No one on this team deserves an A except for the coach that consistently makes eye contact with Vanessa. Dickerson: B- Senguin - C Amen - B Jabari - B- Tari - D- Reed - B/B- Adams - B+ Capela - B+/A- Okogie - B+ DFS - D Tate : C Udoka : C Stone : C
If you are looking at it "objectively", the Rockets had an identical record as last season. So how is that "FAR WORSE"? I think you should take a class in Expectations Management. You might live longer.
It’s a really bad signing so far, but there is some hope he can return to form next year and beyond. I don’t know if you were here to witness the kelvin Cato years.
The Rockets are/were a young team. The Rockets added Kevin Durant, and Durant had an amazing year. There were more tanking teams this season. Losing FVV and Brooks, hurt, but I expected the Rockets to still be a little better this season when Durant was healthy. Being the same was not an objective good result for the youngish core, even though team-wise, they were about the same.
I said we have had far worse seasons, and I was referring specifically to the Silas era as being much worse objectively. I just really didn't enjoy the way we played basketball this season, even though objectively we have a good record and net rating and all of that. Such a slow, ugly style of basketball, and it felt like we lost too many games we should have won.
When I look back two things stand out, to me: Adams's importance to this squad and Reed's improvement.
Ah. I missed that. Regarding the style of play, I can't disagree. I think there are a number of factors. 1. We lost our starting PG and our two backup options didn't really pan out (and they didn't trade for a PG in season). 2. Alp took a step backwards this season, probably due to low grade injuries. But the Rockets couldn't rely on him to be a hub. 3. Ime as a defense 1st coach They had to rely on KD too much as a PG/distributor. He's good at a lot of stuff but that ain't it. That was never the plan. given that, I think the team did admirable.
Just because something isn't "good" doesn't make it "bad". It's not a binary question. Finishing 5th was a surprise but I don't think anybody picked SA and the Lakers to finish 2 and 4th. Finishing behind the Nuggets is not a surprise at all.
meh, he seems to have a smooth fade away mid-range shot. That’s about it right now, but it looks good to me. Agreed he’s not shooting the mid-range off the dribble early in the clock. But my point is that there are some positive signs. I think he could make a real jump in yr 4 if he works hard this offseason and isn’t saddled with point guard duties next season.
There were injuries this year that we didnt have last year. Losing FVV doesnt just "hurt" it was catastrophic as the Rockets were just 11-11 without him while having everyone else (in general). Imagine going from 52 wins to just 40l1-41 just cuz you lost FVV. So to get the same result while losing FVV and Adams actually means the team improved.
KD - A (burner not included) Amen - B+ (saddled with point guard duties; good assist to TO ratio) Bari - B (best shooting season but still just slightly above league average) Sengun - B- (slightly improved overall numbers but defense and rebounding took a step back; still inefficient) Tari - C- (took a step back in every stat, selfish inconstant play, but did stay healthy most of the season) Reed - B+ (improved in every category; shooting over 39%) Amen and Reed aside, I expected better from the rest of the young core. Just not good enough. Tari is a role player, so it matters less, but Sengun has to be better. Not happy with our overall player development under this regime.
If you removed KD from this roster you would have Jalen Green and Brooks since thats who we traded him for. What do you mean we would have made the playoffs without KD? Whats the proof of that? We were 11-11 without FVV last year with Green, Adams and Brooks. So how would we make the playoffs without both FVV and Adams now? How do you know the Rockets also wouldnt go 5-5 without KD? Thats the point of sample sizes you are banging your drum over 3-0 when the Rockets had 5 wins without Sengun. If Sengun only missed 3 games the Rox would also go 3-0 without him and now you'd be claiming we dont need Sengun. How KD is used is not up to him, its up to Udoka. Why are you blaming KD when Udoka is the one over relying on him? We all know Udoka is useless offensively thats not on KD. KD is about to go all NBA for the Xth time and you think he deserves a D? lmao
I think the biggest thing for him is just mindset. He needs to be aggressive and think of himself as a scorer first. Get close to the basket, if he can go all the way and yam it, great. If not, I agree, that little inside the FT line jumper looks solid, and his 3-10ft FG% this season is actually pretty good (49%). Focus on getting his own and force the defense to adjust. When they get really scared of him making it into the painted area, the assists will be there.
The 3-pointer should raise at least one letter grade for Capela. Gives us hope for a stretch 5 finally.
the rent will come due. Ime’s tendency to play his best players into the ground is a cover for poor coaching. I’m more down on Ime than ever. We played a 37 yr old the 2nd most minutes in a non-contending yr. For what? Rent could come due next season with KD at 38. These minutes eventually come at the expense of an aging body. We got plain lucky KD stayed healthy playing all those minutes.
KD gets waaaaay to much hate. I get that Brooks had a great season pre-injury, but it was hardly a reason to regret the trade. Overall, we matched last season record, however there is a better chance with Durant in the playoffs then the non-factors that Jalen became and Brooks typically becomes. Rockets should win the 1st round series (better not choke) and put up a fight in the 2nd round. We played OKC well this season besides the one bad loss.
