnt teach young guys to play and still didnt got any surplus future picks ...on contrary we got less because their value devalued because team wasn't good cause alpi didnt play enough...

 

Uggh I said I would give you the last word.

Our guards have to leave their assignments because cement boots Sengun needs
so much help protecting the interior. Thus the Sengun +/- is low.....if....if....
Green and Porter stay at home and Sengun was left to defend the interior by himself...
left on an island you would see the Sengun +/- be something like minus 17
every game. As it is, it's a layup drill.

Bruno also requires some help, but much often can defend the interior
by himself. Context matters much. Now I give you the last word.
I look forward to Bruno getting a crack at sub par teams like the 3 win Magic.

 

We aren’t watching the same games.
In no way are the guards rotating and helping, no one is rotating and helping.
The broadcast has brought this up multiple times. The guards can’t stay in front of their guys and leaving Alp on an island.
He still is averaging 2 stocks a game. I’m not going to even comment on the stupidity of “cement boots”

Now you may have your turn to speak.

 

Here is a highlight of Rockets vs Magic

Watch Sengun defensively getting destroyed in PnR

You can see the score tied 2 to 2 and Sengun is late getting back and Jabari gets Senguns
man which leaves Jabaris man wide open for 3....Banchero nails it. Nice being so wide open....
Jabari sucks......or is it Senguns fault?!?!

Dude does not hedge the corner of the screen and still gets beat constantly as screen man
gets past him easily every time. Sengun would foul out in 13 minutes if Rocket players
weren't helping him.

Watch Sengun at the 3-pt line offensively.....nobody within 10 feet of Sengun.

Sengun in the second tier line of defense. Banchero dunks with Sengun stuck in the mud
just watching and providing no assistance.


Cant lie about video....it speaks for itself

 

25 mins lol

If your best player only can play 25 mins, I don’t know who is deserved to play 30+ mins...

 

There is literally not one instance of a guard or any player rotating on a contest in PNR. The first defensive play KPJ is behind Franz.
Playing drop coverage and getting stuck in no man’s land for the lob is something that needs to be addressed, he did have one play where he defended it well.
There is no rotations or contests from anyone, period.
The play where KPJ and Alp let Paolo dunk uncontested was smart. Perimeter defense was non existent, both slid over and there was no stopping him from dunking. Why pick up a foul?
If we decide to hedge on the PNR, players are going to have to fight harder over the screens. The defense is broken, and it’s not on one player.

 

You just never understand. No people here is trying to ignore Sengun's defense deficiencies or deny Bruno's improvements on D. The fans have seen enough of KPJ dancing for two full years which awarded us the worse records for consecutive years. What you are suggesting is that, let Bruno starts, which means KPJ and Green will continue getting more touches and more of the same will happen to warrant the bottom of the standing. Last game, the fans were able to see what was the potential of Sengun focused offense at the first quarter, even OG pulled a Stephen Curry, we still managed the lead and scored 37 points on a very good defensive Raptors team. Fans want to see changes, not more of the same. KPJ, Smith, Green all played pretty abysmal on defense so far but we know they will be better when they have more minutes together. The fact is, Sengun only got 3,3,2 fouls after the Clippers' game. If what your claim is right, just let Sengun foul out and your idol Bruno can play 35 minutes per game. I'm totally fine with it. I do not disagree that, Bruno may (or may not) have a better overall rating, at the end of the season. That being said, we know we'll be the worst team again if Bruno starts, while Sengun starts will give people something different to hope for.

 

There’s too many pros and cons with this. The vertical spacing and rim protection are important. One thing that is overlooked is that Sengun gets starting bigs in foul trouble early. Reminds me of how the lakers never wanted to put shaq on duncan bc he would foul him out. If you’re a team like Philly, you would rather Sengun come off the bench and get their backup 5 in foul trouble, rather than Embiid I’m just gonna wait and see.

 

Well when you best player gets a foul every 4-5 min, he's not going to get 30+ min.

 

I don't think it's a difficult decision. If Sengun plays against the starting bigs, regressed and get into the foul trouble, he lowered his head and never improve again. We will trade his ass out of here. However, if he keeps his heads up, and eventually able to help us get the offensive bigs in foul trouble, we won the gamble and got a legitimate building block of a championship team in making. You don't get that from Bruno. We have nothing to lose anyway, why betting on the conservative option?