I agree with that 4 forward crap. To make it worse, they actually stared 5 forwards in 35 games this season. Sengun Jabari KD Tari / DFS Amen I made mention of something along the lines of Ime would start 5 forwards if he could, it wasn't but a couple games later that they ran that lineup out there and did it 35 times ....
This is a roster composition problem for GM Stone to fix. This would have been a lesser problem if FVV was healthy last season, but still an issue.
Stone gave Ime what he wanted .... what he probably said he needed to win. I don't need guards, I need big wings. If FVV was healthy, Ime would have run him out there with 4 of those forwards for 36 minutes a night.
The amount of suck is relative .... This is a good team with a some good talent. This isn't a great team full of superstar talent. We aren't the Spurs or OKC. We didn't get lucky and pick first and draft a unicorn and then get another top 2 pick.. I honestly think Stone has done a fairly good job, depending on the talent available when his picks came up - he didn't leave talent on the board a whole lot and he didn't blow picks outside of maybe Reed and I wanted him too .... He's also managed the cap very well - he had a plan last year and spent to the limit and Tilman paid the Tax. That plan got blown up .... but had Fred & Adams stayed healthy, it coulda worked .... maybe they win a series or two. Ime on the other hand .... I don't think I'd want him coaching a Jr high - Jr varsity team. I'm tired of complaining about his offense ... and forcing KD on ball was stupid. Sengun dribbling from the 3 point line is stupid. Not running a damn pick and roll is stupid.
Sengun is not a forward. The idea that the Rockets were trying to start “five forwards” is just not accurate. Their intended structure was a guard, three forwards, and a center. The bigger issues were pretty clear: point guard play, lack of reliable depth with DFS struggling and injuries, not enough shooting, and constantly having to play at least two non-shooters because the roster lacked spacing. And Sengun was a major part of the problem too. He had a horrible final three-fourths of the season. The Tari / Jabari / KD forward combo without Sengun was actually really good. So this was not really a “too many forwards” issue. It was a shooting issue, a playmaking issue, a depth issue, and a Sengun decline issue.
I don’t know what to tell you. OKC, SA, NYK legitimately close with 4 guys that are faster than Jabari and KD. Neither Jabari or KD can play center at that level and even if Alperen Sengun is the bane of our existence, whatever 5 we replace him with will also be significantly slower than 4/5th of those closing lineups. That’s 3 guys slower than their power forwards. If we keep acting like it’s not a problem or expect height to counter act it and be a better advantage than speed and fluidity, we’re gonna keep getting our asses kicked in the 1st round.
Knicks? The Rockets dominated the Knicks when KD was on the floor, and that was without a PG they could play with Brunson on the court. The Knicks were able to win one of the games barely because the bench sucked in the non-KD minutes at the top of the 4th. The other, the bench cratered again to allow the Knicks to make it only a 17-point victory. I get OKC and SA are bad matchups, but acting like KD is a problem for the Rockets against the Knicks is just bias.
Fair, I was more speaking to the accumulative issue. KD + Jabari + a center. In the playoffs, seeing the same good team repeatedly. I’m not against KD in isolation but would strongly recommend having speed from the other guys.
If we go for a more "run it back" option.... Deuce McBride. More of a combo guard than floor general but I think he's battle tested enough to provide some shooting, playmaking, and defense in a more depth. Still young enough with some upside (turns 26 this September) that he can become a better rotation player and he's got one year left at $3.9 mil.
i understand your point, but they are all very turnover prone. I suspect that lessens if they are asked to be on-ball less, but none of those 3 actualky take care of the ball. That’s why I really do think we need a floor general. I just think our backcourt has been a concern for 6 seasons now. Even that one great yr with Fred, he and Jalen weren’t a good fit. We need two dependable guards, and one has to be able to take care of the ball. I believe they both have to be able to shoot it at a high level. I think rim protection is absolutely another need, but it’s time to get the backcourt right. That will help spacing, I think it will really help Amen, and reduce the turnovers that absolutely killed us last season.
To be fair to those, all these guys are hunted by fast and smaller players......those guys are just too tall to withstand their Center of Gravity.
I agree that Sengun is more of a center than a forward, but I still see the point being made here... he is kind of a "tweener", he plays rather small for a center (although maybe less so by today's standards than say ten years ago). I think both things can be true. The roster didn't play well enough / isn't good enough, and the organizing philosophy behind our roster construction is weak. I think it's very, very clear that we were going for a "team full of big players that wins the possession battle by attacking the boards" philosophy, and I'm just not sure that works in the modern game. The Knicks, Spurs, and Thunder are all built around the idea of having lots of fast, strong players who can handle the ball, shoot, and create for themselves and/or others. They do have some height and length but (other than Chet Holmgren, who sucked in the WCF) it's mostly at the center position, the rest of their rosters are pretty average in that regard.
IF Milwaukee decided to try one last time and cash in on Giannis: KD to Milwaukee for Kuzma, Portis and Ryan Rollins Why the Bucks do it: If healthy, KD/Giannis/Turner is a frontcourt that can make noise in the east. It hurts losing Rollins but KD is an upgrade to both Kuzma and Portis. For the Rockets: Rollins is a 23 year old point guard with 4 years of NBA experience who is almost a 40/50/90 guy. This move frees up minutes and money for Tari and hopefully restores the locker room unity after a difficult season. Guards: Rollins and Reed (core) and FVV and Okogie (vet reserves) Wings: Amen, Bari, Tari (core) with Portis and DFS (vets) Bigs" Sengun, Adams and Capela
Some sort of S&T for Ty Jerome, were we send off picks , Salary would be a low key move with very high rewards. Imo....
