KD, Sengun, and Amen are an extremely talented and productive trio. Team identity is as important as talent and we've lost that completely. The injury battered Suns have a better defense than we do. Considering they were 28th last season and we were 4th, that's quite the drop off. I think losing FVV and Brooks has an outsized effect on our defense. They aren't the most talented players, but they play good D and get their teammates to do so as well. The 20-21 Lakers won a championship and were #1 on defense. They jettisoned Caruso, KCP, and Dwight and their defense the next season was 21st. Roster turnover and injuries have affected our depth. We had 8 rotation worthy players last season and this year with Tari and DFS missing so much time it's like we only really have 6. Amen and Tari used to come off the bench last season and wreck havoc. Now they both start and we have almost no bench.
This. Old guys are a step slow on both sides of the ball. The sooner this team leans more into the young guys with KD as a support piece the sooner theyll start winning. Trying to force feed a 37 year old that cant dribble, can barely drive and cant defend is a recipe for....well....
Some key issues for the Rockets: 1. Mark Jackson 2.0 Udoka signed to a 6 yr deal -> he aint going anywhere. The offense is among the worst in the league. Rotations are also a game slow for example Capela plays great but only gets 7 mins, he gets more PT the next game but then he isnt on fire anymore making that extra PT useless. Udoka doesnt take any accountability and throws players like Sengun under the bus. 2. Alpi and Amen cant shoot -> we have two guys that have the worst fit reminds me of Banchero and Wagner in Orlando. Amen being able to shoot is key, if he cant he should be the one traded a shorter Ben Simmons isnt very valuable nowadays. 3. Bench sucks -> Okogie cant score, Reed cant defend, DFS cant score and cant defend. JD might be the key, he needs more PT..
I saw passing at the start of second half. It was only for a few moments but it did happen. Our bench needs to be Davison / Amen / Capala start rotating RGV players on 10 day contracts for spot minutes. There is talent there… we will find playable players with different skills / talents that will blend with our team. Coach can churn through them till he finds what is missing. ( yes it is this simple). Post from the GSW is an example. Kerr uses him all the time.
1000%. When Stone said “maybe it’s not our year” he’s really saying “I sold out chasing a market inefficiency and it blew up in our face.”.
Hey, y’all. Just got back from my hot tub time machine and somehow landed in the exact same Rockets season… the offense still looks like five strangers at the downtown YMCA just hoping someone hits a bailout shot, the defense is straight up swiss cheese (come on now Ime!), and it’s the perfect mix of questionable roster bets, no real adjustments, and “we’ll figure it out live” execution (turnovers!!!). Not exactly playoff magic, but I’ll be watching every minute like it’s 1986. F’ Danny Ainge forever!
